New Delhi, December 20: Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa yesterday, while addressing the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, announced that Portugal will be launching a Gandhi Citizenship Education Prize each year in order to help perpetuate Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals.
Antonio Costa was addressing the second meeting of the National Committee for Commemoration of the 150th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday. He said, Mahatma Gandhi’s message of tolerance and love was revolutionary in his time, and in many parts of the world it is still revolutionary today.
Costa said that the first edition of this prize will be dedicated to animal welfare as Mahatma Gandhi said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Presiding over the meeting, President Ram Nath Kovind said that there is global reverence for Mahatma Gandhi as the world is realizing that his vision of peace, equality and non-violence are more relevant today. He said Gandhiji can show the world the way forward on the issue of strife and climate catastrophe being faced by it.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has converted Gandhi’s agenda of cleanliness into a people’s movement and due to this widespread popular participation Gandhi’s dream of a clean India is getting realized in a short span of less than five years,” said President Kovind.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, all citizens need to imbibe Gandhian thought and vision in their lives and take it ahead in the times to come. Modi said that the world today is eager to know Mahatma Gandhi and ready to accept him and it becomes India’s responsibility to keep reminding the world of the abiding relevance of Mahatma and his vision.
He added that if everyone walks on this path and faithfully discharges their duties diligently, India’s dreams will be fulfilled. The Prime Minister acknowledged the suggestions of the members flowing from the first meeting in helping to create a commemorative program that harnesses the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi for Jan Bhagidaari.
PM Modi also thanked the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for taking the time through the year to be personally engaged with the commemorative activities both in India as well as in Portugal. On the occasion, Mr. Kovind also received first copies of an e-book on commemorative activities and an anthology on Gandhiji from the Prime Minister.