First Bust Of Mahatma Gandhi Unveiled In Montana

HELENA, MT – A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the Mike Mansfield Center of the University of Montana in Missoula.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, along with the Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta, jointly unveiled the bust of the Mahatma at a gathering attended by leading officials from the state, including faculty and students of the University of Montana, as well as members of the Montana World Affairs Council.

Addressing the gathering, Gianforte thanked the Consulate for presenting the bust of the Mahatma as a gift from the Indian government to the US state and praised the ideals of nonviolence that Mahatma Gandhi espoused as much-needed values in the world order today.

Founded by an Act of the US Congress in 1983, the Mansfield Center at the University, where the bust of the Mahatma has been placed, aims to foster globally minded leaders of integrity and supports youth and communities through civic and international education guided by ethical leadership, civic responsibility and an unconditional commitment to public good.

Later in the evening, students at the University of Montana also participated in another unique event celebrating Holi. The University’s Executive Director, Deena Mansour, welcomed the first Holi celebrations in Montana as marking “the arrival of spring and embracing unity”.

A large number of Montanans played Holi with organic colors before attending the Indian Film Festival, where the Bollywood movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ was screened for young Montanan students. Participants also savored the special Holi sweet ‘gujiya’ during the celebrations.

Earlier in the day, nearly 400 Montanan students also attended a briefing session on Brand India, where they were introduced to the flavors of Indian coffee, including ARAKU, and briefed about India’s ODOP during the Academic World Quest Conference hosted by the Montana World Affairs Council.

The Gandhi bust unveiled at the Mansfield Center is the fourth such installation in the US Pacific Northwest and follows three other statues installed by the Consulate earlier, including at the base of the Space Needle in Seattle (October 2024), at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska (December 2024), and another earlier one at Bellevue Public Library (October 2009). (IANS)