Oct 2, 2007 is declared as International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Indian Nation. At the same time the Nobel Committee regretted for missing the opportunity to honour this great man. Every Indian has felt good at such though belated developments.

This does not deflect one's sight on the ever growing reality of violence being perprtrated by the nations that had veto power in the United Nations. Neither the expression of regret by the Nobel Committee hides the fact that business in explosives had created the resources for Nobel Prize.

Seen against the present reality and the origin of the resources for the Nobel Prize one wonders if Mahatma Gandhi who believed in non-violence, not in words but in deeds would ever have accepted such accolades had he been alive.

Soumya Dev
03-10-2007