Together with the Government of India, UNESCO New Delhi is proud to be associated with the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi since his life, teaching and contributions have touched on almost every major programme area of the Organization's activities - education, science, culture and communication. 

Concerned with education in all its aspects, Mahatma Gandhi also believed that science should be the tool for enhancing not only welfare but also human values, at the same time stressing the importance of preserving the cultural heritage in every sense of the term. Dedicated advocate of free interaction between cultures, in the interests of mutual enrichment, he was one of the great communicators of the 20th century, exercising a positive influence in many of the sectors of society with which UNESCO was concerned, such as youth, women and children, the deprived and the disadvantaged, and in the social sciences in general. 

It also inspired the creation of  the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), a research institute focusing largely on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7 towards education for building peaceful and sustainable societies across the world.  

We asked the Director of MGIEP, Mr Anantha Duraiappah, how the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi guides the work of the Institute.   To read the full interview click here.