Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 595 Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI (for himself, Mr. HOLDING, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. WIL- SON of South Carolina, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. BERA, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. PALLONE, and Mrs. LAWRENCE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af- fairs RESOLUTION Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Whereas, on October 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gan- dhi was born in Porbandar, India; Whereas Gandhi is recognized as a singular historical figure and proponent of nonviolent protest, seeking peace and equality for all; Whereas Gandhi believed that ‘‘strength does not come from physical capacity . . . it comes from an indomitable will’’; Whereas Gandhi believed that ‘‘the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR595.IH HR595 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 595 IH Whereas Gandhi believed that ‘‘the future depends on what you do today’’; Whereas Gandhi gained acclaim from around the world, in- cluding from Nobel Prize winner and noted scientist Al- bert Einstein, who said, ‘‘Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth’’; Whereas Gandhi, while serving as a barrister in South Africa, and after suffering the unjust treatment inflicted on all people of color in keeping with the accepted racial preju- dices of the time, decided that he must resist such treat- ment to preserve his dignity as a person, and to protect the rights of all men and women, regardless of race, creed, or caste; Whereas Gandhi, in accordance with his deep religious con- viction of ahimsa (to do no harm, and to abhor violence to all living things), led a great movement in South Afri- ca and then in India, embracing civil disobedience and nonviolent protest, resisting the unjust and oppressive treatment inflicted on Indians living abroad and in their home country; Whereas Gandhi gained independence of a nation of hundreds of millions of people, forever inspiring the world; Whereas Gandhi devoted his life to protecting religious free- dom and encouraging respect and understanding of the full panoply of religious beliefs, to uplifting the poor and downtrodden, and to finding peaceful resolution to con- flict through nonviolent resistance and dialogue; Whereas Gandhi inspired civil rights leaders around the world, including Martin Luther King, Jr., who wrote, ‘‘while the Montgomery boycott was going on, India’s VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR595.IH HR595 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 595 IH Gandhi was the guiding light of our technique of non- violent social change’’; Whereas Gandhi was responsible for civil rights movements in 4 continents and 12 countries; Whereas Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times during his life, and was called ‘‘Mahatma’’ (the great soul) in his native India for his devoted service to others; and Whereas Gandhi’s legacy has had a lasting impact in spread- ing peace and promoting nonviolent protest as the best and most effective method to remedy unjust social and political conditions across India and the entire world: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) celebrates the life of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 the 150th anniversary of his birth; 3 (2) encourages the people of the United States 4 to observe the International Day of Non-Violence; 5 (3) supports freedom of religion around the 6 world; 7 (4) encourages individual and community self- 8 improvement and civic education; and 9 (5) recognizes that elections, democracy, and 10 freedom are essential rights for all people. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:56 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR595.IH HR595 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS