[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 595 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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. Wilson 
 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 Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas, on October 2, 1869, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 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'';
Whereas Gandhi believed that ``the future depends on what you do today'';
Whereas Gandhi gained acclaim from around the world, including from Nobel Prize 
        winner and noted scientist Albert 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 prejudices of the time, decided that he 
        must resist such treatment 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 conviction of ahimsa (to 
        do no harm, and to abhor violence to all living things), led a great 
        movement in South Africa 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 freedom and encouraging 
        respect and understanding of the full panoply of religious beliefs, to 
        uplifting the poor and downtrodden, and to finding peaceful resolution 
        to conflict 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 Gandhi was the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent 
        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 spreading 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) celebrates the life of Mahatma Gandhi on the 150th 
        anniversary of his birth;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the International Day of Non-Violence;
            (3) supports freedom of religion around the world;
            (4) encourages individual and community self-improvement 
        and civic education; and
            (5) recognizes that elections, democracy, and freedom are 
        essential rights for all people.
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