‘RESPECT, UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE, APPRECIATION AND COMPASSION ARE ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO OUR EXISTENCE’

Mahatma Gandhi’s beliefs in self-determination and peaceful co-existence transcend time, says President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote on Tuesday night during the 150th Anniversary celebrations of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, hosted by the High Commission of India.

The celebrations took place at the ICT Hall at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Bay Campus, Suva.

“Mahatma Gandhi’s five pillars of non-violence; respect, understanding, acceptance, appreciation and compassion are absolutely vital to our existence,” he said.

“These are simple habits, characteristics or traits that we can all try to emulate and nurture at a personal level, which will have an impact on our relationship with one another and on each person’s perspective of the world around us.”

Appropriately, it is also on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday that the United Nations observes the International Day of Non-Violence.

President Konrote said Gandhi’s 150th Birth Anniversary offered an opportunity for everyone to reflect on many virtues including the principles of peace and harmony that Gandhi championed.

“It is also an opportunity to relate these virtues and principles to what is happening in society today,” he said.

“One wonders if many more people adopted similar world views as Gandhi Ji, the world would certainly be a better place with less violence-based on inter-religious acrimony and terrorism, among other atrocities which, unfortunately, are being committed in some conflict zones around the world today.”

The Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal, said Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to global peace and harmony was immeasurable.

“We all commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to recommit ourselves to peace, which is the most valuable and precious thing in today’s world,” he said.

“Peace begins with respect for others, which is preached and exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi.”

An inter-faith dialogue on the topic, “Gandhi: A Symbol of Peace and Harmony”, was led by Haffizudin Khan of the Fiji Muslim League, Reverend James Bhagwan of the Methodist Church of Fiji, and Swami Tadanand of the Rama Krishna Mission as part of the celebration.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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