The International Day of Non-Violence is marked annually on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy of non-violence. The General Assembly of the United Nations, in a resolution adopted in 2007, established the commemoration as an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness. The resolution reaffirms the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.

As a UNESCO Category 1 institute with a mission on education for peace and sustainable development, it is important to reflect on the Gandhian legacy for education and human flourishing in different regions. Global education systems are under severe pressure: commodification of learning, financial and budget constraints, severe teacher shortages and demotivation of the teaching profession, pedagogies that over emphasize grades, examinations, and individual success, and the unleashing of emerging technology and digital tools including Artificial Intelligence.

How can education systems support the development of individuals who are not only knowledgeable, but also empathetic, compassionate, conscious, and capable of transforming their communities? One sure pathway is Sarvodaya, which for Gandhi meant "upliftment of all" – giving human dignity to one and all. This philosophy, envisioned by Gandhi to encapsulate the total well-being of every individual, encompassing religious, moral, political, social, and economic dimensions for holistic personal and societal growth finds a parallel in different regions and cultures including Ubuntu in African societies.