Mahatma Gandhi’s 152nd birthday: Pres Ali urges citizens to be conscious of their civic duty

…as calls made to rename Middle St in Gandhi’s honour

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday joined in celebrating the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, during which he also urged persons to become more conscious of their civic duties and also had a few words to say on those who use their positions of influence to fuel vaccine hesitancy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a cultural programme at the Promenade Gardens, where a statue of the great Mahatma Gandhi stands, words of inspiration, songs and dances unfolded all in celebration of the birth anniversary of one of the world’s greatest leaders.
The event was organised by the Indian High Commission in Guyana, and High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa used the opportunity to speak glowingly about the life of Gandhi. President Ali, who was a special guest at the event, gave remarks noting the relevance of the work of Gandhi to this day.
Particularly, President Ali noted the importance of citizens remembering their civic duty, pointing out that this was a major plank of Gandhi’s advocacy. He noted that Gandhi believed in having inner strength and the ability to differentiate right from wrong.

“Take for example the vaccination programme. A global pandemic that requires a global response. What are we seeing academic papers on now? Vaccine injustice. Vaccine nationalism. And now, the conversation is moving even further, to type of vaccine you take.
“So, are we really moving forward? And this is why the life and lessons of these great souls remain relevant. Because there has been no structural change in the thinking and mindset of mankind, when it comes to the fundamental aspects of life,” President Ali said.
According to Dr Ali, the issue of the vaccine should not generate as much controversy it does. He took the opportunity to also speak out against those who misuse their platforms to fuel, instead of dissipate, vaccine hesitancy.
“The policy of vaccination itself evokes such controversy. That need not to be there if we all embrace the common message that vaccination brings, that is to save life and to take us back to some sort of normalcy. But instead, what do we see? We see the generation of controversy, that leads to an environment that does not allow peace to foster. Those persons who have the ability to influence positively but decide to use that ability to generate negative energy…
“Gandhi’s philosophy was meant to create change bottom up. It was meant to create active minds and thinking people from the bottom up. To awaken a sense of consciousness. And that is important in the message. How do we awake a sense of consciousness in society? This is why people must take the responsibility of their own participation.”
Gandhi’s non-violent resistance helped end British rule in India and has influenced modern civil disobedience movements across the globe. In his remarks, the High Commissioner called for the renaming of the Promenade Gardens and Middle Street in honour of Gandhi.
“I would like to take this opportunity to request humbly the Government of Guyana to consider our request to rename the Middle Street Mahatma Gandhi Street and to rename the Promenade Gardens the Mahatma Gandhi Gardens as a tribute to this great icon of peace, non-violence and anti-colonialism,” Srinivasa said.
Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who became a global symbol for seeking societal change through non-violent means. A proposal to rename the street is understood to have been formally made earlier this year. (G3)