To mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi on Friday, October 2, where he offered floral tributes to the Father of the Nation during a special interfaith prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Rajghat to honor Gandhi and Vijay Ghat to pay floral tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri for their respective birth anniversaries. The observance brought together national leaders, school students, and artists to commemorate the leaders’ roles in India’s freedom movement and nation-building.
Leaders Gather in New Delhi for Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Birth Anniversary
The commemorations drew prominent political figures to multiple sites across New Delhi. Earlier during the day, several leaders paid tribute to Gandhi and Shastri in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Attendees included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and JP Nadda, Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha), and Mallikarjun Kharge (Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha).
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also attended the programme at Gandhi Smriti alongside Prime Minister Modi. Radhakrishnan placed floral tributes and remembered Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom movement, emphasizing his enduring message of harmony and social upliftment. Meanwhile, school students and artists contributed to the solemn atmosphere by performing devotional bhajans during the interfaith prayer gathering.
Complementing the national capital’s events, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid floral tributes at Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, where an all-religion prayer meeting was similarly held to mark the 157th birth anniversary. Kirti Mandir was built near Gandhi’s birthplace and designed around his core belief of “Sarva Dharma Sambhav,” reflecting equal respect for all religions through architectural elements representing Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Christianity.
Prime Minister Modi Urges National Adoption of Swadeshi and Khadi
Taking to the platform X, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the lives of Gandhi and Shastri, stating that their lives were marked by “simplicity, courage and service to the nation” and that their ideals would continue to inspire future generations and serve as a guiding light for India’s progress. The Prime Minister also said that Gandhi’s thoughts have inspired the entire world and remain relevant as long as their flow remains connected with humanity.
In addition to paying respects, the Prime Minister called for a greater adoption of Swadeshi, placing Khadi at the forefront of the movement. He urged citizens to purchase at least one Khadi product on October 2 and take pride in calling it Swadeshi. Concluding his remarks on the platform, Modi expressed his aspiration for the nation: “May Bapu’s timeless message keep guiding us towards a better society and a Viksit Bharat.”
Did You Know? Mahatma Gandhi was born in an ancestral 22-room haveli in Porbandar, Gujarat, on October 2, 1869, a property initially purchased in 1777 by his great-grandfather Harjivadas Gandhi and later expanded by his grandfather Uttamchand Gandhi.
Scholarly Perspectives on Gandhi’s Legacy and Resistance
Beyond official commemorations, academic discourse continues to examine the ideological roots of Gandhi’s political thought. Scholars frequently debate whether Gandhi was a twentieth-century idealist, a philosophical anarchist who consistently undermined the role of the State, or a liberal thinker who placed individual liberty and personal autonomy above the supremacy of the State. His ideas of resistance continue to inspire contemporary global movements, ranging from the Singing Revolution in the Baltic states to the Arab Spring and recent student protests at Jantar Mantar.
Joseph S. Alter, an anthropologist, characterizes Gandhi as a “translated thinker” whose intellectual framework was primarily developed by reading translations of Western and Indian classical works—for example, engaging with the Bhagavad Gita via English translation instead of Gujarati or Sanskrit. Despite these mediated textual influences, Gandhi’s practical politics and moral philosophy remained grounded in his everyday social interactions and real-world experiences, ultimately making him perhaps the most documented public figure in the world.
Birth Anniversaries and Leader Observances at Samvidhan Sadan
What dates mark the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri?
Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, while Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.
Which prominent political figures attended the observances at Samvidhan Sadan?
Those present in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan included Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
What specific economic appeal did Prime Minister Modi make on October 2?
Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to purchase at least one Khadi product on October 2, emphasizing the broader adoption of Swadeshi with Khadi at the forefront.
What thoughts do you have on the ongoing relevance of Gandhi and Shastri’s ideals in contemporary governance?
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