Mahatma Gandhi

One of Gandhi’s favorite hymns was Vaishnav Jan To, a 15th-century Gujarati devotional song by poet Narsinh Mehta. It emphasizes selflessness, compassion, and humility—qualities Gandhi admired.

The song was frequently sung at his prayer meetings. Today, it is performed globally on Gandhi Jayanti, often in diverse languages, showcasing its universal appeal.

In 2018, artists from over 40 countries recorded versions of it as a tribute to Gandhi’s message of peace.

Despite his immense influence on non-violent resistance, Gandhi never received a Nobel Peace Prize.

He was nominated five times (1937, 1938, 1939, 1947, and posthumously in 1948). The Nobel Committee later acknowledged this omission as a significant oversight.

The 1948 award was withheld because no “suitable living candidate” was found, following Gandhi’s assassination.

Gandhi promoted the idea of a national flag long before independence. He advocated for the inclusion of the spinning wheel (charkha) on a flag as a symbol of self-sufficiency and unity.

The 1931 Indian National Congress adopted a version of his proposed flag, which inspired the current tricolor design.

Though the modern flag replaced the charkha with the Ashoka Chakra, its message of progress and self-reliance remains rooted in Gandhian philosophy.

Though Gandhi opposed violence in all forms, he appreciated chess. He believed the game taught patience, strategy, and non-violent conflict resolution.

Interestingly, chess has origins in ancient India, and Gandhi’s homeland of Gujarat played a key role in its history.

Some historians suggest that Gandhi, as a strategic thinker, may have drawn parallels between the game and his non-violent resistance tactics.

Schools across India hold essay-writing competitions, skits, and painting contests on Gandhi’s life.

A unique tradition involves students cleaning their classrooms and surroundings, reinforcing Gandhi’s emphasis on cleanliness.

Some schools even organize “silent walks,” where children march in peaceful silence to honor Gandhi’s non-violent protests.

The Salt March (Dandi March) of 1930 was one of Gandhi’s most famous acts of civil disobedience.

His defiance of British salt taxes inspired similar movements worldwide. In the U.S., Martin Luther King Jr. referenced Gandhi’s march during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In South Africa, the anti-apartheid movement drew strategies from it. Even modern climate activists cite it as an example of effective peaceful protest.

Japan deeply respects Gandhi’s philosophy. Schools and cultural institutions commemorate him with peace lectures and meditation sessions.

In Hiroshima, where non-violence has special significance, Gandhi’s teachings are linked to nuclear disarmament efforts.

The city’s Peace Park has events on Gandhi Jayanti, drawing parallels between his anti-violence philosophy and Japan’s pacifist stance after World War II.

Despite his serious mission, Gandhi had a sharp sense of humor. He once quipped, “I would have been a lawyer, but then I found it easier to be a rebel.”

He also joked about his own fame, saying, “You may never know what results come of your actions.

But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” His wit softened tense situations, making his activism more approachable.

Gandhi was one of the historical figures featured in Apple’s iconic “Think Different” campaign in the late 1990s.

The ad honored visionaries who changed the world, placing Gandhi alongside Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., and others.

The campaign helped establish Apple’s brand philosophy of challenging norms and thinking innovatively.

In 1947, British journalist Louis Fischer gifted Gandhi a spinning wheel small enough to fit inside a briefcase.

It symbolized self-reliance and Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement. The compact charkha became one of his most treasured possessions. Today, it is displayed at the Sabarmati Ashram Museum in Ahmedabad.