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A life-size bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been unveiled at the historic Hermann Park in Houston on the occasion of the 135th birth anniversary of the 'apostle of peace'.
Sculpted in India by renowned artist Ram Sutar, the six-feet tall bronze statue, a gift to the citizens here by the Indian government, was formally unveiled yesterday by the Houston Mayor Bill White and Indian Ambassador to US Ronen Sen at the International Sculpture Garden -- Hermann Park, in downtown Houston.
The ceremony was witnessed by hundreds of citizens from all walks of life amidst chanting of prayers and songs praising the father of the nation.
Recalling the historic salt march at Dandi and its resonance with the courageous Montgomery Bus Boycott against racial segregation in the United States, Sen referred to the spiritual link between the Mahatma and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
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"Mahatma symbolises India's unity in diversity and, for the world, he was an embodiment of peace and
non-violence," he said.
White elucidated Gandhi's contributions to principles of tolerance and non-violence and their relevance to mankind in today's world. Declaring October 2 as 'Mahatma Gandhi Day', he presented Sen with a Declaration of Recognition as a 'Goodwill Ambassador'.
Former Mayor Lee P Brown recollected the influence of Gandhi on Martin Luther King and how it guided him to adopt non-violence as the means to achieve his goal of racial equality.
US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee referred to Gandhi's "strength of peaceful non-cooperation in the struggle against injustice."
"The imminent success of this Project is largely due to the persistent efforts by the India Culture Centre and the donation of the statue by the Government of India, through the Indian Consulate in Houston," ICC President Ramesh Cherivirala said.
The 1,20,000 strong local Indian community raised funds of over US $25,000 for Houston Municipal Arts Commission as Conservation Endowment Fee and to cover the cost of the pedestal, landscaping and marble plaques with sayings from Gandhi, he said.
Famous Gandhi sayings like "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind" and "I have nothing new to teach to the world. Truth and non violence are as old as the hills," are inscribed on the pedestal.
"To have Gandhi's statue in Houston, is a dream come true and a constant reminder of peace and non-violence," said Krishna Vavilala, Chairman of the Gandhi project.
Houston now stands in the same rank as other US cities like Washington DC, New York, Milwaukee, Chicago, Salt Lake City, St Louis and Atlanta to boast of a Gandhi statue.