Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday visited the Gandhi Ashram in Noakhali and paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary. The Ashram commemorates Bapu’s “Peace Mission” to Noakhali in 1946 and his message of non-violence and communal harmony. The High Commissioner also participated in a discussion titled “The Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World” organized by the Gandhi Ashram Trust. Members of the trust, local political leaders, representatives of local administration as well as civil society and academia joined the interaction. High Commissioner Verma underlined the guiding light of Gandhiji’s philosophy of truth, humanism and non-violence in showing them the path to deal with today’s global menace of extremism and terrorism. He also emphasised Gandhi’s belief in harmony with nature, his determination for the empowerment of the poorest and his message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” that inspires the motto of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” adopted by India for its G20 Presidency.  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has highlighted the remarkable power of non-violence and peaceful protest. "Let’s be inspired by the spirit of Gandhi and the enduring principles of the UN Charter," he said in a message on the International Day of Non-Violence. In marking the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Guterres said it is also a timely reminder to strive to uphold the values that Gandhi lived by: the promotion of dignity, equal protection for all, and communities living together in peace.   "On this year’s observance, we’ve a special duty: stop the fighting to focus on our common enemy: Covid-19.  There’s only one winner of conflict during a pandemic: the virus itself," he said. As the pandemic took hold, the UN Chief called for a global ceasefire. "Today we need a new push by the international community to make this a reality by the end of this year." He said ceasefires would ease immense suffering, help lower the risk of famine and create space for negotiations towards peace. "Deep mistrust stands in the way. Yet, I see reasons for hope. In some places, we see a standstill in the violence," Guterres said. A great many Member States, religious leaders, civil society networks and others back his call. "Now is the time to intensify our efforts," said the UN chief.