On a sunny but crisp cold Saturday morning in London (14 March), Prime Minister David Cameron celebrated the incredibly special friendship between 'the world's oldest democracy and it's largest', as he joined India's Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley to unveil the new statue in Parliament Square- the third one in Britain.
The bronze statue is the focal point for those commemorating, this summer, the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa, to start the struggle for self-rule.
The unveiling that was open to the general public, was attended by Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi and featured personal reflections from the former Governor of West Bengal. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, one of India’s most prominent actors read words written by Gandhi.
The ceremony was also attended by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, Lord and Lady Desai of the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust- the charity that has raised over £1million to fund the statue.
The nine-foot bronze statue of Gandhi was created by Phillip Jackson, a renowned British sculptor, and will stand in the company of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln, among others.
The audience included MPs, Peers, invited guests, students from Hindu and Sikh faith schools, as well as members of the public, who broke into applause as the statue was unveiled.
It was Gandhi more than anyone else who “embodies the deep and enduring connections between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest,” said Mr. Jaitley in his address. Drawing the connections between India and Britain, countries both freed from the shackles of colonialism, Mr. Jaitley paid tribute to Britain which had risen above the colonial past to recognise Gandhi’s contributions, choosing to place him on the same square as Churchill who had once described him as a “seditious, half-naked fakir.”
Mr. Cameron recalled the multi-faceted legacy for Britain of Gandhi, and said, “This statue is a magnificent tribute to one of the most towering figures in the history of world politics and by putting Mahatma Gandhi in this famous Square we are giving him an eternal home in our country.
“Many of his teachings remain as potent today as when he first made them. ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others’ and ‘Be the change that you want to see in the world’ remain timeless, profound and inspiring words of wisdom.
“This statue celebrates the incredibly special friendship between the world's oldest democracy and its largest, as well as the universal power of Gandhi’s message. Our ties with India have remained close throughout history and continue to go from strength to strength – through mutual respect as equals, cooperation and trade, and of course through the one-and-a-half million Indians who do so much to make Britain the country it is today, bringing our two countries closer, to the benefit of both.”
It was Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s eloquent and moving words that were appreciated the most. “We need him in India more today than we ever have,” he said. He spoke of Gandhi’s last fast against the partition of a country where he hoped Muslims and Hindus could live together, and for which he was assassinated. In contrary, he also spoke about Mahatma Gandhi helping to bring about India's independence that now ironically enables its people to contemplate building of a temple for his assassin (Nathuram Godse).
Amitabh Bachchan read a selection from Gandhi’s writings on world peace.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid, said: “This statue will stand as a reminder of Gandhi’s ideals and Britain’s historic relationship with India and its people. Our nations’ friendship as equals, which brings growth and prosperity to both our countries, owes much to Gandhi’s determination to achieve independence though peace.”
The UK’s longest serving MP of Indian-origin, Rt Hon Keith Vaz, was the official representative of the Leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband, at the historic unveiling ceremony. In a statement he told Asian Voice, “There are very few events which bring with them such a sense of symbolism, as today's unveiling ceremony.
“Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most influential individuals in history, and to have him to be immortalised outside the world’s oldest Parliament truly demonstrates the strength of the United Kingdom’s relationship with India.
“It is also a special day for 1.4 million British Indians, a community which has so powerfully influenced the United Kingdom’s greatest institutions, such as the National Health Service. It is the diversity of cities like Leicester which make them truly special, and I look back to the incredible unveiling of our Gandhi statue in 2009.
“It was also an incredible honour to meet with Arun Jaitley, the man overseeing India’s economy of 1.3 billion people. He is in every sense of the word, a true statesman.”
Photo credit: Raj D Bakrania, Prmediapix
