Actor Milind Soman will attend the ‘Gandhi March’ on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti in the Hague to mark the International Day of Non-Violence in the Netherlands.

The Gandhi March is a part of the ‘Follow the Mahatma’ campaign being launched by organisations, institutions and individuals advocating non-violence along with the Indian community in the Netherlands and the Indian Embassy here on October 1 and 2.

Advertisement

“Milind Soman, health and fitness expert and a strong believer in the power of self-motivation will join other marchers to collectively proclaim to the global community the importance of non-violence and world peace,” a press release issued by the Indian Embassy here said.

Soman, who is well-recognised in the Netherlands — a country known for sports and fitness enthusiasts — is the first male supermodel of India, and has acted as well.

He also holds the Limca record for running 1,500 kms over 30 days from New Delhi to Mumbai. He completed an ultra- endurance event with 10 kms of swimming, 474 kms of bike ride and a run of 84 kms over three days and is known ever since as the “Ultraman”.

Marking the eve of the International Day of Non-Violence, the Gandhi March will be held from the Peace Palace to the Grote Kerk in the Hague.

Ambassador of India to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony, Deputy Mayors of the Hague Rabin Baldewsingh and Karsten Klein, Ambassador of the United Kingdom Peter Wilson and the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Bruce Vusi Koloane will be joining the march, the release said.

A bicycle personally used by Mahatma Gandhi will be displayed at the Grote Kerk for the public to view at the end of the march.

The bicycle has been sent to the Netherlands by the Gandhi Memorial Trust in India as a special gesture, in view of the popularity of cycling and the fact that cycles are part of the Dutch cultural heritage.

An excerpt of an opera titled ‘Satyagraha’ (the instrument of non-violence used by Gandhi) composed by renowned musician Philip Glass will be performed at the Grote Kerk by the Korzo Theatre.

Also, a new book in Dutch titled ‘Gandhi – An Illustrated Biography’ – published by Lannoo of Belgium and authored by Pramod Kapoor will be released on the occasion.

October 2 is the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, and has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Day of Non-Violence.