Google logo pays homage to Gandhi

Today, the Google logo has replaced its "G" with a drawing of activist Mahatma Gandhi to celebrate what would be his 140th birthday.

Gandhi, born on Oct. 2, 1869 in Porbandar, India, is known as the influential leader of non-violent, civil disobedience campaigns to help India achieve independence from British rule. His peaceful tactics, which included fasting, boycotts, and collecting salt from the sea, eventually enabled India to gain independence from Britain in 1947. Earlier in his life, Gandhi worked at an Indian law firm, and campaigned to bring equality to the "untouchables" class in India.

A year after India was granted independence, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu extremist as he was entering a prayer meeting.

Every year, India celebrates Gandhi's birthday – which is deemed a national holiday – on October 2. Worldwide, October 2 is marked as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Google employee Dennis Hwang is the person behind all these commemorative Google drawings, which he began designing while he was a Google intern in 2000 to mark holidays and worldwide events. Recently, Google paid homage to HG Wells, author of War of the Worlds, by adding crop circles and UFOs to its logo.

––

Next week, keep a lookout for the harvest moon

Look up at the sky on Oct. 4 and you’ll be greeted by the orange glow of the harvest moon. Every fall – either in September or October – the harvest moon appears right around the autumnal equinox.

––

Are you on Twitter? We are. Follow @CSMHorizonsBlog