Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Tavistock Square, London, Vandalized Days Before Gandhi Jayanti

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The bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square was vandalized days before Gandhi Jayanti celebrations on October 2. Disturbing anti-India graffiti was found on the statue's plinth, which depicts Gandhi in a meditative seated pose. Describing the act as a "shameful attack" against the legacy of nonviolence, the High Commission condemned the vandalism and immediately reported the matter to the police for investigation.

Indian Authorities React With Severity

Officials of the Indian High Commission came together with London authorities with a view to restoring the monument to its original condition. In a statement, the commission conveyed that this vandalism was not merely wanton destruction. It was an attack on the very ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. 

The social media statements of the High Commission corroborated the swift steps taken for restoration. They demanded that those responsible for this anti-India act be held accountable, reiterating the importance of Gandhi's name to the cause of peace.

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Legacy of Tavistock Square Gandhi Statue

Unveiled in 1968 by Fredda Brilliant, it honors Gandhi's days as a law student at University College London. Over the years, the site evolved into a "peace park," with features such as a cherry tree memorial to victims of Hiroshima and a granite memorial to conscientious objectors. 

The statue acts as an international symbol of peace and nonviolence; the community feels the vandalism as a sensitive blow that honors Gandhi's eternal principles.

Gandhi Jayanti Observances Highlight the Importance

The incident occurred just days before Gandhi Jayanti, the International Day of Nonviolence observed by the UN. Every year on this day, people lay floral tributes and sing gospel bhajans favored by Gandhi. The act has been condemned widely, driving home the need to protect peace symbols. 

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The authorities have also assured that they will take swift action and appealed to the entire population to rise in the protection of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Tavistock Square, London.