140 years ago today a man who transformed the world, and gained freedom for his country through non-violent means was born on this date in 1869.Mahatma Gandhi was violently taken from us, but his non violence principles were borrowed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and later used to successfully break the back of Jim Crow segregation.
President Obama noted the occasion as well. "Gandhi's teachings and ideals, shared with Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement.
"The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the nonviolent social action movement for Indian independence which he led.
"We must renew our commitment to live his ideals and to celebrate the dignity of all human beings."
Gandhi's birthday is also celebrated as Tie International Day of Non-Violence
