Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on Thursday, October 2, by offering floral tributes and recalling their lasting contributions to the nation.
At Raj Ghat, he paid homage to Gandhi, the ‘Father of the Nation’, and later shared his tribute on social media.
“Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history. He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change. He believed in the power of service and compassion as essential means of empowering people,” he wrote on X.
Modi added, “We will keep following his path in our quest to build a Viksit Bharat.”
Remembering Lal Bahadur Shastri, he described him as an “extraordinary statesman” and said, “Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji was an extraordinary statesman whose integrity, humility and determination strengthened India, including during challenging times. He personified exemplary leadership, strength and decisive action. His clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ ignited a spirit of patriotism among our people. He continues to motivate us in the endeavour of building a strong and self-reliant India.”
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji was an extraordinary statesman whose integrity, humility and determination strengthened India, including during challenging times. He personified exemplary leadership, strength and decisive action. His clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ ignited a… pic.twitter.com/p9zaMRh3xC
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2025
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid their respects to Gandhi and Shastri, invoking their ideals as guiding lights in contemporary times.
Rahul Gandhi, in a message on X, said, “The ideals of Bapu, who united India through the principles of truth, non-violence, and harmony, will continue to inspire us to follow the path of peace, brotherhood, truth, and humanity in the face of hatred.”
His sister Priyanka focused on Shastri’s simplicity and strength. Posting on X, she wrote, “Respectful tributes to former Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, on his birth anniversary, who gave the country a new direction with the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. His simplicity, humility, and unwavering resolve to defend the rights of his countrymen will always guide us.”
#WATCH | Delhi | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and other MPs pay tributes to former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of his birth anniversary at the Central Hall of the Samvidhan… pic.twitter.com/XHz4RxHzMq
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2025
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended greetings on Gandhi Jayanti. “The ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, the great architect of the Indian freedom movement and Father of the Nation, who showed the path of peace to the entire world through supreme values like truth, non-violence and Satyagraha, will always be a source of inspiration for us. Today, when his principles are being challenged, we are facing them by following Bapu’s teachings and guidance,” he said in a post on X.
Across India, prayer meetings, cleanliness drives and cultural events were organised to mark the occasion. Statues of Gandhi and Shastri were decorated with garlands and schools and public institutions echoed their teachings through recitations and programmes.
Indian missions worldwide also observed Gandhi Jayanti with tributes, hymns and Swachhata activities.
In New Zealand, the Indian High Commission welcomed guests including former Governor-General Anand Satyanand and community leaders, highlighting Gandhi’s message of peace. In Japan, floral tributes were offered at the Gandhi statue in Edogawa, with officials, diaspora members, teachers and students in attendance.
In Nepal, Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava felicitated sanitation workers as part of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2025’ campaign, and hymns cherished by Gandhi were sung by Kendriya Vidyalaya students in Kathmandu.
Events were also held in Papua New Guinea, Australia and Brazil. In Sydney, Consul General S. Janakiraman, Parramatta councillor Sameer Pandey and members of the Indian community gathered at Jubilee Park, while in Perth, the Consul General joined an Ahimsa Australia event. In Sao Paulo, Indian officials carried out a cleanliness drive at the Gandhi statue, calling it a tribute to Gandhi’s vision of “Clean India – Green India”.
