Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (Milwaukee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mahatma Gandhi Memorial |
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| Artist | Gautam Pal |
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Bronze sculpture |
| Dimensions | 260 cm (104 in) |
| Location | Milwaukee County Courthouse, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| 43°2′29.759″N 87°55′23.847″W / 43.04159972°N 87.92329083°W | |
| Owner | Milwaukee County |
The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial is a special statue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was made in 2002 by an artist named Gautam Pal. You can find it outside the Milwaukee County Courthouse in the city center. This statue is a piece of public art, meaning it's for everyone to see and enjoy.
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About the Statue
This statue is about 8 feet, 8 inches tall. It shows Mahatma Gandhi, a very important leader from India. He worked for civil rights and peace.
What the Statue Looks Like
Gandhi is shown wearing traditional Indian clothes. He is walking with a long staff, which is like a walking stick. His head is bald, and his chest and shoulders are bare. He wears glasses and sandals. The statue faces away from the Courthouse. It looks like he is walking towards downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan.
The Base of the Statue
The statue stands on a red granite base. This base gets narrower as it goes up. There are bronze plaques on all four sides of the base. These plaques have important messages written on them. The statue is placed between two doors at the Courthouse. These doors are labeled "TRUTH" and "JUSTICE". This placement helps show the important message of the statue.
How the Statue Came to Be
Many people worked together to bring this statue to Milwaukee. It was a big effort to honor Mahatma Gandhi.
Raising Money for the Statue
The Wisconsin Coalition of Asian Indian Organizations (WCAIO) helped a lot. This group represents 16 different Indian American communities in the Milwaukee area. They raised $12,000 to pay for the statue and its setup. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations also gave support.
Kumar Dhaliwal and his wife Darshan were key leaders in this project. Kumar Dhaliwal used to be a dean at Marquette University School of Dentistry. They donated $25,000 themselves. Mr. Dhaliwal said that Gandhi's messages are important for preventing violence everywhere.
Choosing the Location
Milwaukee County agreed to accept the statue as a gift. They suggested ten possible places for it. The Indian American community chose the spot at MacArthur Square. They felt it was a "beautiful, serene setting," meaning it was a calm and peaceful place.
The Unveiling Ceremony
The statue was officially shown to the public on October 5, 2002. This event was a big celebration. It included a peace march and speeches from important people. The Indian Ambassador, Lalit Mansingh, also spoke. People sang bhajans, which are devotional songs. About 850 people came to the dedication event.
The Statue Today
Today, the statue is a special meeting place. The local Indian American community often gathers there. Peace activists also use it for vigils, which are quiet gatherings to show support for a cause. People often place g`ajra flower garlands on the statue. In 2003, the area around the statue was named India-America Friendship Park.
