Last Updated:September 29, 2025, 23:00 IST
The Indian High Commission in UK condemned the vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Tavistock Square, calling it a shameful act and urging swift action to restore its dignity.
The Gandhi Statue in Tavistock Square in London, which has been a key site for decades for vigils and tributes, and commemorations to Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, was defaced by miscreants. (IMAGE: X/@SuperPACman_)
The Indian High Commission in London on Sunday condemned the vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Tavistock Square, calling it a “shameful act” and an assault on the legacy of nonviolence.
In a statement on X, the mission said the attack was not merely an act of damage to property but “a violent attack on the idea of nonviolence, three days before the International Day of Nonviolence, and on the legacy of the Mahatma.”
The High Commission added that it has taken up the matter strongly with local authorities and urged immediate action. Its team has already reached the site and is coordinating with officials to ensure the statue is restored “to its original dignity”.
The Gandhi statue at Tavistock Square has stood for over half a century as a symbol of peace and resilience. Sculpted by artist Fredda Brilliant, it was unveiled on May 17, 1968, by then British Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
@HCI_London is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the shameful act of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London. This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of nonviolence, three days before the international day of nonviolence,…— India in the UK (@HCI_London) September 29, 2025
“@HCI_London is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the shameful act of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London. This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of nonviolence, three days before the international day of nonviolence, and on the legacy of the Mahatma,” the Indian High Commission in London said in a tweet.
According to an article published in Economic and Political Weekly in July 2005, the Gandhi statue at Tavistock Square was later joined by a series of peace memorials. These include a cherry tree planted in memory of the victims of the Hiroshima bombing, a field maple planted in 1986 by the League of Jewish Women to mark the United Nations’ International Year of Peace, and a granite memorial unveiled in 1995 by composer Michael Tippett to honour conscientious objectors. Together, these installations gave Tavistock Square the reputation of being London’s “peace park”.
The statue portrays Gandhi seated in a meditative pose. According to the report, for many years, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, this seated figure of Gandhi was also used by state broadcaster Doordarshan as the visual identifier for its news bulletins.
The square lies close to University College London, which lists the chief architect of Indian independence movement among its alumni.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Location :
London, United Kingdom (UK)
First Published:
September 29, 2025, 22:50 IST
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