Freedom activist Mahatma Gandhi, who led a non-violent struggle to free India from British rule, was remembered in Kathmandu by various groups at events held here to celebrate his 149th birthday.

Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Prathistan organised an event to pay tribute to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on his birthday. Leaders from India and Nepal hailed the major role Mahatma Gandhi played by leading the non-violence movement across the India to emancipate India from British’s rule.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said we are inspired by Gandhiji’s values that ushered big political changes through non-violence means.

“The achievement we made in past decade was the inspiration from Gandhi. We took the path that Gandhiji had guided so many and left to us,” said Deuba.

Gandhi’s thought and his actions are not only inspiration to Indians, but all over the world, he said.  Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri and other Nepali Congress leaders Bimalendra Nidhi, Pradip Giri and senior BJP leader Tarun Vijaya highlighted the importance of non-violence propagated by Gandhi to achieve global peace and independence.

The ideology of Gandhi will bring tremendous changes in the world, said Giri while addressing the function. “People have yet to understand Gandhi,” he said.

“The real thought and ideology of Gandhi is to empower the people through the non-violence,” said Vijaya. 

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also celebrated the 149th birthday of Gandhi at an event held here. The embassy commemorated the Gandhi’s birthday with an LED Projection depicting life events of Mahatma Gandhi on the facade of the Rashtriya Sabha Griha, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu.

The Rashtriya Sabha Griha is one of the oldest theatres situated in the heart of Kathmandu. The LED Projection displayed important life events of Gandhi depicting the philosophy of non-violence and building an inclusive society.

Acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel inaugurated the event in the presence of Ambassador Puri and dignitaries from all walks of Nepali society including politicians, academicians, scholars and media persons.