His Majesty’s vision reflects Gandhi’s ideals: Indian envoy
MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s vision for the development of Oman and his people reflects the ideals of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, India’s Ambassador to Oman said.
Speaking on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of India’s ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate, Munu Mahawar, said, “In India, all government programmes are inspired by the Gandhian approach. The Sultanate of Oman, under His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, is the personification of the continued relevance of Gandhiji’s ideals.”
“Gandhi Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the great apostle of peace and non-violence and the father of the Indian nation,” he added. “It is celebrated on 2 October annually, which is also observed as the United Nations International Day of Non-Violence. This reflects the universal respect that Mahatma Gandhi commands.”
He added, “Mahatma Gandhi was the pivot behind India’s struggle for independence, as he led millions of Indians, all bound together by two principles – truth and non-violence.
“Few people who have walked this planet have made an impact as huge as Mahatma Gandhi. His teachings remain relevant for the world. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated by people from all walks of life, across the world. By celebrating the greatness of the Mahatma, all of us pledge to adopt his way of life and principles of empathy, humility, honesty and sincerity.”
Mahawar added that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — a global effort by the UN to provide equal opportunities for gainful employment, a safe environment, and a good quality of life for all by 2030 — had at its core the principles of Gandhi’s philosophy.
To mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma, the Indian embassy in Oman as well as schools in Oman held ceremonies to honour the Mahatma’s life and achievements.
“Gandhiji’s message of peace and non-violence is an ageless and universal message, which is all the more relevant in today’s world ridden by various conflicts,” added the ambassador. “Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on sustainability is most relevant in today’s scenario, when the whole world is facing catastrophic climate change. As Gandhiji had said, ‘the world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not everyone’s greed’, which beautifully summarises his philosophy of sustainability in one line.”
“His concept of Sarvodaya (upliftment of all) seeks that the benefits of growth and development should reach all sections of society,” added Mahawar. “The whole world is talking about Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which I feel is nothing, but Gandhian philosophy of life.”
Mahawar also reiterated some of the lessons of Gandhi that he personally took to heart and followed to the Times of Oman, “There are many teachings of Gandhji I find inspiring. However, it is his emphasis on truth and perseverance that I have tried to imbibe and follow.
“Gandhiji had said, ‘truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time.’ He also said, ‘strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.’ was released in June, showed that 71 per cent of Omanis over the age of 50 use WhatsApp, 34 per cent of them use YouTube, 11 per cent of them are on Twitter, and 4 per cent each of them have Instagram and Snapchat. The average Omani above 50 years old uses 1.4 social media platforms, meaning that he is likely to be only using WhatsApp.