Why Is There A Mahatma Gandhi Statue In The 'Oasis Of Peace' Park In Kyiv?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Kyiv during his landmark visit to Ukraine on Friday.

The Gandhi statue in Kyiv’s ‘Oasis of Peace’ park, inaugurated four years ago, stands as a symbol of hope and peace for humanity, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

‘Paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in Kyiv. The ideals of Bapu are universal and give hope to millions. May we all follow the path he showed to humanity,’ PM Modi said in a social media post on X, during his first trip by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since 1991.

‘Timeless relevance’

During the historic visit, the Prime Minister underscored the “timeless relevance" of Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace in building a harmonious society. The Prime Minister noted that the path shown by him offered solutions to present-day global challenges.

Established on Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary

The bronze statue of Gandhi, unveiled on October 2, 2020, to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, was revealed by then-Indian Ambassador Partha Satpathy and senior Ukrainian officials. The unveiling at A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden in Kyiv was part of the celebrations of Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary.

Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, Mahatma Gandhi led the non-violent resistance movement against British colonial rule, ultimately leading to India’s independence in 1947.