Indian High Commission-er Shri Mahalingam on Friday urged President David Granger and Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green to continue sharing the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi to see Guyana progress towards a more peaceful and beautiful country.
Speaking at an observance at the Promenade Garden to mark Gandhi’s 146th birth anniversary, Mahalingam recalled the characteristics of Gandhi that have made an impact on not just India and surrounding countries, but across the entire world.
“His [Gandhi] values have become much more relevant to today’s society. He believed that violent ways in trying to solve [problems] will only escalate the violence. He was against the idea of the eye for an eye policy, which he believed would in the end make everyone blind,” Mahalingam said.
He recalled how Gandhi’s non-violent approach was taken by other great leaders around the world and inspired them to achieve their own goals.
“His Excellency Presi-dent Brigadier David Granger in his speech at the ceremonial opening of the 11th Parliament of Guyana pledged to introduce measures to promote “Social cohesion and protect vulnerable groups.” He stated that Guyana cannot become “One nation” if gross disparities persist between the hinterland and coastal land, between [an] educated few and [a] semi-literate mass, between the very rich and very poor. President Granger pledged to foster growth in a united nation in which cooperation prevails over confrontation,” Mahalingam said, while noting that on the occasion Granger was certainly moved by the principles of Gandhi.
Mahalingam also pointed out that while the whole world knows Gandhi as a political leader, a great thinker and a humanist, very people knew he was an environmentalist.
As he highlighted Gandhi’s passion for a clean and sustainable environment, he noted that he has been reading about efforts to transform Georgetown into a “Green City” and praised Green for embarking on the mission, following Granger’s vision for Guyana.
“I would like to assure the worshipful Mayor, we can be partners in your mission to return the glory to Georgetown as the famed “Garden city” and we wish you all the very best in your endeavor,” he said.
“Today we are not here to commemorate his death but his birth.
He played one of the most important roles in the independence of India and is known for his non-violent approach. Through his efforts not only did India gain independence but it inspired a worldwide anti-colonial movement and Guyana was to become a beneficiary to that event. Gandhi, therefore, is rightly revered locally and internationally,” Granger said as he addressed the gathering.
Green also spoke at the event and he said that he will continue to follow in the footsteps of Gandhi and will strive towards beautifying the city and the country as a whole.
Opposition parliamentarian Irfaan Ali and the Chairman of the Indian Commemoration Trust and Demerara Bank Yesu Persaud also spoke about the life and influence of Gandhi.
