Opinion

India’s history is illuminated by visionaries who reshaped not only the destiny of the nation but also offered direction to humanity at large. It is a rare coincidence that 2 October marks the birth anniversaries of two such towering figures—Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, and Lal Bahadur Shastri, a statesman of unmatched humility and resolve. Together, they defined India’s moral compass through freedom, discipline, and public welfare. Gandhi: The Force of Truth and Nonviolence Born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi transformed political resistance into a moral movement. He proved that true leadership rests not on power or wealth but on ethics and public trust. His philosophy revolved around truth (satya), nonviolence (ahimsa), self-relianc...