The International
Day of Non-Violence is observed each year on 2 October –
the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence
and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. It is a befitting occasion to reflect upon the many ‘fires’ around our conflict-riven world where there is much violence, oppression and injustice. Many
‘powerful’ ones- nations/leaders/groups/entities- are steeped in arrogance and
hostility against the ‘wretched of the earth’; seeking to suppress the
legitimate interests and rights of the ‘other’ among them. In a special message, Muhyi-ud-Din
Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius
calls our attention to the need for individual and collective efforts to respect
human rights and fundamental freedoms, promote just relations among communities
and peoples and to uphold ‘Peace’ as an ethical imperative of our times:
“It is my humble appeal to the national and international authorities to see to it that human rights are always respected at every step of the way….Each government, and each individual also at his own personal level should strive to help in building a peaceful society, and strive to fight all evils along the way”.
“It is my humble appeal to the national and international authorities to see to it that human rights are always respected at every step of the way….Each government, and each individual also at his own personal level should strive to help in building a peaceful society, and strive to fight all evils along the way”.