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The statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London was vandalised on Monday, just days before the annual Gandhi Jayanti commemorations are due to be held at the site on 2 October.
The High Commission of India in London described the incident as a “shameful act” and an attack on the legacy of non-violence. Officials from the mission said they were working with local authorities to restore the statue.
In a post on X, the Indian mission confirmed the desecration had been reported to police. “The High Commission of India in London is deeply saddened and strongly condemns the shameful act of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London,” it said.
“This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of non-violence, three days before the International Day of Non-Violence, and on the legacy of the Mahatma. We have taken this up strongly with local authorities for immediate action, and our team is already on site, coordinating with authorities to restore the statue to its original dignity,” the statement added.
The plinth of the bronze statue, which depicts Gandhi in a seated meditative posture, was found daubed with anti-India graffiti. The Metropolitan Police and Camden Council have confirmed they are investigating the act of vandalism.
Every year, Gandhi Jayanti is observed at the London monument with floral tributes and renditions of Gandhi’s favourite hymns. The United Nations has designated 2 October, the birth anniversary of the Indian leader, as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The Tavistock Square statue was unveiled in 1968 and created by sculptor Fredda Brilliant with the support of the India League. It commemorates Gandhi’s time as a law student at nearby University College London. The plinth bears the inscription: “Mahatma Gandhi, 1869–1948.”
Over the years, Tavistock Square has become known as London’s “peace park”. A cherry tree planted in memory of the victims of Hiroshima, a field maple installed in 1986 to mark the UN’s International Year of Peace, and a granite memorial dedicated to conscientious objectors unveiled in 1995 surround the Gandhi statue.
