Mahatma Gandhi, known as the Father of the Nation for India, was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat and was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. His birthday is considered world wide as the International day of Non Violence.
Among many celebrations worldwide, Gandhi Jayanti is marked in London with special enthusiasm. The statue at Tavistock Square, London was the first Gandhi statue in the UK. Besides these many other community organisations organise independent events to mark his birthday including the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, UK.
Like every year, this year as well, the Indian High Commission and India League will be celebrating the annual Gandhi Jayanti celebrations at the Tavistock Square, London on Sunday 2 October 2016 at 11am. The event, which is open to public, is usually attended by the Mayor of Camden, local Councillors, Asian MPs and Peers, community leaders and organisational heads. The High Commissioner and the Chairman of the India League will address the gathered audience along with the Mayor of Camden. Mahatma's favourite bhajans will be sung by students of Bhavans. This will be followed by a Peace Walk to the Gandhi statue at the Westminster square and flower tributes will be presented there. The statue at the Westminster was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in January this year. Leicester is also home to a Gandhi statue since 2009.
East India Company releases a series of five limited edition silver coins to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday
Commemorating over one hundred years of Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to dedicate his life to the Nation of India. The East India Company has released a series of five limited edition silver coins spanning the historic years from his arrival in India in 1915 to Indian Independence Day in 1947.
At the young age of 24, 1893, whilst working as a lawyer in South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi was brutally thrown down from a first class carriage of a train for being a non-white passenger in an all-white carriage. This incident became a defining moment of change, not just for one man but for a whole nation. Mahatma Gandhi is a legendary and much loved figure both in India and around the World. An extraordinary human being whose ideology, based on the foundations of truth, honesty, non-violence, hard work and service to humanity inspired apartheid and civil rights leaders worldwide including Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Dalai Lama.
This coin collection in celebration of the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, represents a new chapter in The East India Company’s history, and echoes his famous words “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”.
The East India Company special edition series of five fine silver 1oz silver coins feature the significant moments in Gandhi’s life that triggered action by the people of India to achieve Swaraj. Beginning with the arrival of Gandhi to India in 1915, followed by the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920, the Salt Satyagraha March in 1930, the Quit India Movement in 1942 and Indian Independence in 1947 each coin brings alive these landmark moments. These five legal tender coins capture some of the most iconic images of Gandhi, immortalising them in fine silver and 24ct gold plating - the final coin in the series, 1947 India Independence, features the addition of the national colours of India. The strictly limited collection is issued by Niue Island government, celebrating the life and message of a simple man who changed the world.
For more details or how to order the coins collection please see page 7.
