HÀ NỘI — The 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will inspire many of us to continue his mission of bringing about a more peaceful, harmonious and non-violent world, said Đặng Nguyên Anh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences.

Anh stated on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which was organised on Tuesday evening in Hà Nội by the Embassy of India.

“I believe the cause of freedom, justice and peace that Gandhi upheld was not only for India or Indian people alone, but for other nations and peoples all over the world,” said Anh.

In Việt Nam, Mahatma Gandhi has become a popular name. Late President Hồ Chí Minh though never met Mahatma Gandhi, yet nurtured great admiration for him. President Hồ Chí Minh and Mahatma Gandhi both shared similar characters such as simplicity, humility, bravery and fearlessness.

Thus, both Việt Nam and India share common pride in our Great Fathers, according to Anh.

Most Venerable Thích Đức Thiện, Deputy President, Secretary General of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, said, “My first impression about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s personality is that he is a simple man. Gandhi stripped himself of all worldly goods and vowed to live a simple life, often fasting in his struggle for peace and Indian independence from British rule.”

Gandhi amazed his disciples and bedeviled his opponents by doing their penance for them. He called it “self-suffering” for the sake of others and the “good of all”.

He underwent many long fasts vowing not to eat until his disciples reached an acceptable level of spiritual development, or until Hindus and Muslims stopped fighting each other, or until the British gave Indians their independence, he said.

“Above all, he is the evidence that words are not important, but actions, and a belief in the truth of one’s convictions. Indeed, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, a Great Man, one of the greatest teachers of mankind,” said Venerable Thiện.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, often known as ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, is considered by Indians as the "Father of the Nation" who led the Indian independence movement against the British colonial rule by adhering to the principles of Truth (Satya) and Non-violence (Ahimsa) that completely transformed the political thought in the 20th century. Mahatma Gandhi, today is a universal figure and considered an apostle of peace and non-violence.

This year, in 2018, India has been organising various functions and events to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. On August 27, 2018, External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj unveiled the Bust of Mahatma Gandhiji in the courtyard of the Embassy of India in Hà Nội.

On this occasion, seven Commemorative Stamps on Mahatma Gandhi, designed and issued by the Indian Department of Posts, was also released. — VNS