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Conclusion of Year Long Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150^th Birth Anniversary

and

Commemoration of 151^st Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

(02 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)

Mahatma Gandhi’s 151st Birth Anniversary was celebrated by the Embassy of India, Hanoi, in its premises.  The event concluded a year long celebration to mark the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

H. E. Mr. Nguyen Dy Nien, Former Foreign Minister of Vietnam attended the event as the Chief Guest, along with other senior dignitaries, including Mme Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisation (VUFO) and Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Standing Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Representatives of India-Vietnam Friendship Organisations, members of diplomatic community, representatives of think tanks and academia, as well as members of the Indian Community joined the event.

Ambassador of India to Vietnam, Mr. Pranay Verma, along with dignitaries and guests offered the floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s bust in the Embassy’s premise. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador highlighted the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s messages in contemporary times. He thanked the Government of Vietnam for supporting Embassy’s efforts to highlight the messages of Mahatma Gandhi in Vietnam, including by releasing a stamp on Mahatma Gandhi by Vietnam Post in 2019.

Former Foreign Minister, H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, in his remarks paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and recalled deep imprints of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals on the leaders and people of Vietnam. He also highlighted the importance of teachings of Mahatma Gandhi in bringing global peace and human development in today’s world.

The celebration included video presentations on celebrations over the last one year to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150^th birth anniversary all across the world, as well as a rendition of Ganhiji’s prayer song “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye” by the Vietnamese singer Ms. Phi Nhung. A short video prepared by the Embassy on India’s handloom  sector, which was championed by Mahatma Gandhi as a symbol of India’s freedom struggle, was also shown.

During the event, Vietnam Institute for Indian and South-West Asian Studies (VIISAS) under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) issued a special edition of its journal on the “Constitution of India”. Winner of the “Gandhi Quiz” were also felicitated.

In run up to the celebration, the Embassy organized a series of online events, including a webinar on “Mahatma Gandhi in our Times”, “Mahatma Gandhi Quiz”, screening of award-winning film “Gandhi” at the University of Social Sciences and Humanity in Hanoi, and an online narration of stories of Mahatma Gandhi (Gandhi Katha) by Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna.

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Hanoi

02 October 2020

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