Dubai, October 02: The International Day of Non-Violence will be observed in the UAE today with the Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai hosting recitation of verses from the holy scriptures.
The United Nations had on June 15, 2007 declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence in honour of Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on this day and had led a non-violent struggle for Indian independence from British rule.
Shaikha Lubna bint Khaled Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Shaikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Free Trade Zone will speak at a function jointly hosted by the Consulate-General of India and Indian High School, Dubai at the school’s Shaikh Rashid Auditorium.
The programme will begin at 5pm with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, the Holy Bible and the Bhagwad Gita. It will include hymns and dances by school students as well as audio-visual presentation on Gandhi.
The programme at the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi will begin at 7pm.
On Thursday, the consulate hosted an Inter-School Debate Competition in cooperation with Our Own Indian High School in Dubai, in which 10 schools participated.
The theme of this year’s debate was “The rejection of all violence is a valid principle by which to live.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Ladies Association Dubai, in partnership with the Consulate-General of India and Getwell Clinic, Bur Dubai, is organising a free medical camp today for workers and other needy people in the community who do not have medical insurance and whose income is Dh2,000 or less, a release said.
People keen on benefiting from the service can walk go to the Indian consulate’s auditorium from 8am to 12 noon.
–Agencies