Grand scale events for 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi
Times News Service
MUSCAT: The Indian embassy has announced that it would be commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on a grand scale on Tuesday.
Indian ambassador to Oman Munu Mahawar said that since October 2 was the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi, who is regarded as the father of the nation, it would be an especially big affair this time around.
He added that the Indian central government had plans for a two-year-long celebration from October 2, 2018, to October 2, 2020.
The inaugural event will be held at the Grand Millennium Hotel, Muscat, on Tuesday, which is also commemorated as the United Nations International Day of NonViolence, owing to Gandhi’s belief in ahimsa (non-violence).
The embassy will be partnered by Raja Yoga Centre for Self Development and will be attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Said bin Saif Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development of the Sultanate, as the Chief Guest. Several other dignitaries, officials, diplomats and members of the Indian and Omani communities are expected to be in attendance.
Renowned motivational speaker Brahma Kumari Shivani Verma, popularly known as Sister Shivani, will deliver a message of peace during the celebration.
Other highlights of the event include the release of new postal stamps in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, screening of a special video on messages from the life of Mahatma Gandhi and a video of a devotional song, “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je”, in the voice of popular Omani singer Haitham Mohammed Rafi.
Mahawar laid emphasis on the fact that Gandhi is still a figure of international significance.
“Though he (Gandhi) was from India, he belongs to the whole world. So, we expect people from different nationalities to take part in the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations,” he remarked.
The Indian Embassy will organise a number of other events and activities over the next two years as part of the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. These include monthly online quiz competitions, screening of documentaries on Gandhi, a talk show and an interaction with schools students.