Curious passers-by paused to observe the quaint proceedings taking place around the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the train station under an overcast sky in Wellington on January 30.
Pandit Mayurbhai Joshi applied tilak on the foreheads of the guests seated on chairs strewn on the grassy patch where birds pecked busily, unmindful of the human presence.
High Commissioner of India to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan, accompanied by second secretaries Durga Dass and Mukesh Ghiya, joined the assembly.
Approaching the Gandhi statue, High Commissioner Bhushan attempted to garland it but, finding its height daunting, had to rely on one of her colleagues to complete the action.
She then placed a bouquet at the base of the statue to pay homage to Gandhi on the anniversary of his death.
Two minutes’ silence was observed before Pujya Mahayana Gandhi Birthday Commemoration Committee (PMGBCC) chairman Naginbhai Patel welcomed the gathering and gave the floor to High Commissioner Bhushan.
The high commissioner drew attention to two key teachings of Gandhi that resonated with her personally.
“First, the means are as important as the end. You must follow the legitimate means to achieve the end that you are looking for. Second, Gandhi said there is enough for everyone’s need , but not for everyone’s greed.”
She said the world would be a “much more sustainable” place if Gandhi’s teachings were practised.
“India has always believed that the whole world is one family. The Father of the Nation has taught us this, and [his teaching] has been passed down from generation to generation,” she added.
High Commissioner Bhushan noted with satisfaction that Gandhi’s teachings and legacy were kept alive in New Zealand through the efforts of “ various [Indian] schools and community organisations.”
It was heartening to see “our kiwi friends” were keen to embrace Gandhi’s legacy, she observed.
The iconic Gandhi statue was inaugurated in 2007 by then Mayor Kerry Prendergast and Governor-General Anand Satyanand.
Satyanand is on record acknowledging the role played by Naginbhai in putting Wellington on the map of world capitals that have a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi’s birthday has been celebrated every year since then at the initiative of the PMGBCC, which was founded by Naginbhai in 2008 .
In 2012, former mayor Cella Wade-Brown offered to co-host the event with the PMGBCC, with subsequent mayors Justin Lester and Andy Foster continuing the tradition.
The Indian High Commission weighs in on this occasion every year, with past high commissioners KP Ernest, Ravi Thapa and Sanjiv Kholi spearheading the initiative.
Gandhi’s death anniversary is also observed as Martyrs’ Day or Shaheed Diwas by the Government of India to pay tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives for the country.