Mahatma Gandhi showed people path of true Independence: Modi

(L to R) Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and Jamaican PM Andrew Holness place hands on a light ball symbolising Earth for a special event commemorating the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, during the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. (PIB/PTI)

UNITED NATIONS, PRIME Minster Narendra Modi has said that Mahatma Gandhi extended the meaning of democracy beyond elections to people power that makes citizens free from dependence on Governments. Modi made the remarks on Tuesday while hosting the “Leadership Matters: Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World” event at the UN headquarters here to commemorate Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. In his address, Modi said that democracy has been limited to people electing Governments and the Governments doing what the people want.

But Gandhi showed people the path of having true independence through a social system not dependent on Governments, he said. A stamp commemorating Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary was released at the event. The leaders also remotely inaugurated a $1 million-solar park that will produce 50 kilowatts of electricity from the roof of the conference building at the UN headquarters and a peace garden at a university campus. Modi was also joined by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Singapore Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong, Bangladesh Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, Jamaican Prime Minster Andrew Holness and New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern in remotely inaugurating the park. At the meeting, leaders spoke about Gandhi’s influence on them and their countries. “Gandhi ji never tried to create influence through his life but it became a source of inspiration across the world. We are living in the era of ‘how to impress’ but Gandhi ji’s vision was ‘how to inspire’,” he said.

Modi asked the audience to imagine Gandhi being born in a country that was already Independent and he would not have to lead a movement for Independence. He would still have led with his ideas of people power and self-help and self-reliance. It is these ideas that are behind the people leading campaigns like ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Digital India’, he said. Modi stressed that Mahatma Gandhi’s faith in collective will, shared destiny, moral purpose, people’s movements and personal responsibility are extremely germane to contemporary times. He said that violent conflict, terrorism, economic inequalities, socio-economic deprivation, pandemics and the looming existential threat of climate change are impacting people, states and societies. Leadership is crucial to addressing any and every one of these issues and the values promoted by Gandhi serve as moral compass for enlightened leadership.

Modi recalled that Queen Elizabeth touchingly showed him a small khadi handkerchief that Gandhi had sent to her as a wedding present. That showed that even though he was fighting the British, he still was able to maintain personal relationships of kindness, he said. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Gandhi’s ideas drive the work of the United Nations for equality, empowerment and global citizenship every day.” Many of Gandhi’s ideas foreshadow the holistic thinking behind the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said. “To take just one example: Gandhi understood the importance of advocacy and action around the issue of sanitation and led campaigns for clean drinking water and hygienic facilities when this issue was still deeply taboo.”

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has announced a USD 150 million line of credit to the group of Pacific island nations for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate related projects based on their requirement. Modi, who attended the India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders’ Meeting, also announced a total allocation of USD 12 million to the member states towards implementation of high impact developmental project in the area of their choice. The meeting was held on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

This is the first time he has met the leaders of the PSIDS on the margins of UNGA in a plurilateral format. “In New York, I had the opportunity to meet leaders of the Pacific Islands and interact with them on ways to boost cooperation between our nations. Pacific Islands are at the core of our Act East Policy. Issues like climate change and disaster management were discussed,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted. The meeting was attended by the Heads of delegation of Fiji, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, The Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Republic of Vanuatu.

“In the spirit of his fundamental Mantra “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas (together with all, for the development of all and with the trust of all),” Modi announced allocation of 12 million dollars grant (1 million dollar to each PSIDS) towards implementation of high impact developmental project in the area of their choice.