Manipuris undertake a cleanliness drive on Gandhi Jayanti

Imphal, Oct 2 (ANI): The people of Manipur celebrated Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's 142nd birth anniversary on Sunday by undertaking a cleanliness drive.

Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and State Governor Gurbachan Jagat paid their homage to Mahatma Gandhi at an event organised in the Gandhi Memorial Hall here.

As mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi, the day is also celebrated as the cleanliness day.

"National cleanliness day that is 2nd October, this is very important, it is impacting all over the world not only in India, not only in Manipur it is impacting all over the world because father of the nation, he has spread message of peace, tranquility and peaceful coexistence," said R K Surchandra Singh, Secretary of Fisheries, Government of Manipur.

"This is very important and for that matter we need to live, we need to keep our environment very neat and clean, and healthy people are required for a healthy nation," he added.

Meanwhile, Home Department Additional Secretary Yaiskul Singh said Mahatma Gandhi stressed on the need to keep our environment clean.

"It was dream of Mahatma Gandhi that we should keep the environment clean and not only keeping our mind clean. Just to remind his ethics we continue to observe this function,' said Yaiskul Singh.

Gandhi was against the prevalence of the caste system that had plagued our society and worked relentless towards its eradication. He stressed on the need for unity between the Hindus and the Muslims.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as the 'Father of the Nation', is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 with reverence all over the country.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, better known as 'Bapu', or Gandhiji, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbander, Gujarat.

Gandhiji was a preacher of truth (Satyagraha) and 'ahimsa' (non-violence). He started the 'Satyagraha' movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in 'Swadeshi'.

He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence - a true symbol of peace and truth!

The United Nations had declared in 2007 that October 2 would be observed as 'International Day of Non-Violence'. (ANI)