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Celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Tehran

Celebrations of the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Tehran

Celebrations were held on 02 October 2018 in the run up to the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi next year with special events at two venues in Tehran, by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the Bukhara. The well attended programme during the day was organized at the Ferdowsi Hall, Khaneh-Andishmandan-i-ulumeh-insani (Iran Humanities Thinkers House), Tehran and Warsaw Park. The function began with the plantation of saplings in the park as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's attachment with nature and environment. The Ambassador, Shri Saurabh Kumar; the Honourable Guest Mr. Pascal Allan Nazareth, a veteran scholar of Gandhian thought and former Ambassador, and other dignitaries planted the cypress saplings.

The main programme included expositions on Mahatma Gandhi's contribution, influence and lasting significance of his precepts, in the speeches by the Ambassador Shri Saurabh Kumar; and the key speakers Mr. P. A. Nazareth, Chief Guest H.E. Mr. Bahram Qassemi, Deputy Minister and Spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry; and an academician Professor Ahmad Naqibzadeh and litterateur Mr. Ali Dehbashi.

The event was marked with the releases of the book "Gandhi Rehbare Behamta" [the Farsi/Persian translation of "Gandhi Outstanding Leadership" by Mr. P.A. Nazareth]; the Gandhi special volume of Bukhara, the Persian Journal of Art, Culture and Iranology; the pictorial book "Mahatma Gandhi : The Myth". The event was a collaboration of Satya-varta and Bukhara's Shab-e-Gandhi.

The set of special philatelic collection with Indian Postal Stamps commemorating Mahatma Gandhi was also released in the function. The video of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan (Vaishnav jan to.......) sung by Iranian singer Mr. Farman Fathalian was played for the audience. A special KVIC Exhibition on Khadi products set up by the Swami Vikekanand Cultural Centre (Indian Cultural Centre), Tehran was also inaugurated, and was an attraction for the visitors.

In the evening, the programme consisted of the screening of special documentaries on Mahatma Gandhi and his message, followed by the speeches by Ambassador and Mr. P. A. Nazareth, Chief Guest. Indian ladies sang the favourite bhajans of Mahatma Gandhi and vegetarian food was served to all. The main attraction was the lighting of the Gandhi@150 logo at the Chancery facade.

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