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UAE remembers Mahatma Gandhi on 150th birthday

Abu Dhabi - UAE residents are ready to mark the occasion with fervour and followers say it is a day to remember his ideology.

Baba Zayed and 'Bapu' Gandhi are two visionary leaders whose teachings are more relevant today than ever before. Though born 50 years apart, both of them had a lot in common - a fact which was well displayed on LED screens of the first-ever Sheikh Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi Digital Museum, which opened earlier this March in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE has always displayed special love and affection while remembering Gandhi. In August, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released postage stamp on Gandhi in Abu Dhabi. Also, the Indian Embassy unveiled a statue of Gandhi at its premises as part of the 73rd Indian Independence Day celebrations. And not to be forgotten that last October 2, the Burj Khalifa displayed images of Gandhi.

Now as the world marks 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi - International Day of Non-violence - on October 2, the UAE residents are ready to mark the occasion with fervour and followers say it is a day to remember his ideology.

Abu Dhabi-based expat V.T.V. Damodaran, president of Gandhi Sahitya Vedi, said for the past 10 years, his small but dedicated group is conducting various events to spread messages of peace, love and harmony.

"Every year, books on Mahatma Gandhi are presented to students. We hold events on January 30, his death anniversary, and October 2. So far, more than 1,000 books have been given to students. On Wednesday evening, Indian Embassy, India Social and Cultural Centre and Gandhi Sahitya Vedi will present 150 books to selected Indian students. On January 30, we will conduct a quiz among these students, based on the contents of the books. It is important to let the children know about their Father of the Nation."

Damodaran felt proud of the ways in which the UAE pays tribute to Gandhi, be it with release of stamp or display on the Burj Khalifa. "Such acts are evidence of respect and honour this land bestows on Gandhi. It is also proof that the UAE considers his teachings relevant and important."

He noted that the need to follow on Gandhi's teachings of non-violence assumes greater significance today than ever before. "You see all kinds of hatred in the world. He has shown with his life that one should fight not with weapons but truth and non-violence," Damodaran added.

Empowering students

Apart from this, schools across the Capital will join the Gandhi Global Solar Yatra 2019. St Joseph's School said in a statement that 191 students with 30 teachers, who are part of the student solar ambassador workshop, will assemble the solar lamp kits on Wednesday.

"The school's environment club has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to be part of this initiative. The Gandhi Global Solar Yatra will culminate with the workshop, wherein more than 1 million students from 180 countries will get hands-on training in assembling solar lamps on a single day with an aim to promote Energy Swaraj or localised energy self-sufficiency - a scenario where communities generate and produce their own energy. Through this experience, our students will be prepared to face the adverse effects of climate change and future propagators of renewable energy," the statement said.