Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Parliament Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Mahatma Gandhi |
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The statue in 2015
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| Artist | Philip Jackson |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Dimensions | 270 cm (110 in) |
| Location | London, SW1 United Kingdom |
| 51°30′02″N 0°07′38″W / 51.500570°N 0.127241°W | |
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, is a work by the sculptor Philip Jackson. It stands as a tribute to Gandhi, a leader who helped India gain independence.
History of the Statue
In July 2014, George Osborne, who was then the Chancellor of the Exchequer (a top financial minister) for the United Kingdom, visited India. During his visit, he announced that a statue of Mahatma Gandhi would be placed in Parliament Square in London. He hoped this statue would be a lasting symbol of Gandhi's memory and the friendship between Britain and India.
At the same time, it was announced that Philip Jackson would create the statue. He is a famous sculptor who had made other important statues in the UK. These include the statue of the Queen Mother and the RAF Bomber Command Memorial. Planning for the statue was approved by the local council in November 2014.
Money for the statue came from public donations and sponsors. A group called the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust helped raise these funds. By the time the plans were approved, £100,000 had been raised. The group aimed to raise another £500,000 by January 2015. This was planned to happen around the time of a visit to London by Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India.
The statue was officially revealed on March 14, 2015, by Arun Jaitley, India's Finance Minister. This event marked 100 years since Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. His return is seen as the start of his efforts for India's freedom. Many important people spoke at the unveiling. These included David Cameron, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Indian film actor Amitabh Bachchan, and Gandhi's grandson, Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
In June 2020, during protests related to George Floyd, the statue was marked by some protesters. The word "racist" was painted on it. Another nearby statue of Winston Churchill was also marked.
Design of the Statue
The statue is about 2.7 meters (9 feet) tall and is made from bronze. Its design is based on a real photograph of Gandhi. This photo shows him standing outside the office of the British Prime Minister in 1931.
The base (or plinth) of Gandhi's statue is lower than the bases of other statues in Parliament Square. This was a choice made on purpose by the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust.
It was thought that this would be the last statue placed in Parliament Square. Because of where Gandhi's statue was placed, plans for a statue of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had to change. Her statue is now expected to be placed outside the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
When the statue was unveiled, many people noticed something interesting. It stands near the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill was a British leader who did not want India to be independent. He once said some strong words about Gandhi. However, the newspaper The Telegraph from Kolkata, India, pointed out something important. The fact that Gandhi and Nelson Mandela (another freedom fighter) now stand with many white men in Parliament Square shows how much Britain has changed its views on racism and imperialism.
