On the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister tied the freedom movement's Swadeshi idea to present-day self-reliance and Viksit Bharat.

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• India observed the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2026, with tributes led at Rajghat in New Delhi.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Sarva-Dharma Prarthana at Gandhi's samadhi and later joined an interfaith prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti.
• Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also paid homage at Rajghat.
• The Prime Minister highlighted Gandhi's emphasis on Swadeshi, with Khadi as its most prominent symbol, and urged citizens to buy at least one Khadi product on October 2.
• He expressed hope that Gandhi's message would guide the country towards a better society and a Viksit Bharat.
• In his video message, the Prime Minister stressed the global relevance of Gandhi's ideology, recalling truth, non-violence, simplicity and Swadeshi.
• The same day marked the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, born on October 2, 1904, whom the Prime Minister honoured at Vijay Ghat.
• Shastri was Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966 and is remembered for the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan."
• His leadership during the 1965 India-Pakistan war and his emphasis on agriculture and self-reliance were recalled in the tributes.
• Chief ministers, including Madhya Pradesh's Mohan Yadav, linked Gandhi's Swadeshi philosophy with India's present-day push for self-reliance and indigenous production.
• October 2 is also observed internationally as the International Day of Non-Violence in honour of Gandhi.
• Gandhi Jayanti also opened Special Campaign 6.0 and the People's Plan Campaign 2026-27, which carry forward themes of cleanliness and local self-governance.