Mayor breaks ground for Gandhi statue
Voice Of Asia ,Houston-Oct 17 , 2003
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By Haider Kazim

 Houston has finally joined the ranks of major US cities that claim a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of truth and non-violence whose teachings are relevant today as they were during his time.

In culmination of a year-long effort by the Indo-American community in Houston, Mayor Lee P. Brown broke ground Tuesday at Herman Park in a colorful ceremony attended by VIPs and leading members of the South Asian community. The completion of the project and dedication of the statue is expected in the next few months.

It was a moment of personal triumph for Mayor Brown and Indian Consul General S. R. Tayal, who took personal interest in the project since inception.

Mayor Brown, who admires Mahatma Gandhi as one of the four heroes in his life along with Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, was personally delighted that the project bore results during his term of office.

The statue is a new addition to Houston’s rich and diverse culture and has a special significance for the city which hosts nearly 120,000 people of Indian origin.

The speakers at the ceremony paid rich tribute to the leader of India’s freedom struggle against the British rule and said his teachings are greatly needed in today’s world ravaged by conflicts, terrorism and violence.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who has just returned from a visit to the Middle East, came over to attend the ceremony that represented an important day in the history of Houston.

Dr. Najma Heptulla, deputy chairperson of India’s upper house of parliament and president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), flew in last week for the ground-breaking ceremony. She said that Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace, non-violence and peaceful resolution of conflicts is the only way by which differences between communities and nations can be resolved.

Tayal thanked Mayor Brown and the City Council for their quick approval for the statue project. He said that Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work had deeply influenced millions of people around the globe as well as thinkers and statesmen including Albert Einstein, Lech Walesa, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.

Krishna Vavilala, chairman of the Gandhi statue project, thanked the community members, city officials, the Consulate and ICCR for their help and support in carrying out this major task in such a short time.

Lachhman Das, president of the India Culture Center, gave details how the project was conceived and executed.

Prominent businessman Lutfi Hassan, chairman of the Mayor’s advisory Board for International Affairs and Development, praised Mayor Brown for his personal involvement in the project.

Sally Reynolds, chairperson of the Municipal Arts Commission which overseas all public art displays, also addressed the gathering and took part in the ground breaking ceremony.

Manzoor A. Memon, advisor to the Mayor for South Asian Affairs, started the program and introduced the emcee, Vasu Reddy. The Department of Veterans Affairs presented the Police Color Guard. Refreshments were courtesy of Lutfi Hassan’s Apex Insurance Company.

Neela Chakravarty sang the American national anthem and the Indian national anthem was sung by DAV Arya Samaj students. The DAV students, directed by Vineeta Arora, also staged a short program based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Dave Mahajan, Lakshmi Vavilala and Amanda Vavilala made important contribution in organizing the program.