Ambassador Speeches

Embassy of India

Bishkek

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(2 October, 2022; 11.00 AM)

Dear Colleagues, Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen,

It is a great honour and privilege for me to pay homage and tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 153^rd birth anniversary today. As you all know, Mahatma Gandhi, whom we also call the Father of our Nation, was born on 2^nd October, 1869 at Porbandar in the State of Gujarat. Today, we also celebrate the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Second Prime Minister of India. I pay my deep respects and homage to Shastriji as well.

For us Indians, Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu, as we call him, stands tall as the leader who took us to freedom from British rule. Gandhiji, however, was more than being the key figure of our freedom struggle. I would like to mention here the eleven principles that Gandhiji had laid down for the inmates of his Ashram and these are: (i) Ahimsa or Nonviolence; (ii) Satya or Truth; (iii) Asteya or Non Stealing; (iv) Brahmacharya or Celibacy; (v) Asangraha or Non-possession; (vi) Sharira-shrama or physical labour; (vii) Aswada or Control of the palate; (viii) Abhaya or Fearlessness; (ix) Sarva Dharma Samantva or Equality of all religions; (x) Swadeshi or Use of locally made goods; and (xi) Asprishyatanirvarna or Removal of untouchability. Gandhiji believed and followed these principles. Gandhiji has said, “My Life is My message”. It can thus be seen that we all can get the message of the philosophy of Gandhiji from his life itself. These are important principles of life and each of us must try to follow as many of these as possible.

While we do not have time to elaborate all of them, I would like to mention about the principle of Ahimsa or Non-violence which is so very relevant today for peace, development and progress in the world. Gandhiji led our Freedom movement following the path of non-violence. As a tribute to this apostle of peace and non-violence, every year, 2^nd October is marked as the International Day of Non-Violence. The UN General Assembly at its 61^st Session adopted a Resolution on 15 June 2007 to observe the International Day of Non-Violence on 2^nd October. The objective is to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness. The resolution reaffirms the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.  

Gandhiji believed in Swaraj and self-reliance. As Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has said, “This vision of Gandhiji is becoming a great medium of solving big challenges that India is facing today. We have given priority to Peoples Participation. Whether it is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Digital India, the people are now leading these campaigns themselves.” I would like to add here that building an Atmanirbhar Bharat also flows from the concept of self-reliance. It, however, does not advocate a self-centred system. In India’s self-reliance, there is a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation and peace.

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Mahatma Gandhi Street in Bishkek in July 2015 where we paid our floral tributes today. As the PM had then said, this statue is a tribute to the spirit of peace and democracy of the Kyrgyz people and is also a symbol of the values that unite our two peoples.

The life and message of Mahtma Gandhi are universal and timeless. Let us rededicate ourselves today to follow these in our lives.

Thank you.

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