Indian embassy hosts Mahatma Gandhi lecture in Ankara

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA

The Embassy of India in Turkey on Friday organized the inaugural lecture as part of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations.

India plans a year-long activities across the world to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Gandhi in consultation with respective governments, culminating in a grand ceremony at the UN office in New York.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, Indian ambassador to Turkey, said that Gandhi is "the father of nation" for Indians.

Bhattacharyya said that Gandhi, an internationally renowned Indian independence campaigner, "led the freedom struggle" for India.

He noted that Gandhi's anti-colonialist movement was based on four main pillars such as defining the understanding of complete independence, recognizing the power of people, having a position to say "no" to any form of pressure or injustice, as well as the belief in truth and non-violence.

The ambassador also said that Gandhi's ideas about change and non-violence were main principles of his "war without violence."

Cetin Akar, a senior representative from the Turkish Ministry of Culture, emphasized the importance of the cultural ties between Turkey and India.

Prof. Korhan Kaya of Ankara University, who is also a well-known Indologist, delivered a lecture titled "Indian Literature: Influences and Exchanges."

Kaya traced the rich interaction and cultural exchanges between Turkey and India.

A visual presentation about Gandhi, as well as a cultural song was presented in the event.

Ambassadors and representatives from a number of embassies, ministries and government offices also attended the event.

Gandhi -- born on Oct. 2, 1869 -- was the pacifist leader of the Indian independence movement against the British rule.

Earlier in October, the Indian Embassy in Ankara marked the 150th birth anniversary of Indian leader.

In 2007, the UN declared Oct. 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.