IAMC PAYS TRIBUTE TO MAHATMA GANDHI

The Indian American Muslim Council, an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his death anniversary on January 30, by calling on all Indians to come together as one nation, to rise above communal politics, and to discredit the hate-filled ideologies that claimed the Mahatma’s life.

Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership during India’s freedom struggle, his tenacity in living by the principles of non-violence even under the most adverse conditions and his steadfast espousal of the rights of the oppressed among the lower castes and minorities have made him an enduring source of inspiration for millions across the world. His legacy has guided freedom movements in several parts of the world, and his name rightly symbolises the indomitable human spirit. His assassination, soon after India’s independence, marks a defining moment in India’s continuing struggle against communalist and sectarian ideologies. “On January 30, 1948, the nation lost its greatest leader to an assassin’s bullets. Tragically, the hate and bigotry that manifested itself on that momentous day continue to be perpetuated in the form of religious extremism and radical communal politics,” said Shaheen Khateeb, president of IAMC. “Now, more than ever, we need to join hands and commit ourselves to ensuring that it is Gandhiji’s legacy of compassion, love and justice for all that shapes this nation’s future, and not the hate-filled legacy of Nathuram Godse,” added Mr. Khateeb.