A British Indian businessman, philanthropist and social activist has taken the lead to donate £100,000 to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust for the proposed statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr Rami Ranger, MBE, Director of Sun Mark Limited, is the first to contribute so far the biggest sum to this Trust, which is responsible for fundraising for the statue at the Parliament Square in London.
Dr Ranger who was born in 1947 in Punjab, has deep ties with the Indian independence movements, having lost his father Shaheed Nanak Singh, who was assassinated in March 1947 whilst trying to save students in a procession against the break-up of India.
Dr Ranger who is a well respected member of the British Asian community, was the first Indian businessman to have the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr David Cameron visiting his office and factory premises, earlier this year.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, he said,“The world owes Gandhiji a huge debt of gratitude for liberating one fifth of mankind through non-violence thereby creating a better world."
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi's was announced by Chancellor George Osborne and the then Foreign Secretary William Hague during their visit to India earlier this year. The proposed inauguration is meant to be in time for the centenary of Mahatma’s return to India from South Africa. The Foreign Office has confirmed that it has extended an invitation to the Indian PM Narendra Modi to visit Britain during the inauguration- most probably to take place on 30th January 2015.
Lord Desai reportedly said, “This is more good news which adds to the steady flow of donations which have been coming in from all around the world through our website as awareness spreads. It is the combination of lots of small donations and a few large ones which is taking us swiftly to our final goal. But, of course, we still welcome all those who would like to donate. As Gandhiji said: 'If the cause is right, the means will come,'"
Earlier this month at a press conference, the Trust confirmed that other donors from all across the globe are also stepping forward to contribute towards this iconic statue, taking it closer to its aim of raising around £750,000.
The bronze statue, created by sculptor Philip Jackson will be based on Gandhi's last visit to London in 1931, and will be the last statue to be placed in Parliament Square.
The statue will portray a pensive Gandhi, without his iconic stick, draped in a heavy shawl and dhoti, but bare legged. It is being created on the lost wax process, which dates back to the Graeco-Roman times and reportedly follows the same procedure as that of the famous Renaissance sculpture of David created by Donatello.
