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Ahead of Mahatma Gandhi's 140th birth anniversary in October, a resolution has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to recognize Gandhi's 'visionary leadership that enhanced the rapidly deepening friendship between the United States and India.'
The resolution introduced by Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, Florida) and co-sponsored by five co-lawmakers, including Rep. Jim McDermott (Democrat Washington) notes that Gandhi was 'a great political leader, devout and spiritual Hindu and leader of India's nationalist movement.'
The resolution said that all his life Gandhi courageously supported, and gave his life for, the cause of Hindu-Muslim amity and helped make India the largest democracy in the world.
The resolution introduced by Ros-Lehtinen, the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban-American elected to Congress in 1989, June 26, said that Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience has influenced people around the world for the betterment of mankind.
It noted that Gandhiji developed the term satyagraha, meaning vindication of truth, not by inflicting suffering on others but through nonviolent and patient self-suffering and that his autobiography 'My Experiments with Truth' reveals the inner voice of one of history's most spiritual leaders.
Ros-Lehtinen's resolution that has been sent to the sub-committee on Foreign Affairs, noted that Gandhiji counseled the humankind to 'hate the sin, and love the sinner' and urged people everywhere to 'be the change you want to see in the world' and reminded the world that 'freedom is not worth having if it does not connote the freedom to err.'"
Noting that as a result of his timeless legacy, Gandhi's name has come to symbolize freedom and justice around the world, the resolution urged the House to recognize the 140th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and commend "Gandhi's unique and lasting role in the establishment of India and its democratic institutions which will be revered for generations to come."