The organizers of the Facebook group “Stop the Carleton University Gandhi Statue” have planned to protest the statue’s installment Oct. 2.
The protest’s organizers claim that Mohandas Gandhi left behind “a legacy of racism against blacks, support for racial segregation in South Africa, cheerleading and participation in British colonial wars of conquest,” according to an open letter sent to Carleton administration Sept. 7.
Despite the group members’ claims, Gandhi is primarily remembered for his strong commitment to non-violent forms of resistance.
The fact remains that the statue is relevant to the Canada-India Centre of Excellence and Innovation, and symbolizes Carleton’s commitment to forming positive partnerships with India. It’s being offered as a gift to Carleton from the High Commissioner of India on behalf of the Indian government.
While Carleton administration shouldn’t just accept any gift from anyone, to not accept the statue of Gandhi would be counter-intuitive to building a positive relationship with India and it would be insulting to their government. In effect, it would mean symbolically refusing one of India’s ideological leaders. It would mean refusing an icon of peace.
When it comes to the questionability of Gandhi’s character, the larger picture is that he is associated with the good he did in his life — that’s why this controversy is unknown to many.
The implications of declining the statue outweigh the benefits of pleasing this small group of protesters who oppose Gandhi’s place on Carleton’s campus, and therefore, everything good he represents.