UN Chief Urges Following Gandhi's Non-Violence Principles in Today's Divided World

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called upon the global community to embrace Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence during these "dangerous and divided" times.

At the United Nations gathering marking Gandhi Jayanti and the International Day of Non-Violence, Guterres emphasized that "Gandhi understood that non-violence is not a weapon of the weak, it is the strength of the courageous." He highlighted how non-violence carries "the power to resist injustice without hatred; confront oppression without cruelty; and build peace through dignity, not domination."

Guterres expressed concern that in today's world, "Violence is displacing dialogue" and "the foundations of peace are under strain." He urged everyone to "find the strength to follow his lead, end the suffering, advance diplomacy, heal divisions, and create a just, sustainable and peaceful world for all."

The UN General Assembly established the International Day of Non-Violence in 2007 to promote "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" on Gandhi's birth anniversary annually.

India's UN Mission hosted a discussion titled "Relevance of Non-Violence and Gandhian Principles for Building Sustainable Global Peace." India's Permanent Representative P Harish noted that the desire for peace has been expressed across civilizations through various invocations, including "the Indian Shanti mantras of the Vedas and Upanishads," the Arabic greeting of "Al-Salaam," and the Jewish "shalom."

Harish emphasized, "The strong connection between Gandhian values and sustainable peace creates a compelling case for practicing these principles, even amid today's complex global challenges."

Economic and Social Council President Lok Bahadur Thapa, who also serves as Nepal's Permanent Representative, highlighted how the UN's Sustainable Development Goals align with Gandhian values. "Gandhi's belief in non-violence, self-reliance and inclusive progress aligns with our call for transformations based on empathy, equity and shared responsibility," he stated.

Thapa clarified that "Non-violence is not the absence of actions. It is the resistance with moral principle. It is the strength to confront injustice without hatred, and it is about building peace through empathy and shared divinity."

South Africa's Permanent Representative Mathu Joyini reflected on Gandhi's connection to her country, noting, "His ideas, first shaped in the face of discrimination experienced in South Africa, evolved to become the liberation force of India and many other liberation and revolutionary movements across the globe."

Joyini added that Gandhi's principles "influenced, not only the leadership in India, but also left a profound influence on the struggle against apartheid" in South Africa. "South Africa's own peaceful transition to democracy achieved through dialogue, reconciliation and forgiveness reflects the enduring strength of non-violence as an instrument of justice and nation building," she remarked.

Germany's Permanent Representative Ricklef Beutin connected Gandhi's principles to his own country's history, noting that German Unity Day commemorates reunification that "came about with not a single shot being fired," demonstrating the relevance of non-violence.

Romania's Permanent Representative Cornel Feruta emphasized that the International Day of Non-Violence "starts from the assumption that we can create a positive context to prevent violence from happening" rather than merely "reacting to violence."

Earlier, India's Permanent Representative Harish garlanded Gandhi's statue in the UN complex. India's Consul General Binaya Pradhan participated in celebrations at two Gandhi statues in the area - one at New York City's Union Square where bhajans were sung in tribute, and another at the Peace Garden in the State University of New York Campus in Old Westbury on Long Island.

At these events, Pradhan emphasized that Gandhi's message concerned both ends and means, with non-violence remaining the central principle.