UN declares Gandhi's birthday as day of non-violence

Mahatma Gandhi

NEW DELHI, Saturday (AFP) - The United Nations will observe the birth anniversary of Indian icon Mahatma Gandhi as the International Day of Non-Violence every year, it said in a statement Saturday. The UN called upon all member nations and individuals to commemorate October 2 in “an appropriate manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence.” The resolution was introduced by India.

Gandhi's descendants hailed the move, but said the gesture should not only be symbolic. “It's welcome but not enough. If they have declared it as non-violence day, they should ensure that it is observed as one among member countries,” said the leader's great grandson Tushar Gandhi.

“The conflicts should come to an end and it should be a step towards creating a world without violence.”Gandhi was a proponent of non-violent civil disobedience in India's fight against the British colonial rule which ended in 1947.He was shot dead by a Hindu nationalist in 1948.