International Day of Non-Violence

• 03 Oct 2025

Why in News? 

In India, 2^nd October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti, honouring Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. 

• The day is also observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence, following a 2007 UN resolution supported by over 140 countries, giving it universal significance. 

Key Facts About Mahatma Gandhi 

• Birth: 2^nd October 1869 in Porbandar (Gujarat). 
• Brief Profile: Lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. 
• Books: Hind Swaraj, My Experiments with Truth (Autobiography) 
• Death: He was shot dead by Nathuram Godse on 30th January 1948. 
  • 30^th January is observed as Martyrs' Day. 
• Role in India’s Freedom Struggle 
  • Leadership of the Indian National Congress (INC): Mahatma Gandhi emerged as a prominent leader of the INC in the early 20th century, advocating for non-violent resistance and mass mobilisation to challenge British rule. 
    • The Belgaum session in 1924 was the only Congress session that was presided over by Gandhi Ji. 
  • Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) (1920-1922): Gandhi launched the NCM in response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the repressive Rowlatt Act.  
    • He urged Indians to boycott British institutions, goods, and honours, leading to widespread participation across the country. 
    • Gandhi Ji was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal in 1915 for his service in the Boer War, but returned it in 1920 to protest the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. 
  • Salt March (1930): Gandhi led the Salt March to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi, protesting the British salt tax. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. 
  • Quit India Movement (QIM) (1942): Gandhi called for the QIM, demanding an end to British rule in India.  
    • His slogan, "Do or Die," inspired millions to participate in protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience, marking a significant escalation in the freedom struggle. 
  • Philosophy of Non-Violence: Throughout his activism, Gandhi emphasised the principles of Satyagraha (truth force) and Ahimsa (non-violence), advocating for peaceful protests and moral integrity.  
    • His approach not only influenced the Indian independence movement but also inspired civil rights movements worldwide, such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.