International Day of Non-Violence

This world has experienced its share of bloody wars that have ended countless lives and filled many others with sorrow. Regardless of which country you go to, there are stories of how someone's greed or desire for power led to the killing of innocent people, the destruction of beautiful cities, and the plundering of natural resources. Even wars fought for a good cause, such as the American Civil War, which resulted in the abolition of slavery, were responsible for a large number of deaths.

Fortunately, there are people in this world who have brought about changes they deemed necessary without violence or brute force, and it is these individuals that International Nonviolence Day celebrates.

International Nonviolence Day is celebrated on October 2nd in honor of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, one of the most influential political activists of all time. Gandhi used nonviolent civil disobedience to eventually overthrow the British, who ruled India at the time. Despite being imprisoned multiple times, nothing ever compelled him to abandon his peaceful approach, which eventually led to India gaining the independence it had long yearned for.

However, his country's independence was not the only matter Gandhi considered important. He also actively sought to build good relationships between people of different religions and ethnicities, expand women's rights, and reduce poverty. Although he was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist in 1948, he has never been forgotten, and the majority of Indians refer to him as the father of the nation.

One of the best ways to honor the life and achievements of Mahatma Gandhi and other world leaders who won their battles without violence is to choose one of these individuals and read their biography, finding out what motivated them and what helped them maintain their strength even when they witnessed terrible things happening around them.

Such individuals include civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, Beatles star John Lennon, humanitarian activist Harry Belafonte, and, of course, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. The life stories of each of these people are fascinating and inspiring. If you have children, this day could be an ideal time to teach them the virtues of courage, compassion, and perseverance.

Children can be cruel, so it is important to instill in them strong feelings of good and evil in the hope that they will become good, strong adults and worthy successors to the aforementioned individuals. After all, children are the future and the people who will shape history. Whether you decide to celebrate International Nonviolence Day, make sure you do what you can to honor the courage and goodness of people like Mahatma Gandhi and continue their legacy.