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The United Nations in a function organised by the Indian Mission to commemorate the 140th birth anniversary of the father of the nation; also marked as the International Day of Non-Violence, has released a stamp featuring him on Friday.
United Nations Postal Administration, the world body's postal agency, released the one-dollar stamp designed by a world famous Miami-based artist Ferdie Pacheco, with the Father of the Nation in red, blue and gold.
The function was attended by several UN envoys to reiterate the influence of Mahatma Gandhi's life.
"In many ways, Mahatma Gandhi previsioned the UN. Much of the work that we do in the area of human rights owes its genesis in the struggle against racial discrimination, which he focused on," Hardeep Singh Puri India's ambassador to the UN said.
President of the General Assembly Ali Treki stressed upon Gandhi's commitment to communal harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Paying tribute to Gandhi, the US envoy to the UN Susan Rice notified the significance of Mahatma. "Gandhi had influenced millions of Americans. Gandhi believed that physical force could be turned aside by moral forces."
Both, Ambassador Puri and Rice spoke of the historic trip that civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr, made to India in 1959 to see the country of the Mahatma.
On his return Dr King wrote, "It was wonderful to be in Gandhi's land."
This year, on the 50th anniversary of the journey, the US sponsored the visit of Martin Luther King III to retrace the steps of his father and mother.
Quoting King "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy," Rice spoke of Gandhi's influence on the US history. "That is true of people but it is also true of nations."
All over New York City, small and big events were organised to mark the birthday of the Father of the Nation.
The UN has put on sale the envelopes marked with the stamp and the United Nations' seal on it.
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