‎New Delhi, Jan 30 (.) Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his martyrdom day, invoking his philosophy as a living, enduring idea rather than a historical figure, and underscoring the relevance of truth, non-violence and moral courage in contemporary India.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said Mahatma Gandhi represented a way of thinking that powerful forces had repeatedly tried—and failed—to erase. “Mahatma Gandhi is not a person, but an idea,” he wrote in Hindi.
“An idea that an empire tried to destroy, an ideology of hatred tried to eliminate, and arrogant power attempted to suppress—but failed.”
Rahul Gandhi added that Gandhi’s most enduring legacy was the moral framework he left behind along with India’s freedom.
“The Father of the Nation gave us this core mantra with independence—that the power of truth is greater than the power of authority, and that non-violence and courage are stronger than violence and fear,” he said.
Echoing the sentiment, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Gandhi’s philosophy could never be extinguished because it was inseparable from India’s conscience. “This way of thinking cannot be erased, because Gandhi is immortal in the soul of India,” she said, paying her “humble tribute to Bapu on his martyrdom day.”
Priyanka Gandhi also quoted Mahatma Gandhi to underline the democratic values he stood for: “True democracy can come only when every individual’s life is secure and free.”
The statements come amid ongoing political debates over nationalism, dissent, and democratic freedoms, with the Congress repeatedly positioning Gandhi’s ideas of non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), and courage (sahas) as a counter to what it describes as growing intolerance and centralisation of power.
‎Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. Every year, political leaders across parties mark the day to remember his role in India’s freedom struggle and to reflect on the relevance of his ideals in modern India.
The Congress leadership has in recent years increasingly invoked Gandhi’s philosophy not only as historical remembrance but as a political and moral touchstone, arguing that his emphasis on pluralism, fearlessness and ethical politics remains vital for the health of Indian democracy on Friday.
. SKA PPP ARN