A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Seattle Centre in the United States, according to the Consulate General.
Seattle [US], October 3 : A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Seattle Centre, as reported by the Consulate General of India in Seattle. In a post on X, the Consulate shared that this is the first bust of Gandhi in Seattle, located at the base of the Space Needle, a site that attracts 12 million visitors annually. The Consulate expressed that Gandhi's life and message will now resonate in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
The unveiling took place beneath the Space Needle, next to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, marking a significant addition to the city's cultural landscape. Notable attendees included Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Congressman Adam Smith, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, and the Consul General of India, Prakash Gupta. Members of the Indian American community were also present to honor Gandhi Jayanti.
October 2, Gandhi's birthday, is also recognized by the United Nations as the International Day of Non-Violence. The speakers at the ceremony emphasized the importance of the values of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satyagraha (truth force), and Sarvodaya (welfare for all) in today's world.
The Consulate General and the City of Seattle collaborated to choose an appropriate location for the bust, and the Seattle Centre was deemed suitable due to its high visitor traffic and commitment to peace and non-violence.
To commemorate the occasion, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation recognizing the bust as a tribute to Gandhi's teachings and a reminder of the power of non-violence. Additionally, King County proclaimed October 2 as Mahatma Gandhi Day across all 73 cities in the Greater Seattle area.
The Indian Consulate in Seattle began operations in November 2023 and covers nine states in the Pacific Northwest. The installation of Gandhi's bust in Seattle is part of a broader initiative being rolled out across the consulate's jurisdiction.