“Turn your back on division and hatred,” says U.N. Chief

By an IPS Correspondent Reprint | | Print |

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 2013 (IPS) - The United Nations commemorated International Day of Non-Violence with a tribute to one of the world’s best known proponents of non-violence:  the late Mahatma Gandhi of India.

Speaking at the event Wednesday,  Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said non-violence is neither inert nor passive. “Änd  It takes courage to stand up to those who use violence to enforce their will or beliefs.”

In his keynote address, Ban urged member states to ‘draw strength from the courage of individuals like Mahatma Gandhi.’  He said it was from Gandhi’s ideology that the United Nations was prompted to “insist throughout the war in Syria that all concerned must work for a political solution”  and that “whatever one’s sympathies or convictions, violence is a poor means to an unsatisfactory end.”

Addressing delegates,  the Permanent Representative of South Africa, Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, said that both the people of his country and India shared the legacy of Gandhi.  He quoted former South African President Nelson Mandela as saying that Gandhi left South Africa after 21 years, a “near maha atma (great soul in Hindi)”.

Gandhi’s global influence was palpable at the event with the U.N. Ambassadors of Argentina, the Czech Republic and Norway spoke about the relevance of his ideas to their countries and the world.

Ambassador Maria Cristina Perceval of Argentina arranged to have white roses distributed to the main speakers of the event, including Ban, as a symbol of non-violence.  Ambassador Edita Hrdá of the Czech Republic spoke about how Gandhi’s thoughts on human rights  influenced the country’s post-Communist legacy.

Dr. John William Ashe, President of the 68th session of the General Assembly, said, “What is so remarkable to so many across the world is that Gandhiji’s fundamental and unshakeable belief that non-violence was the strongest force for change in the world permeates across generations, cultural and religious boundaries.” He added that Gandhi’s ideas had influenced world leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Mandela and Aung San Sui Ky of Myanmar.

The event ended with a classical music performance by renowned Indian musician Amjad Ali Khan and his sons,  Amaan and Ayaan, who had previously performed for a peace concert at the U.N. on the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.