With his hands on the spinning wheel, and the staff with which he started the famous Dandi March to protest the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi [Images] 'looked' from above at diplomats in the United Nations on Monday.

On the eve of the beginning of a 10-day exhibition on Gandhi and the Global Non-violent Awakening' on Tuesday, marking the first observance of the International Day of Non-violence, some 40-odd cut-outs of his photos, showing the apostle of nonviolence at various stages of his life � from his days in South Africa to his launching the non-cooperation movement � adorned the walls of the main foyer of the United Nations.

Many had quotations from Gandhiji's messages on truth and non-violence and what people like Roman Rolland, Albert Einstein and Vaclav Havel famously said about the father of the nation.

In preparation for observance of the International Day of Non-violence, UN workers were busy fixing the frames on the walls. Terra cotta vases were being placed between the images of Gandhiji and his messages written in bold. Many a diplomat and others stopped by the foyer to take a closer look at Gandhiji and his messages.

"The Mahatma's inspiration is needed now more than ever. All around us, we see communities increasingly mired in rising intolerance and cross-cultural tensions. We see extremist dogma and violent ideologies gaining ground as moderate forces retreat," Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a message. He said the International Day of Non-violence could help advance this effort promote true tolerance and non-violence at every level.

"May it help spread Mahatma Gandhi's message of nonviolence to an ever wider audience and hasten a time when every day is a day if non-violence," Ki-moon said.

The exhibition organised by the government and sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural relations is expected to be inaugurated by Ki-moon in the presence of Congress party president Sonia Gandhi [Images] who will deliver a special address to the UNGA Tuesday to mark the International Day of Non-Violence.