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According to US President Barack Obama, "America has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi". A statement that sums up his belief on the father of the Indian nation.
Internationally, Gandhi Jayanthi, the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated as the International Day of Non-violence.
“His teachings and ideals, shared with Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through the civil rights movement,” Obama said on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
“The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the non-violent social action movement for Indian independence, which he led,” Obama said in a statement.
Obama went on to say that he wants to express gratitude for the life and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi on behalf of all American people.
“This is an important moment to reflect on his message of non-violence, which continues to inspire people and political movements across the globe,” he said.
“We join the people of India in celebrating the great soul who lived a life dedicated to the cause of advancing Justice, showing tolerance to all and creating change through non-violent resistance,” Obama said.
“As the world remembers the Mahatma on his birthday, we must renew our commitment to live his ideals and to celebrate the dignity of all human beings.” The President of US said.
Last month, Obama had been visiting schools along with the Education Secretary of America across the US to give kids a pep talk on occasion of the beginning of the current academic year.
In one of the schools in Virginia, a student posed a question to him, asking him which person would he love to have dinner with living or dead to which Obama promptly replied, “You know, I think that it might be Gandhi, who is a real hero of mine,”
He went on to say “Mahatma Gandhi is someone who has inspired people across the world for the past several generations,” said Obama.
