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Photo: AP

A message of peace A view of the statue unveiling ceremony.

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi was dedicated to the city of Geneva this past week in a historic ceremony near the Place des Nations, where the United Nations and other international agencies are located. The statue was unveiled in the Ariana Gardens by the Mayor of Geneva, Patrice Mugny, and India’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Amitava Tripathi.

The 600 kg bronze statue by the Kolkata-based sculptor Gautam Pal, who was present on the occasion, represents a seated Gandhi reading a book. The base of the statue is inscribed with the quote “My life is my message” in English and French. Indian and Swiss dignitaries along with eminent Indians living in the region attended the event.

After the unveiling in the frosty November wind, the function continued indoors, within the Musee Ariana (Ariana Museum), where speeches and a short cultural programme were ushered in with a traditional round of percussion on the chenda drums of Kerala.

Speaking first, Mugny noted that relations between India and Switzerland had always been good. Even Bollywood had made its presence felt in Geneva, he said, since many films were shot here every year. On a more serious note he mentioned that the ability of Nelson Mandela, after a lifetime of incarceration, to avoid becoming bitter, was a measure of the Mahatma’s unique influence. Recalling that Gandhi had always fought against evils like untouchability, he noted with apologies that this was an issue yet to be solved by India.

Ambassador Pierre Combernous, Head of Political Affairs Division II, Asia/Oceania, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Bern, recalled the historic meeting between Gandhi and the celebrated French writer Romain Rolland in the Swiss city of Villeneuve. He added that the presence of the statue in the gardens provided a profound sentiment of peace.

Ambassador Tripathi, speaking first in French and then in English, thanked the city of Geneva and dignitaries for their support in installing the statue. He noted that the recognition of the Mahatma’s birth anniversary as the International Day of Non-Violence was now cemented, as it were, with the installation of this statue. The ceremony, which coincided with the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, was part of the commemoration of India’s 60 years of independence, besides the beginning of the 60th year of the Friendship Treaty between India and Switzerland.

A performance by a children’s choir, Le Don du Choeur, by children from Geneva primary schools, and a Kathak recital by Sudeshana Maulik were other highlights of the evening.

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