The India High Commissioner to Ghana, Sugandh Rajaram, has cautioned against violence and hooliganism ahead of election 2020, and advises that exercising democratic rights as citizens should be based on morality and cultural ethics for peace to prevail.
“When we exercise our democratic rights to elect our leaders, it is very important that as Mahatma Gandhi has said, it should be based on morality and ethics. In other words truth and non-violence. This basic principle of life is applicable in whatever we do, be it political, economic or business engagement,” he said.
The Commissioner made the statement in an interview with the media on the sideline of a commemoration event held at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre to mark the 150th anniversary of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist, who employed non-violent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule, and in turn inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
He lived his life between October 2, 1879 to January 30, 1948. He died through an assassination attack but Indians all over the world continue to celebrate mark October 2 as Gandhi Day, yearly as a founding father. The day has concurrently been adopted by the United Nations (UN) as International Day of Non-Violence.
In his address, Mr. Rajaram, emphasized that, Mahatma Gandhi’s entire life message was based on the basic life principle of truth and his philosophy is also based on truth which is concepted to mean insistence for truth and demanding for accountability.
“This only means that in our personal philosophy, spiritual life and morality, we should always seek for the truth of our existence. And when we apply that to the political realm, the truth then stands for freedom, justice, equality and accountability which are all internal values of humanity,” he said.
He further reiterated that the truth has basic applicable forms to life such as cleanliness, self-reliance, self-discipline, simplicity and ethics among others which were very relevant at the time and are still very relevant to the current and even future generations.
As part of the activities to commemorate the day, students from DPS International School also participated in a quiz competition out of which the winners were awarded with certificates
The occasion was also graced by several dignitaries from the Diplomatic Corps. Speaking on behalf of the Diplomatic Corp, Claudia Turbay Quintero, Ambassador of Colombia to Ghana, emphasized the need to keep up seeking the truth and living for the truth always like Gandhi did. He also urged all and sundry to be compassionate towards fellow human beings irrespective of race and cultural background.
Quoting one of Mahatma Gandhi’s popular sayings which reads “Non-violence is a weapon of the strong, and love is the strongest force the world possesses,” the India High Commissioner urged all his fellow Indians around the world to demonstrate love in all that they do on daily basis.
