Installation of Gandhi Statue in Strasbourg, 2nd October 2011

On October 2, 2011, the 142nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi - which is also celebrated as Universal Non-Violence Day, the City of Strasbourg in France marked the date with the installation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the 'Parc de l'Etoile' the new focal point in their city.

The statue, gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations to the city of Strasbourg, stands on a pedestal prepared by the city - in which are embedded four urns containing soil brought from Porbandar, Rajkot, South Africa (Pieter Maritzburg), Sabarmati, venues associated with important events in Gandhiji's life and struggle.

The Gandhi Statue, made by the famous sculptor Shri Ram Sutar, was unveiled by Ambassador Shri Rakesh Sood and the Mayor of Strasbourg Mr. Roland Ries.

The Indian community of Strasbourg lit candles, offered flowers and chanted mantras and bhajans. 'LA CHORALE COURANT D'ART' of Strasbourg sang India's national song "Vandemataram".

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Rakesh Sood recalled Gandhi's doctrine of active non-violence and underlined its relevance even today.  He highlighted the excellent relations that exist between India and France in the fields of culture, trade, science and technology, space, defence and nuclear energy.

On his part, the Mayor of Strasbourg Mr. Roland Ries said that Strasbourg is the European capital for Human Rights and democracy. He stressed the significance of the location of the statue in the 'Parc de l'Etoile' a peace and human rights park. Strasbourg -which is at the border with Germany and also home to the European Parliament has an important significance in the history of French-German reconciliation. The Mayor recalled that Strasbourg was the city where the idea of a peaceful Europe was born.

On the same day, in the presence of the Ambassador of India, a Cooperation Convention for the protection of heritage sites was signed between the City of Strasbourg and the royal Indian city of Udaipur in Rajasthan. From the Indian side the co-signatories were the Mayor of Udaipur, Mrs. Rajni Dangi, President of the Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation, Mrs. Rathi Vinay Jha, and Shri Mayank Gupta of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation. The French signatory was the Mayor of Strasbourg, Mr. Roland Ries.