Gandhi birthday to mark non-violence

UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (UPI) -- The anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth on Oct. 2 has been chosen as the International Day of Non-Violence.

The U.N. General Assembly "desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," Friday invited states, U.N. bodies, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate non-violence on Oct. 2 date through education and public awareness.

Introducing the resolution before the 192-member body, Anand Sharma, India's minister of state for external relations, said the idea originated at an international conference on "Peace, Non-Violence and Empowerment -- Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century" which met in New Delhi in January.

The late Indian leader's "novel mode of mass mobilization and non-violent action" brought down colonialism, strengthened the roots of popular sovereignty, of civil, political and economic rights, and greatly influenced other struggles for freedom and inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., Sharma said.