The legacy of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated with a prominent new statue of the Indian independence leader in Parliament Square in central London. Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday unveiled the statue as sitar music played and Indian flags were waved.
Cameron said Gandhi's nonviolent tactics remain as potent today as when Gandhi used them. He called Gandhi one of the most towering figures in the history of global politics. The sculpture created by Philip Jackson was inspired by a 1931 photo of Gandhi at the prime minister's residence at No. 10 Downing St.
The Prime Minister 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.
David Cameron attends the unveiling event of the new Gandhi Statue with actor Amitabh Bachchan (left) and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (right)
He added: "'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."
Gandhi's grandson, the former governor of West Bengal, Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who was also in attendance, said his family was pleased at "the fact of his statue taking its place right beside that of his political descendent Nelson Mandela".
He added: "How many countries celebrate the life work of a man who opposed it with vehemence for more than three decades? Not many. Britain does, and Britain celebrates Gandhi today because while oppose it he did, he opposed it in a cause that Britain now sees was just and in a way the world now sees was fair."
Here are five quotes from Gandhi to inspire your day:
- Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
- God has no religion.
- The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
- What you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
- You must be the change you want to see in the world.
Below are 10 Iconic Photos Of Mahatma Gandhi: