A 6ft 4in statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at Ayr Town Hall in Scotland commemorating Bapu's 150th birth anniversary. The artwork of Indian civil rights campaigner, weighing 400kg, was presented to South Ayrshire by the Indian government's council for cultural relations. The statue is one of ten to be unveiled throughout the world, including Bern in Switzerland, and was created by sculptor Guatam Pal.
Consul General of India Anju Ranjan was there for the ceremony along with Councillor Helen Moonie, Provost of South Ayrshire to unveil the statue. A plaque to be hung beside the statue reads the famous phrase from Gandhi "There is no way to peace, peace is the way". Chief Inspector Brian Anderson, from South Ayrshire police along with other local dignitaries joined to celebrate the unveiling.
Provost Helen Moonie said: "We are proud of many similarities between South Ayrshire and India and a special link between Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Burns. "Both fought against social injustice and used their unique gifts to carve out their place in world history." Gandhi, Indian independence campaigner and one of the world's most famous peaceful political dissenter, was assassinated in New Delhi in 1948.
