UN chief hails Gandhi's principle of non-violence

New Delhi: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Tuesday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial here and hailed him as a "great soul" and humanity's "guide in our troubled world".

Guterres, later in an interaction with PTI, denounced terrorism as a "plague" that affects the world, and highlighted the significance of the principle of non-violence espoused by Gandhi.

"I feel extremely honoured to pay tribute to this great figure in world history. Today (October 2) also marks the International Day of Non-violence. And, as we continue our work to advance peace, the way to realise the objectives is through non-violence," he said.

Guterres, currently on a visit to India, his first as the UN Secretary-General, also laid a wreath on the 'samadhi' of the father of the nation at Rajghat.

"I pay tribute to this greatest soul that has ever lived. Our guide... in our troubled world," he wrote in the visitor's book.

According to the UN General Assembly resolution of June 15, 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day of Non-Violence is marked 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, understanding and non-violence".