About 160 people gathered for the unveiling of a Mohandas Gandhi statue at Carleton Oct. 2. The statue is a life-sized gift from the government of India and its unveiling coincided with what would have been Gandhi’s 142nd birthday.
Those in attendance included the High Commissioner for India to Canada Shashishekhar Gavai, who pulled away a red blanket to reveal the statue. “Gandhi is the greatest man of all time,” Gavai said. “It is hardly surprising that he is standing here.”
A protest that was expected to try and stop the statue’s installment never materialized.
Over 40 people listed themselves as ‘attending’ on the Facebook group “Stop the Carleton University Gandhi Statue,” but no protest occurred in front of the River Building, which house the new Canada-India Centre for Excellence.
In an open letter sent to Carleton administration, the protestors of the statue claimed Gandhi is a figure of “racism, sexual perversion and hatred of minorities.” Gavai said Gandhi is often misunderstood because of ignorance.
“Some of the things Gandhi said are quoted out of context,” Gavai said. “But any person who has read about Gandhi knows what he stood for.”
Narinder Chauhan, deputy high commissioner of India, said students should consider it a privilege to have the apostle of peace and non-violence on campus.
“For many, many people, Gandhi stands for a world of peace,” said Carleton president Roseann Runte. “We certainly hope for a world of peace at Carleton.”