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Illinois State Senate Proclaims June 7, 2024 as the Global Gandhi Youth Mission Day
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HI INDIA NEWS DESK
CHIICAGO, IL- Mohandas Gandhi, an Indian-born, Britain-certified barrister, went to South Africa in 1893 to resolve a property dispute between two Indian Muslim Gujarati traders, Dada Abdulla Seth and his relative THK Mohamed. The South African court system required a British-trained Gujarati lawyer. On June 7, 1893, Gandhi was traveling in the first-class compartment of a train from Durban to Charlestown on his way to Pretoria for the case. At 9 PM, he was thrown off the train at the Maritzburg station because only white people were allowed in first-class. That night, Gandhi considered three options: fight for his rights, return to India, or stay and fight against racial prejudice in South Africa. He chose to stay, dedicating twenty years to this cause.
Dr. Sriram Sonty, Vice-President of the Gandhi Memorial Chicago Foundation, requested Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam to proclaim June 7, 2024, as “Global Gandhi Youth Mission Day.” The Illinois State Senate Human Rights Committee adopted this through Senate Resolution 883 on May 25, 2024. The Global Gandhi Youth Mission (2GYM) Organization was established on June 7, 2023, by Dr. Sonty and others.
On June 7, 2024, a public meeting at Skokie Public Library featured Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam, Gandhi Memorial Chicago Foundation members, and youth participants. The event included singing Gandhiji’s bhajans, narrating the 1893 train incident, and discussing the significance of the “Satyagraha” movement. Youth speakers shared Gandhi’s vision and values, and young artists exhibited paintings of Gandhi.