Doordarshan and Discovery have lined up plans to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Doordarshan will telecast the film Gandhi on 2 October at 12:30 pm on DD1.

The film was produced and directed by Richard Attenborough. The film which won actor Ben Kingsley an Oscar for playing the title character depicts Gandhi's South Africa days as a young attorney who is thrown off the train for having the temerity to occupy a first class compartment, synonymous those days with 'whiles only'.

This humiliation is the starting point of Gandhi's protest for the rights of Indians and other coloured people. His fame has spread to India and he is called here to take part in the freedom struggle. On arrival to India, he's struggle for the non-violent approach begins.

Meanwhile in its Discover India time band, Discovery will air Men Of Our Time: Gandhi. It features rare archival footage from the period, together with original recordings of his speeches. The programme highlights Mahatma Gandhi's pivotal role in India's struggle for independence and his vision of a nation that would rise above the limitations of class, caste, community and religion.

The film airs on 2 October at 8 pm with a repeat on 3 October at 1 pm.