The Embassy of India in Lebanon, with the cooperation of the Association for the Development of Lebanese-Indian Relations ADLIR, celebrated the International Day of Non-Violence on October 5.  

The International Day of Non-Violence falls every year on  October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a spiritual and political leader of India, after the UN General Assembly unanimously approved this commemoration in June 2007 as an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness. The resolution reaffirms the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. 

Her Excellency Ambassador Joanna Wronecka, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon was the keynote speaker for the event. Other speakers included Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, Ambassador of India to Lebanon, Her Excellency Dr Manal Abdel Samad, Former Minister, Mr. Melhem Khalaf, Head of Beirut Bar Association, Mr. Haitham Sayyad, Advisor and the Representative of Governor of Beirut Judge Marwan Abboud and Ms. Maryam Schuman, representing ADLIR. 

Other dignitaries who attended the event included, Her Excellency Ambassador Caroline Ziade, Director International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representative of His Excellency Dr Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Major General Stefano del Col, Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL, Ambassadors of Srilanka, Bangladesh and Turkey and representatives of various embassies, International organisations, Lebanese civil society and Indian diaspora. 

The speakers recalled the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi of Truth and Non-violence and  underlined its continued relevance in today’s World. 

An announcement was also made on behalf of the Governor of Beirut that a public space in Beirut will soon be named after Mahatma Gandhi. Ambassador Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan thanked the Beirut Governor for this announcement. He said, "We are honored by the announcement made on behalf of Beirut Governor that a public space in Beirut will soon be named after MahatmaGandhi 

This reflects love and affection for Gandhiji as well as an abiding faith in the principle of Non-Violence in Lebanon.”