As part of the G-20 celebrations, Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a 12-foot statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Darshan Rajghat on 04 September, 2023. She also inaugurated the Gandhi Vatika where statues of Mahatma Gandhi in different poses have been installed. Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena was the guest of honour on the occasion. Hon’ble Vice Chairman Gandhi Darshan Vijay Goel presided over the programme. 1200 plus children from different institutions of Delhi and NCR took part in the programme that saw the participation of more than 1000 members including diplomatic corps, Gandhians, academicians, social workers and others.
The unique part of the programme was that Smt. Droupadi Murmu not only unveiled the Mahatma Gandhi statue, she along with LG and Shri Vijay Goel happily clicked photographs with different statues installed in the Gandhi Vatika.
Shri Vijay Goel said that these statues have been crafted by different skilled artisans from Rajasthan and Jaipur, depicting Mahatma Gandhi in various poses such as:
1. Gandhiji spinning the Charkha
2. Gandhiji sitting on the Bench with the Statue;
3. Gandhiji riding a bicycle
4. Gandhiji with two children,
5. Gandhiji in meditative pose
6. The three monkeys of Gandhiji
In her address, the President said that Mahatma Gandhi is an invaluable gift for the world community and his values and ideals gave a new direction to the world. "From South Africa's former president Nelson Mandela to Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. to US' former president Barack Obama accepted that Mahatma Gandhi's path of non-violence is the path of global development,”
President Smt. Droupadi Murmu said that Mahatma Gandhi's statues at Gandhi Vatika will inspire the visitors, especially the children. She also hoped that the delegates of the G-20 nations visiting Delhi will definitely visit the Gandhi Vatika and take selfie’s along with the statues.
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena reiterated the ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and said that peace and nonviolence are the only means of conflict resolution in the world.
Referring to the forthcoming G-20 summit, the LG said that apart from showing a glimpse of prosperous, powerful and empowered India to all the foreign delegates and heads of state of different countries participating in G-20, it will also present a glimpse of our culture and unique heritage and added that “Our effort is to make Delhi such that it is always ready for any international event”.
Shri Vijay Goel said that that the statue is at the entrance of the 45-acre complex of Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat. He said that the new statue is another step towards enlightening today's youth about Gandhiji’s extraordinary life and teachings and will encourage not only the visiting G-20 delegates, but many other visitors to see this historical site associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s life and legacy, which many people in Delhi are not aware of.
Shri Goel who donated this 12-foot Mahatma Gandhi statue by self financing it, said that he was inspired to do so while remembering the enormous sacrifice and work of Mahatma Gandhi. "The intent behind this artistic endeavour is to attract more tourists, especially the younger generation, who can capture memorable moments while imbibing the teachings of the iconic leader," said Shri Goel.
Shri Goel also informed that the Vatika is open for 24 hours for children, youth and the general public who would not only visit this place of attraction, but will also see the three museums inside the Gandhi Darshan complex. He also informed that the main gate which has been opened from the Gandhi Vatika has not only the flags of G-20 nations, but photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.