The Monument Of The Famous Indian Political And Spiritual Leader Mahatma Gandhi In Moscow, Russia. Editorial Photo

The sculptural figure of Mahatma Gandhi by the famous Indian sculptor Gautam Pal, was presented to the city of Moscow by the government and people of India in 1988. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 2 October 1869–30 January 1948, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of Satyagraha—a philosophy of `resistance to evil through active, non-violent resistance`—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is commonly known in India and across the world as the Mahatma Sanskrit: mahātmā — `Great Soul` - an epithet given by Tagore and as Bapu Gujarati: bāpu—`Father`. In India, he is officially accorded the honour of Father of the Nation. 2 October, his birthday, is commemorated each year as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday. On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 2 October to be the `International Day of Non-Violence.