President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday (October 2, 2025) paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat on their birth anniversaries. The solemn occasion was marked by floral tributes and nationwide remembrance of two of India’s most revered leaders.
PM Modi invokes Gandhi’s ideals for a developed India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled Gandhi’s life and message in a post on X, describing him as a global figure whose principles of truth, simplicity, courage, and service transformed history.
“Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history. He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change,” the Prime Minister said.
He emphasised Gandhi’s deep belief in service and compassion as powerful means of empowering people and reiterated his government’s resolve to follow Gandhi’s path to build a developed and self-reliant India.
Remembering Shastri’s leadership and legacy
PM Modi also paid homage to India’s second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was born on October 2, 1904, in Uttar Pradesh.
Lauding him as an extraordinary statesman, Modi said, “He personified exemplary leadership, strength and decisive action. His clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ ignited a spirit of patriotism among our people. He continues to motivate us in the endeavour of building a strong and self-reliant India.”
The Prime Minister urged citizens to honour Gandhi and Shastri’s memory by supporting swadeshi products, adding that buying goods made in India was a true tribute to their vision. “Swadeshi is the foundation of a self-reliant and developed India,” he said.
Gandhi’s enduring influence
This year marks the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Porbandar, Gujarat, in 1869. Known worldwide as the Father of the Nation, Gandhi pioneered India’s freedom struggle through the principles of truth (satya) and non-violence (ahimsa). His leadership in mass movements such as the Salt March and Quit India movement not only transformed India’s independence fight but also inspired global civil rights movements.
Shastri’s brief yet impactful tenure
Lal Bahadur Shastri, born in Mughalsarai (now Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar) in 1904, assumed the role of Prime Minister after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964.
Despite a short tenure, his leadership during the 1965 India-Pakistan war and his economic policies, including the promotion of agriculture and the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, won him widespread respect. Shastri is remembered for his integrity, humility, and decisive leadership, which strengthened the nation during challenging times.
Conclusion
As India remembered the legacies of Gandhi and Shastri, tributes poured in from across the country, with political leaders, citizens, and institutions marking the day with prayers, cleanliness drives, and pledges to follow their ideals. The day served as a reminder of the moral strength and simplicity that both leaders embodied—values that continue to guide India’s journey toward self-reliance and development.