ACCRA (GHANA): Ghana government has announced that it would soon remove the statue of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, after a few of his "alleged past racist comments" surfaced. The move came after a group of lecturers and students demanded the statue, which was unveiled by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in June, be sent back to the country.
A petition was, however, later started, claiming Gandhi had made racist comments against black Africans. It says he had written that Indians were "infinitely superior" to them. "It is better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super power," it read. The petition added that African heroes should be feted "first and foremost." The Foreign Ministry said the dissent generated by the campaign is worrisome. Releasing a statement, the office said, "The government would therefore want to relocate the statue from the University of Ghana to ensure its safety and to avoid the controversy... being a distraction (from) our strong ties of friendship." It added, "Look beyond the comments attributed to... Gandhi and acknowledge his role as one of the most outstanding personalities of the last century."
Meanwhile, India said it would take up its concerns over the campaign against Gandhi in a few African countries. "A decision has been taken by the Ghanaian Foreign Ministry that instead of locating it in the university which is obviously more excitable to move it to a safer place. They have issued a very, very good press statement highlighting the role of Mahatma Gandhi urging the people to focus on how the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and he as an individual were shaped over a period and not focus on the excerpts from some of his earlier writings," said Secretary Amar Sinha.
A letter written by granddaughter of the Indian freedom fighter, Ela Gandhi, a peace activist and former South African MP, read, "The claims made that the statue is unacceptable based on opinions expressed by a few scholars who have interpreted some quotes he made in his younger days and in the context of the work he was doing at the time and the ethos in the country." She added, "If they do not want his statue then by all means remove it. But I would suggest very humbly do not discard the notion of non-violence, of compassion of 'ubuntu' and of respect for fellow human beings and for nature and the whole of the universe simply because these were the ideals Gandhiji stood for and was assassinated for."
