New Delhi: From young professionals to college students, from families to foreign tourists, hundreds Tuesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 143rd birth anniversary at his memorial Raj Ghat in the national capital.
"Anna Hazare proved that a `satyagraha` on the lines of Gandhiji still works. He (Hazare) brought the government on its knees. So, Gandhiji is still relevant," said Krishan Kumar, a 44-year-old shop owner from Daryaganj in Delhi, who was at Raj Ghat with his family.
"We need a nationwide revolution against corruption - a revolution based on Gandhian principles."
Agreed Dave Lyneta, a 38-year-old Canadian.
"I`ve read Gandhi`s biography twice. If only more people around the world followed his principles, there would be no 9/11 or Iraq or Afghanistan wars," he said.
Lyneta, who is on a 10-day visit to India with his wife, chose to be in Delhi Oct 2 to bw able to visit Raj Ghat.
Gandhi`s birth anniversary is also marked as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi, born this day in Porbandar in Gujarat in 1869, was assassinated in New Delhi Jan 30, 1948.
For 22-year-old Khizar Hayat, studying social work at Jamia Millia Islamia here, an introduction to Gandhi through his Class 9 textbook was the beginning of his journey towards knowledge and enlightenment.
"My devotion towards him grew over the years. I`m trying to imbibe his teachings in the way I live my life or treat others. I used to be violent till a couple of years ago. But I have learnt to control my emotions and more importantly, channelise my aggression in a positive way," Hayat said.
While majority of people said Gandhi continued to be their source of inspiration, some aged below 30 admitted that not every Gandhian principle was relevant today.
"If someone hits me, I`ll never offer my other cheek because I know in majority of the cases, the culprit will not be punished because our system is corrupt," said Ankur Kaushik, a 28-year-old exporter from north Delhi.
IANS
