150 years of ‘enormous legacy’, says Jacinda Arden
New Zealand PM, Jacinda Arden today paid glowing tributes to the ‘enormous legacy’ of Mahatma Gandhi and what we can learn even today “to address the world’s pressing challenges”.
The PM was speaking at an event hosted by India’s PM, Narendra Modi at the United Nations to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi that falls on 2nd October.
“Let us all recommit to those principals as we acknowledge 150 years of an enormous legacy”, she said while addressing the elite gathering.
PM Jacinda Arden also acknowledged and affirmed the close ties that New Zealand has with India.
“Our presence here is a reflection of the close ties between New Zealand and India, but also of the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, which was felt to the furtherest corners of our globe,” she said.
She believed that “Gandhi’s legacy is as relevant today as it ever was.”
In her speech, she said: “As political leaders, there is much we can learn from Gandhi as we search for common ground to address the world’s pressing challenges.
“For me, there are three aspects of Gandhi’s message that carry particular weight: Tolerance. Equality, and the sanctity of non-violence. These are values that we should keep at the forefront of our minds. Not just in good times, but especially when faced with difficult choices,” she added.
The PM brought up the March Christchurch tragedy, and was thankful the ‘inner truth of all faiths’ witnessed at that time, did not divide the nation.
“In New Zealand, we have recently witnessed the tragic consequences of intolerance and of violence. An act of terrorism that sought to divide us. That took the lives of 51 innocent worshippers…
“…At a time when religion could have been used to divide us, we saw the unifying power of interfaith and intercultural understanding. We witnessed – as Gandhi himself understood – the inner truth of all faiths. The commonalities of dignity, of humanity and compassion that bind all people, all religions.
“The 15 March attacks are a tragedy we will not forget, and that require us to reflect on what we need to do to be the society we want to be. But we have also been reminded of the power of holding true to the values of tolerance, equality and non-violence in the face of hatred and violence.
“As Gandhi himself said “The very first step in nonviolence is that we cultivate in our daily life, as between ourselves, truthfulness, humility, tolerance, and loving kindness.”
“We must build societies that are inclusive of all religions, races and gender, and that solve disputes without recourse to violence. New thinking is also required to address the inequality that continues to blight the existence of many.”
According to the PM, these challenges are not only for New Zealand but for others as well.
Outlining New Zealand’s efforts to address inequality and “make the country best place in the world to raise a child”, PM Jacinda Arden said, “like Gandhi, we should not be afraid to stand up and transform our societies for the better.”
PM spoke about Gandhi’s expression of political dissent through non-violent opposition and his peaceful march.
“Gandhi’s 240 mile peaceful march across Western India to protest against the tax on salt created a path for countless other non-violent political movements throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries. We continue to see this power today as our young people march to effect change across the globe.
“Creating a safe space for the expression of different ideas; for political debate and dialogue whether it be on the streets or online remains an essential part of democratic and pluralistic societies. It is critical in resolving tensions in a peaceful manner.
Accepting that Gandhi’s legacy is “as relevant today as it ever was”, the PM called upon all to reject bigotry and intolerance, and embrace kindness and truth. It calls on us to strive for equality, no matter how difficult and entrenched systems are.And it demands that we recognise the lasting value of peace.”
