The Netherlands marks the International Day of Non-Violence with an impressive Gandhi March
The Embassy of India in The Hague leaded by H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony, organized a multitudinous and multi-ethnic “Gandhi March”, which started at noon on Sunday, September 30 at the emblematic Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where a series of inspiring speeches and artistic demonstration took place.
Hundreds of people from different nationalities and ages, including many Ambassadors and diplomats, participated to mark the upcoming International Day of Non-Violence. The event was also a precursor to the commencement of celebrations of the 150th anniversary of Gandhi´s birthday, which will be internationally announced today October 2 by the Government of India.
The Netherlands Association of Malayalees (Nanma) entertained the gathering with the Chenda Melam (drums of Kerala) and Onam Dancers as people gathered. Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony welcomed the gathering, “Let’s follow the dream of Gandhi, the same dream who inspired Martin Luther King and Mandela” He stressed the importance to educate the children in a rule of peace, to talk to them about Gandhi and how he achieved a pacific independence of India with determination. Ambassador mentioned the fact that Gandhi used to start his speeches by reading passages of the Bible, the Coran, the Bhagavad Gita and other religious emblematic books to demonstrate that all religions are looking for peace and should be our common goal. Rajamony was followed by brief speeches by spiritual guru from India Sri M, who said “we cannot live in the past, bring the inspiration up today and apply Gandhi in your live; peace should not be complicate”; and Deputy Mayor of The Hague Ms. Kavita Parbhudayal.
The rally was led by Ambassadors of the USA, Indonesia, Canada, Ireland, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Belgium, Romania, Malaysia, Palestine, Cyprus, Italy, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Rwanda, Bosnia &Herzegovina and the Ambassador of India, Mr. VenuRajamony.
Participants wore T-shirts specially designed for the occasion with the logo ‘Follow the Mahatma’ and a picture of Gandhi. They also carried posters and shouted slogans advocating non-violence and peace as well as the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The colourful march traversed through the City of The Hague and the participants congregated at the historic Grote Kerk or Big Church of The Hague.
The Ambassadors of the US, H.E. Mr. Peter Hoekstra; from Indonesia, H.E. I Gusti Wesaka Puja and Afghanistan, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Homayoon Azizi addressed the marchers at the Grote Kerk. Multinational cultural performances highlighting the message of non-violence were held along with a special exhibition mounted on a Khadi Scroll (curated by Pramod Kapoor of Roli Books, India).
The ‘Follow the Mahatma’ campaign was launched by organizations and individuals advocating Non-Violence in the Netherlands, the Indian community and the Embassy of India in 2017 with the aim of confirming to the world community the importance of Non-Violence and peace.
The Embassy of India along with these community organizations will conduct during the period of October 1-5, 2018 an education outreach programme under which over 100 volunteers will fan out to around twenty schools of the Netherlands to spread the message of non-violence and to educate students about the life of Mahatma Gandhi and on how India won freedom through a non-violence movement.
A social media campaign with the hashtag #followthemahatma will also be conducted during the period, inviting people across the Netherlands to post messages reaffirming their commitment to the principle of non-violence.
The march was sponsored by City of The Hague Municipality, Tata Steel, Zeelandia, HCL, POSC and Gravin van BylandtStichting.
About Follow the Mahatma:
Above activities are to be followed up with six events in four cities on October 2 which will mark the formal commencement of the Gandhi@150 celebrations.
