Every year on October 2, the world celebrates the International Day of Non-violence "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding, and non-violence."
The UN General Assembly had every good reason to pass a resolution in 2007 to establish this day because it commemorates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the man who devised this mighty weapon against any kind of aggression.
While Gandhi's non-violent resistance played a key role in India's freedom movement, he believed that non-violence was a tool that anyone could use and that it was a power that was greater than any weapon of destruction.
“In non-violence, the masses have a weapon that enables a child, a woman, or even a decrepit old man to resist the mightiest government successfully,” Gandhi exhorted. Throughout his life, he remained committed to his belief in non-violence even under oppressive measures.
We know that Gandhi fought against British rule and brought independence to India, although he didn't have an army with guns, tanks, and bombs. But his weapons were just leading long protest marches, accepting repeated jail sentences, using boycotts, and mobilising millions of people using non-violent means.
But is it possible to follow this “old and frail” philosophy of non-violence when the world is combating issues like international conflicts, wars, and other forms of violence?
History shows that Gandhi has been the inspiration for many successful non-violent movements for civil rights and social change across the world.
Look at those methods of protests of sit-ins, boycotts, strikes, and marches—all have been integral to enacting changes within our history. Significantly, these non-violent actions were the driving forces behind the success of most movements for civil liberties, racial equality, equal voting rights, and fair labour practices, among others!
World leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Ho Chi Minh consider themselves ardent supporters of Gandhi’s ideology.
King described it as a means of avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of the spirit. "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," he advised.
According to him, it is a powerful and just weapon that cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is the personal practice of being harmless to oneself and others under every circumstance.
King also said that he had adopted Gandhi’s non-violent method in the campaigns to win civil rights for African-Americans in the US. Sadly, both Gandhi and King lost their lives to the bullets of extremists!
Individuals who believe strongly in non-violence typically oppose military efforts to resolve conflicts between nations. Working for human rights, social justice, and economic sustainability is part of the non-violent way of life.
Today, non-violence is recognized as a powerful strategy for students, communities, disenfranchised groups, and weaker sections of the society in addressing and transforming their conditions.
While this Day of Non-Violence calls for collective efforts to build a world where conflicts are resolved through dialogue and understanding rather than violence, we as individuals, too can make a difference by choosing non-violence over aggression.
Choices should be of love rather than hate or revengeful action!
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