SEATTLE (Diya TV) — The city of Seattle unveiled a gift from the Government of India, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi. At a ceremony on the International Day of Non-Violence, Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary was commemorated with proclamations from both Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and King County Executive Dow Constantine, naming October 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Day.
The ceremony was held at the Seattle Center’s Peace Garden near the Space Needle. Some of those present included local and international dignitaries such as Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith and Pramila Jayapal, Lieutenant General Xavier Brunson, and also other community leaders in attendance, including Eddie Rye from the MLK-Gandhi Initiative.
The unveiling on the occasion coincided with the International Day of Non-Violence: a day adopted worldwide to emphasize the cause of peace and harmony along with Gandhi’s fundamental philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
In his remarks, Gov. Inslee spoke about Gandhi’s enduring legacy.
“Mahatma Gandhi’s life has inspired millions around the world to adopt principles of peace and non-violence in the struggle for justice, equality, and human rights,” Inslee said in his proclamation.
Mayor Harrell said that Gandhi is the iconic icon of global civil rights movements while Seattle is a place that allows diversity and socio-just principles. He urged the people of the city to consider the relevance of Gandhi’s Satyagraha (non-violence) today.
The bust of Gandhi will remain in the Peace Garden and will be a permanent reminder of the efforts made by Gandhi to engage, promote dialogue, justice, and understanding across cultures and communities.
Another speaker was community leader Eddie Rye, who connected Gandhi’s work and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an admirer of Gandhi’s methods. “The unveiling of this bust reminds of the power of peaceful resistance,” he said.
