KATHMANDU: Political leaders, academics and civil society representatives today tried to translate into practice Mahatma Gandhi's most appreciated weapon -- non-violence and peaceful means of protests -- to bring about change in society.

Speaking at an interaction organised by the Ganeshman Singh Academy in Kathmandu coinciding with Gandhi's death anniversary today, they also stressed the need to do away with the "myths and misperceptions" related with India's Father of the Nation.

Gandhi was not a Mahatma, but an ordinary human being with weaknesses, but he tried to overcome them, said New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Ananda Kumar. "He tried to practice what he preached, that's why he called his life 'an experiment with Truth'.

Gandhi, who was shot dead by a Hindu fanatic on January 30, 1948, neither submitted to injustice nor did he commit injustice to others, added Prof Kumar. "He strongly believed in the principles of interaction between humans and natures, and cooperations between the nations and mutual dependence, and religious harmony."

His call for fighting poverty and injustice through non-violent means remains as valid today, as they were before, Kumar added.

Nepali Congress leader and Constituent Assembly member Pradip Giri said Gandhi's philosphy is often interpreted as a policy of inaction and compulsion. "That's not true at all," Giri said, adding that Gandhi simply did not believe in tit for tat and violence.

"Were he to choose between violence and cowardice, Gandhi would have picked the first," Giri said. "But, were he to choose between violence and strength he would have gone for non-violence."

He also criticised occasional statements in support of violence coming from his own party and the CPN-UML. How can they ask Maoists to shun violence when they speak so profusely about their violent past? he asked. "Congress and UML can defeat the Maoists only through non-violence."

UML leader Pradip Gyawali said Gandhi protested legally, peacefull and non-violently, but that cannot be taken as his weakness or policy of non-action. He fought for justice through legal, peaceful and non-violent means.

Academy's Chairman and Constituent Assembly member Nabindra Raj Joshi said Gandhi was a person, capable to stand alone to change society.

Former Speaker and civil society leader Daman Nath Dhungana said Gandhi's life itself was a philosphy. He called on Nepali political parties to shun violence by being able to promulgate a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly.

Publisher of Himal magazine Kanak Dixit said Gandhi was a true South Asian.