Gandhi is given the title “Mahatma”, which means a great soul and a holy person who lives his life by the means of love and kindness. He is considered the father of the nation, who paved the way for the country to gain freedom from the British Raj in 347 years. He is also known as "Bapu" meaning father for his contribution to his nation India by fighting for freedom with words and not war. He encouraged the saying “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” and followed the path of non-violence. The impact of his inspirational movements led to an International Day of Nonviolence by the United Nations on his birthday, October 2. In India, the birth anniversary is declared a national holiday which includes events such as prayer services, memorial ceremonies and tributes at locations across India through art exhibitions, essay competitions, film screening and reading of books on life and the achievements of Mahatma Gandhi. He is still remembered today for his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle and is still alive in the heart of the nation