Mahatma Gandhi Statue Vandalised: A figure of Mahatma Gandhi in London’s Tavistock Square was broken into just a few days before his birthday. The Indian High Commission in London strongly condemned the act.
More on the incident
Graffiti was written on the statue’s base, as seen in pictures going around on social media. The damage happened right before the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations on October 2. This is a yearly event that honours the birth of the “Father of the Nation.”
What the Indian High Commission Did
A statement from the Indian High Commission called the event a “violent attack on the idea of nonviolence.” They said in a social media post that they were very sad and strongly condemned the act. The High Commission has talked to the local government about the problem and is now organising efforts to bring the statue back to its former glory.
Significance in History
The India League helped pay for the bronze statue, which was revealed at Tavistock Square in 1968. There is writing on the base that says “Mahatma Gandhi, 1869–1948.” Gandhi went to law school at the nearby University College London, which adds to the historical importance of the figure.
What local governments do
Metropolitan Police and Camden Council officials have said they are looking into the reports of the damage. There are efforts going on to look into what happened and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
