- Saturday, April 27, 2024
By: Sarwar Alam
A NEW statue of Mahatma Gandhi, described as a “gift” to Manchester, was unveiled last Friday (21).
The nine-ft high, 800 kg bronze statue, created by Indian artist Ram V Sutar, marks one of the tallest sculptures of Gandhi outside India.
It is part of the Mahatma Gandhi Statue Project, an initiative of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur UK (SRMD), a spiritual movement related Shrimad Rajchandraji – Gandhi’s spiritual mentor.
“The statue of Gandhi will celebrate the universal power of his message. A statue in Manchester will ensure that the heart of our politics and democracy can all be inspired with his ethos,” SRMD UK said in a statement. It also paid tribute to Manchester’s “unique civic pride” and its “values of non-violence and compassion” following the 2017 terrorist attack during a concert at Manchester Arena.
“We are inspired by the people of Manchester for their strength, decency and community in the face of this unparalleled tragedy,” the statement noted.
The cost of the statue, installed outside Manchester Cathedral in the city’s Medieval Quarter, was sponsored by the Kamani family in memory of their grandfather Bhanji Khanji Kamani. The Kamani family are behind the popular fashion brands Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This statue of Mahatma Gandhi, a leader who tirelessly championed the power of peaceful protest, will find a welcome home in Manchester.
“In the turbulent times we live in, his legacy of peace is one we can all appreciate and reflect on,” he said.
During a 1931 visit to the UK, Gandhi visited the textile mills in Lancashire, travelling from London to Blackburn via Manchester, to meet mill workers and explain the Indian perspective on the boycott of British goods that was damaging their industry.
During this visit, Gandhi attracted large crowds of admirers and received a warm welcome.
Supported by Manchester Cathedral, Manchester City Council, the Manchester India Partnership and the High Commission of India in London, the project marks part of ongoing initiatives across the UK to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi.
The artist of the new Gandhi statue also designed the Statue of Unity (of Sardar Vallabh Patel), the world’s tallest sculpture, in Gujarat.
Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport and chair of the Manchester India Partnership, said: “The unveiling of this statue is the latest example of the ‘living bridge’ that exists between Greater Manchester and India. A huge amount of work has gone into forging closer ties between the two since the formation of the Manchester India Partnership 18 months ago.
“It is a welcome addition to our city and is sure to prove popular with everyone who visits the city centre in the years ahead.”
Among those attending the unveiling ceremony on Monday were the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, members of the Kamani family and senior figures from the High Commission of India in the UK, who were all welcomed by the head of SRMD UK, Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai.
