Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebrated in Turkey

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – The Indian Embassy in Ankara celebrated on Monday the 150th birth anniversary of India’s pacifist independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.</p> <p>The embassy organized a “Mahatma Gandhi Lecture Series” to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi.</p> <p>Speaking at the event, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Indian ambassador to Turkey, said Gandhi gives “highest priority to the observance of truth” and “understanding of non-violence”.</p> <p>Bhattacharyya said Gandhi, an internationally renowned Indian independence campaigner, believed in fighting inequality and showed that non-violence is a positive force and a powerful weapon.</p> <p>Shobhana Radhakrishna, chief functionary at Gandhian forum for ethical governance in India, displayed a presentation titled “Transformational leadership of Gandhi”.</p> <p> Radhakrishna said Gandhi had a progressive character dedicated to peace building efforts, interfaith dialogues, conflict resolution, equal resource distribution, environmental conservation, voluntary self-discipline and service to humanity.</p> <p>She also said Turkey and India have a “close” relationship, underlining nearly 9,000 common words in Turkish and Indian languages.</p> <p>A visual presentation about Gandhi, as well as a cultural song was displayed at the event. </p> <p>Ambassadors and representatives from a number of embassies, ministries and government offices also attended the event.