The 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation, also fondly known as Bapu was commemorated on October 2 with a heartfelt celebration that included floral tributes, uplifting music, and inspiring speeches. The events were held at his two iconic memorials in London—Tavistock Square and Parliament Square—drawing a diverse crowd to honour his enduring legacy.
Indian Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal underscored Gandhi’s essential message of cleanliness, highlighting that this year also marks the 10th anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) in India.
Referencing Mahatma Gandhi’s renowned prayer ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ to emphasise his message of unity, Meghwal stated, “The entire world recognises this remarkable man. It is fitting that the United Nations chose to commemorate the Mahatma by designating his birth anniversary as the International Day of Non-Violence.”
Councillor Eddie Hanson, Deputy Mayor of Camden, remarked, “Mahatma Gandhi remained steadfast in his belief in non-violence, even in the face of great adversity. Today, we honour his philosophy, which demonstrated that peaceful protest can achieve far more than military aggression.”
Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, emphasised, “Gandhi’s life serves as a lesson for everyone. If we take the time to make an effort, to understand others, and to learn from our surroundings, we can all discover the inner Mahatma within ourselves.”
Former Labour MP Virendra Sharma expressed his gratitude, saying, “Namaste. It’s a tremendous honour and privilege to be here every year on October 2nd for over 25 years. I owe this to Camden and everyone involved, especially CB Patel, Editor and Publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, who initiated the statue many years ago. I sincerely thank Camden and all those who made this mission a reality. I take great pride in being Indian and in embodying the values of Mahatma Gandhi. My father was a freedom fighter, a devoted follower of Bapu Gandhi, and played a key role in organising the Quit India Movement in Punjab from 1943 to 1945. It is truly a privilege to uphold those values.”
The event featured performances by students from Bhavan UK, who sang ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' and another favourite of Mahatma Gandhi's hymns, ‘Vaishnava Jan’. The event concluded with a Buddhist chant for peace and harmony at Tavistock Square.
The Gandhi statue was unveiled in 2015 at Parliament Square, where many students and members of the Indian diaspora gathered for a floral tribute ceremony. The event was led by Lord Meghnad Desai, a British Indian economist and peer, who played a pivotal role in the charity drive that established this memorial in the UK capital to honour the beloved apostle of peace, affectionately known as Bapu.