New Dlehi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of latter's 150th birth anniversary by writing a heartfelt article in the New York Times. He has invited people from across the world to accept his 'Einstein Challenge' on the occasion.

The Prime Minister quoted Albert Einstein and urged people to ensure that ideals of the Mahatma are remembered and followed by the current and future generations.

PM Modi wrote: As a tribute to Gandhi, I propose what I call the Einstein Challenge. We know Albert Einstein’s famous words on Gandhi: “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

"How do we ensure the ideals of Gandhi are remembered by future generations? I invite thinkers, entrepreneurs and tech leaders to be at the forefront of spreading Gandhi’s ideas through innovation," added PM Modi in the write-up.

Explaining how Gandhi favoured nationalism, PM Modi quoted what Gandhi had written in Young India in 1925.

"Gandhi wrote in Young India: It is impossible for one to be internationalist without being a nationalist. Internationalism is possible only when nationalism becomes a fact, i.e., when peoples belonging to different countries have organized themselves and are able to act as one man.” He envisioned Indian nationalism as one that was never narrow or exclusive but one that worked for the service of humanity," stated PM Modi.

Explaining Gandhi's capabilities and the need to follow his principles, PM Modi said: "Who else could have created a mass agitation through a pinch of salt! During colonial rule, salt laws, which placed a new tax on Indian salt, had become a burden. Through the Dandi March in 1930, Gandhi challenged the salt laws. His picking up a small lump of natural salt from the Arabian Sea shore led to the historic civil disobedience movement."

In India, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, PM Modi launched campaign on making India single-use plastic free. He also promised to make India open-defecation-free starting from Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat.