The Indian community in Auckland gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Friday, October 2 to observe and celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary under the restrictions of Alert Level 2.
Although the event at Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Eden Terrace saw a small assembly of people due to Covid restrictions, the enthusiasm of the community members was commendable to celebrate the occasion, which is also considered as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The event started with the garlanding ceremony by Hon Consul of India in Auckland Bhav Dhillon of the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the central foyer and the portrait of former Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who shares his birthday on October 2.
Present at the event were other community members, Jeet Suchdev from Bhartiya Samaj, students from Gandhi Gruh Gujarati School, president of Auckland Indian Association Inc. Narendra Bhana, members of New Zealand Indian Central Association, etc.
Speaking at the event, Hon Consul Bhav Dhillon said that the Indian High Commission had started official talks on gifting Auckland its first Mahatma Gandhi statue, similar to that installed in Wellington.
“Under the leadership of High Commissioner of India Muktesh Pardeshi, official talks have begun with Mayor Phil Goff… and we are trying to come up with final details such as where what size and how we can get the statue installed in Auckland.
“On this day, I wanted to share this news with you that we are working towards this project and we need your support at every community level,” Mr Bhav Dhillon said.
The news of the Mahatma Gandhi statue being planned for Auckland was received wholeheartedly by the community members present at the event and applauded the efforts of the Consulate of India and Indian High Commission towards this project.
Senior members of the community and some students from the Gandhi Gruh Gujarati School sang devotional songs and patriotic songs in the recollection of the works of Mahatma Gandhi for the Indian independence and how his small yet strong movements brought a revolution in India.
“It was delightful to see a senior citizen singing patriotic songs on Mahatma Gandhi with passion and enthusiasm at the show,” a community member present at the event said.
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