2nd October is a National Holiday in India to celebrate “Gandhi Jayanti” the birthday of the “Father of Nation” – Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The same day is also celebrated as the birthday of the 2nd Prime Minister of India – Lal Bahadur Shastri.
September – October month in India, is generally a festive season. During the festive season, 2nd October is celebrated to pay the tribute to two of our National heroes.
International Day of Non-Violence
Do you know that 2nd October is also known as “International Day of Non-Violence”? It was commissioned on 15th June 2007 at United Nations General Assembly. The day is celebrated to pay the tribute to one of the greatest leaders of the Indian freedom movement and the mascot of the philosophy and strategies of non-violence. This day is made to spread out the message of non-violence around the world through education and awareness. As quoted by the leader’s own word, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man”.
2nd October, Gandhi Jayanti of The Father of the Nation (India)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (02.10.1869 – 30.01.1948), better known as Mahatma Gandhi was one of the pioneers of the Indian National Freedom Movement against British rule. Under the Indian National Congress, he has done many activities and campaigns for the farmers, peasants & laborers of India. He also did many campaigns to expand Women’s rights and also against caste discrimination.
He started the Quit India Movement against the British and pioneered the Non-Violence Movement. “Satyagraha” or the self-rule movement was started by Gandhiji. On numerous occasions, he was imprisoned. But, nothing stopped him to see the vision of a Free Democratic India. The famous Dandi March in 1930 and Quit India Movement in 1942 inspired the Indians to challenge British rule through non-violence.
Gandhiji’s philosophy inspired many such civil rights movements around the world. He was honored by the name “Mahatma” a Sanskrit word that means “Mahan-Atma” in South Africa in the year 1914.
Mahatma Gandhi was also first addressed as “The Father of Nation” by another big-heart child of the Nation – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. India still celebrates the birthday of Gandhiji on 2nd October every year to pay the tribute to the way, the philosophy, the culture he thought us. To show him respect, India has a National Holiday on this day.
Lal Bahadur Shastri – The 2nd Prime Minister of India
Lal Bahadur Shastri (02.10.1904 – 11.01.1966), was a born leader. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi & Annie Besant, he had a thought of his own. He was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and joined Indian National Freedom Movement in 1920. After Independence, he was one of the most important cabinet ministers of the cabinet, starting from Railway Minister to Home Minister; he was given the responsibility which he successfully accomplished. He was the pioneer of the White Revolution – a national campaign to increase the production and supply of milk. He was also the founder of the “Green revolution in India” in 1965, which led to the increase in food grain production, especially in North-Western parts of India.
He was the 2nd Prime Minister of India. Lal Bahadur Shastri led the country during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. He was the pioneer of the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” which became very popular during the war. The war finally ended with a peace treaty as “Tashkent Agreement” at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 10th January 1966. The next day he died, as a cause of heart failure. Still, the cause of his death is a mystery to many as his close and his family believed that it was not a natural death. His deeds & his patriotism will always be praised as one of the great leaders of India. He was awarded the “Bharat Ratna Award” (Posthumous) in 1966.
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Conclusion:
India as a country is very lucky to have given birth to many of the brave, great leaders all the time. On the day of 2nd October, each and every year we celebrate the birthday of the two greatest leaders of India. Mahama Gandhi – a pioneer of the Non-Violence Movement. And, Lal Bahadur Shastri – the 2nd Prime Minister, and the founder of the White Revolution & Green Revolution in India.