Sucre (Bolivia): The world today is very different from the one that Mahatma Gandhi lived and worked in, but he anticipated some of the “pressing challenges” of the 21st century, President Ram Nath Kovind has said. Commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Bolivia on Friday, Kovind, who is on a three-day visit to the Latin American country, stressed on the relevance the Father of the Nation holds in the 21st century, saying his principles have shaped India’s developmental experience.
President Kovind’s visit is the first high-level visit to the Latin American country since the establishment of diplomatic ties. The two countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen political and economic engagement. Speaking at the Autonomous University of Gabriel Rene Moreno in Santa Cruz, he said that the world today is very different from the world that Mahatma Gandhi lived and worked in. “And yet, Gandhiji remains extremely relevant to 21st century global concerns. In his advocacy of sustainability, ecological sensitivity and living in harmony with nature, he anticipated some of the pressing challenges of our times.
The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations are Gandhian philosophy in action,” the president said.
On the occasion, he also named an auditorium at the university after Gandhi’s name. The university is one of the oldest and largest centres of higher education in Bolivia with 115,000 students. October 2 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi. Bolivia will also install two statues of Gandhi gifted by India in La Paz and Santa Cruz, the external affairs ministry spokesperson said in a tweet.