Remembering Bapu

Mahatma Gandhi was fondly remembered on his 141st birth anniversary with leaders cutting across political lines paying homage to him at Rajghat.

A lover of peace and a preacher of truthfulness, Bapu introduced India to Satyagraha(nonviolent resistance) which became the country's strongest weapon to fight the Britishers during the freedom struggle.

Truth and nonviolence were his biggest strengths. Bapu never termed people as friends or foes, never did he practice any discrimination based on caste or religion.

At a time when untouchability was prevalent in the society, Bapu held hands of the less privileged calling them Harijans(God's men) and asked the privileged to shoulder the responsibility of serving them.

Bapu valued children and was deeply concerned about their education. But he decried strongly "bookish knowledge". He always believed and followed that knowledge should cultivate the hearts and minds of the young ones rather than overburdening and stuffing the children's minds.

At Ahmedabad, where the Sabarmati Aashram is situated, an exhibition is held every year on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti. This time, the red coloured sculpture of Bapu working on a laptop was a prime attraction.

(AP Photo)

Not just Indians but people from across the globe know and respect the ideals Bapu left for the world after his demise. Many accomplished writers have written biographies on Mahatma Gandhi. US President Barack Obama had once admitted in an article that he draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and Bapu's portrait hangs on the wall at his office.

In this picture, President of Mozambique Armando Emilio Guebuza is seen paying tribute to the Mahatma at Rajghat.

(AFP PHOTO)