149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi celebrated in Nepal

A number of programmes were organised to pay tribute to Bapu. The main function was held at Rashtriya Sabha Griha in Kathmandu where Acting Prime Minister of Nepal Ishwar Pokhrel inaugurated a LED projection depicting life events of Mahatma Gandhi.

With LED show the celebrations to commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma started in Nepal. In his address, Pokharel said that Mahatama Gandhi’s principles of peace and non violence are one of the basic spirits of Nepal’s foreign policy. He said Gandhiji’s thoughts are not just a political philosophy but they have developed as life style. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri said Bapu’s life was his message and peace, non violence and truth was his credo.

A large number of dignitaries from all walks of Nepali society including politicians, academicians, scholars and media personalities attended the programme. An interaction on “Democracy in the 21st century and Gandhi’s thoughts” was also organised in Kathmandu to mark the occasion. In his address Former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said that entire humanity would benefit from Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of non-violence and peaceful method of protest.

Deuba said changes brought through peaceful and non-violent method as taught by Gandhiji could be long lasting. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tarun Vijay said Gandhiji taught that even if one person remained poor and exploited, then the state power became meaningless. He said that Britishers not only imposed their rule on India but also suppressed Indian languages but Nepal kept Gandhiji’s legacy alive by protecting its own language particularly the Devanagri script. Vijay said Nepal’s legendary leader BP Koirala, who had joined the Quit India movement and who was jailed along with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, earned admiration of Indian people. The programme was organised by Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Memorial Foundation.