Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Wellington, New Zealand

Sixty-one years ago on this day, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948. It is a day that we should remember and make sure that what he worked for does not go waste.

On this occasion I would like to make a tribute to one of the greatest men who changed the life a whole nation, India.

In 2007, the first Mahatma Gandhi’s in New Zealand was unveiled in its capital Wellington. It was erected on the front lawn of the Railway Station on Bunny Street. It was the gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on behalf the Indian people. Mr P. K. Ernest, the Indian High Commissioner said, ‘On India's part, the gifting of the statue is an expression of our deep appreciation and acknowledgement of the commitment of the people of New Zealand for setting an example to the world of a tolerant, open and inclusive society.’

The statue was unveiled by the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, who said, ‘We are very touched and honoured to have this beautiful statue in our city. It is a wonderful tribute to the memory of a great man from whom the present-day world could draw a great deal of inspiration from.

‘With so much ongoing violence and intolerance in the world, the fundamental human values that Mahatma Gandhi espoused, and lived for, continue to be as relevant today as they were in his.’She said the statue was a symbol of the lasting friendship and solidarity between the peoples of India and New Zealand.

The site in front of the railway station was chosen because Mahatma Gandhi was a man of the people and travelled often by trains. The day statue was unveiled on 2 October, because it was declared International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations, in honour of Gandhi's birth date.

The life-size bronze statue was made by the famous Indian sculptor Gautam Pal from West Bengal. Gautam Pal comes from a traditional family of modellers from Krishnanagar in West Bengal which is famous for its life-like clay sculptures. He was trained by his father and then later he joined the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata. He then joined the Academia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan in Italy and completed his diploma in 1974 working under Professor Luciano Minguzzi. After his return to India he has been working on many projects and his works are found in France, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Canada, Myanmar, China, Prague, Yemen, Brazil, and the USA. Gautam Pal works in various media such as bronze, marble, granite, and wood.

Having honoured Mahatma Gandhi on this day, let us do whatever we can to uphold his teachings. His words on the plaque, 'We must become the change we want to see' says it all.