International Day of Non-Violence – 2 October
Learn about International Day of Non-Violence, observed on 2 October to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, its history, significance, and key facts for TNPSC exams.
International Day of Non-Violence 2026
- International Day of Non-Violence is observed annually on 2 October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
- The United Nations established the day in 2007 to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.
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International Day of Non-Violence – Basic Facts
- Day = International Day of Non-Violence
- Date = 2 October
- Associated with = Mahatma Gandhi
- Reason for the date = Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi
- Established by = United Nations General Assembly
- Resolution = A/RES/61/271
- Resolution adopted = 15 June 2007
- First observed = 2 October 2007
- Main objective = To spread the message of non-violence
- Major means = Education and public awareness
- Core values = Peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026
Why is it observed on 2 October?
- 2 October is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), who is internationally recognized for his philosophy and practice of non-violence and his role in India’s independence movement.
Mahatma Gandhi and Non-Violence
- Ahimsa – non-violence.
- Satyagraha – insistence on truth / truth-force.
- Civil disobedience – peaceful resistance to unjust laws.
- Non-cooperation – peaceful withdrawal of cooperation.
- Truth and non-violence were closely connected in Gandhi’s philosophy.
- Gandhi used non-violent mass movements, including the Salt March of 1930, as part of India’s struggle against British rule.
India Connection
- Gandhi Jayanti – national observance marking Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
- International Day of Non-Violence – United Nations international observance.
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026
Important Gandhi Quotes
- “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
- “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
- “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
- “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
- “Where there is love there is life.”
- “Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
- “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
- “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
- “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
- “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026
Quotes Related to Non-Violence
- “Non-violence is a weapon of the strong.”
- “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
- “My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him.”
- “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.”
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026
Quotes Useful for Indian History Exams
- “Satyagraha is a weapon of the strong; it admits of no violence under any circumstance whatever.”
- “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
- “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
- “My life is my message.”
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026
TNPSC Important One-Liners
- International Day of Non-Violence → 2 October
- International Day of Non-Violence is associated with → Mahatma Gandhi
- Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday → 2 October 1869
- International Day of Non-Violence established in → 2007
- UN resolution → A/RES/61/271
- Resolution adopted on → 15 June 2007
- First observance → 2 October 2007
- Established by → UN General Assembly
- Main message → Non-violence
- Major method of dissemination → Education and public awareness
- Three forms of non-violent action → Protest and persuasion, non-cooperation, non-violent intervention
- Gandhian principle of non-violence → Ahimsa
- Gandhian method of truth-based non-violent resistance → Satyagraha
- Salt March → 1930
- Gandhi Jayanti → 2 October
- International Day of Non-Violence 2026