INDIA AND THE WORLD CELEBRATES MOHATMA GANDHI'S 140th BIRTHDAY TODAY (OCTOBER 2, 2009)

GANDHI'S 140th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED BY INDIA

The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, led the nation in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 140th birth anniversary at his memorial "Raj Ghat" on Friday. Raj Ghat is a black marble platform that marks the spot of Gandhi's cremation on January 31st, 1948.

In addition to the Prime Minister, a host of other dignitaries paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, including the new U.S. Ambassador to India, Tim Roemer.

Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that NREGA, a rural poverty alleviation program, will be renamed after Gandhi. All is not good in terms of Gandhi news, however.

Pen manufacturer Montblanc has unveiled a limited-edition commemorative fountain pen in honor of Mohandas Gandhi this week, just in time for the 140th anniversary of the birth of the Mahatma, or "Great Soul," today. The price? $24,763.

This has caused howls of outrage among Hindu groups and Gandhists. Why? They say the pen's price is the lifetime income of many of India's poor. The limited-edition fountain pen comes in 18-carat solid gold and is engraved with Gandhi's image (loincloth and all). It has a saffron-colored mandarin garnet on the clip and a rhodium-plated nib.

Anticipating a backlash, Montblanc made a $145,666 donation to the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation. That hasn't stopped the outcry, or a lawsuit. Additionally, as Gandhi advocated a simple lifestyle, this is 180 degrees in reverse. This pen is the ultimate example of profligacy.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on Oct. 2nd, 1869, and died on January 30th, 1948, when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by insisting upon a payment to Pakistan.

Gandhi was was the political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He pioneered satyagraha (resistance to tyranny through mass non-violent civil disobedience).

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Comment by Bittiandra Muddappa Aiyyappa on November 2, 2009 at 5:30am: We had a World March for Peace and non-violence that started on Gandhiji´s birth day, also now, world peace day as declaired by the UNO which started from Wellington in New Zealand and will be in Berlinr on the 15thof November. The March will go through all countries and after coverng 160000 kms will end at Punta de Vacas, Argentina, on the 2nd of January 2010. Millions of people will come forward to support this March Which is the bigest and longest March ever organisded so far. Peace, orce and Joy to you my friend