New Delhi: From school kids offering floral tributes at Rajghat to social media enthusiasts using special ’emojis’ and hashtags, from political leaders talking about his message of non-violence and inclusive development to foreign dignitaries recalling him as “guide” in a troubled world, Mahtma Gandhi was remembered by one and all on his 149th birth anniversary on Tuesday.
Leaders pay tributes
Top leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid their tributes and urged the people to rededicate themselves to the values espoused by Gandhi and fulfil his dreams. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also paid homage to the father of the nation at Rajghat amid strains of ‘bhajans’. Modi also took to Twitter to extol the virtues of Gandhi, who led the nation to freedom, riding a path of non-violence.
“The noble thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi have given strength to millions across the world. He was a stalwart who lived for others and to make our world a better place. Paid tributes to Bapu at Rajghat this morning. #Gandhi150,” he said and shared pictures of Rajghat. The birth anniversary of Gandhiji is a wonderful opportunity to come together and fulfill his dreams, the prime minister said. The Congress chief was among the first of the senior leaders to pay homage at Mahatma’s solemn memorial bedecked with flowers.
Several other leaders, foreign diplomats and senior government officials joined in paying tribute to the Mahatma at Rajghat. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is on a visit to India, also visited Rajghat and hailed Mahatma as a “great soul” and humanity’s “guide in our troubled world”.
Inter-faith prayer held
An inter-faith prayer ceremony was also observed at Rajghat to promote the spirit of peace, amity and communal harmony as espoused in Mahatma’s principles of ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhav’. The leaders who paid tributes at Rajghat included Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and senior BJP leader L K Advani. Cleanliness and plantation drives were held in various parts of the country.
shastri revered too
The president, the vice president and the prime minister also visited Vijay Ghat Tuesday morning to pay tributes to former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.
“Remembering our former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji on his birth anniversary. His integrity, wartime leadership and role in the shaping of the Green Revolution remains an inspiration for the entire country #PresidentKovind,” Kovind tweeted.
Modi also paid homage at the Vijay Ghat and tweeted, “Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji epitomised strength and simplicity. He led India at a crucial time and worked hard to make our nation more prosperous.”