Honolulu- Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP) celebrated its 14th annual event to Commemorate the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

Los Angeles, Oct. 11, 2019
NRIpress.club- Dr. Raj Kumar/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Honolulu- Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP) celebrated its 14th annual event to commemorate the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki.
Hon. Govind Gaude, Minister for Art and Culture from Goa, India, Hon. Lt. Governor Dr. Josh Green, Hon. Congressman Ed Case, Esq., International speaker, Judith Jenya, Esq. from Mexico and Edward Hawkins, Executive Administrator from Economic Development from City and County of Honolulu and Dr. Jared Yurow ,Andrea Malji
, Maseeh Ganjanli.were the key speakers for Mahatma Gandhi Day commemoration. 

Dr. Raj Kumar received a special message from Congresswoman Hon. Tulsi Gabbard from Washington, proclamations from Governor David Y. Ige, Honolulu Mayor Hon. Kirk Caldwell, and certificates from Hawaii Senate and the House. 

Dr. Raj Kumar (Right) with Hon. David Y. ige, Governor, State of Hawaii	Click Here For Readable View

 

Peacemakers and educators, along with members from interfaith leaders for world peace, were highlights the daylong experience.  The event was free and included Indian invocation, Hawaiian blessing, multicultural dances i.e. Bollywood dance by Willow Chang from Bollywood Hawaii and Aja Nachle group, Sufi dance by Ewa Auwa Geueke from Germany, Na Hula Aloha and Chinese Lion dance, peace music by the Royal Hawaiian Band, Love, Peace and Harmony Choir, songwriters and singers, Kiana Luna and Faith Rivera, Sun Salutation yoga by Still and Moving Center, art workshop for children and Da Pen poetry group.

On June 15, 2007, United Nations designated October 2 as a Day of Nonviolence. 

On April 2013, Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, visited Hawaii, and shared the teachings of Gandhi with teachers, students, elected officials, social leaders and interfaith leaders.

In April 2015, Hawaii Legislature passed a Bill SB 332 and declaring October 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Day, and Governor David Y. Ige signed the Bill into Act 5. Hawaii became the first State in the United States to proclaim October 2 as “Mahatma Gandhi Day”.

On October 2, 2017, GIIP released a book “Gandhi’s Wisdom For you.” GIIP and Center for Attitudinal Healing released a new book, “Children as Teachers of Peace and Aloha on October 2, 2019.  Dr. Kumar is an author of numerous books.  He will release his book on Mahatma Gandhi - “Anger and Nonviolence” on October 2, 2020.

BACKGROUND:

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was a 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.
The honorific Mahatmā (Hindi: "high-souled", "venerable”) first applied to him in 1914 in South Africa, which is now used throughout the world.
October 2, 1869: Birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
May 1883: Gandhi and Kasturbai were married.
September 4, 1888: Mahatma Gandhi left for England to study law. He spent his life as an activist fighting for the rights of Indians.
March 1947: Lord Mountbatten arrived in India and hammered out agreement for independence and partition.
August 15, 1947: Indian independence became official, as did the partition into two countries, India and Pakistan.
January 30, 1948 - Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi had a narrow escape on January 20, 1948 when a bomb exploded in Birla House in New Delhi where he was addressing his prayer meeting. He took no notice of the explosion.
 Nathuram Godse, a conspirator from Poona, came to Gandhi’s prayer meeting on the evening of January 30, 1948, whipped out his pistol, and fired three shots. Gandhi fell instantly with the words ‘He Rama’ (Oh! God).
August-December 1948: India dissolved into chaos and killings, as Hindus and Muslims fled for the borders of India and Pakistan. This was the biggest massacre in Indian history. 

Once Mahatma Gandhi Said, “You must be the change, you wish to see in the world”.