With just days remaining before Mahatma Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary and the International Day of Non-Violence, two statues of the global peace icon in London were vandalised, prompting anger and sadness within the Indian community and official circles.
One statue in Parliament Square, installed in 2015, was splattered with red paint. Another, located in Tavistock Square and sculpted by Fredda Brilliant, depicts Gandhi seated cross-legged. This statue, unveiled in 1968, was defaced with graffiti labeling Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the word “Hindustani” as “terrorists.” Tavistock Square’s statue has long served as a focal point for commemorations on Gandhi Jayanti.
The Indian High Commission in London condemned the vandalism as “cowardly” and “shameful,” particularly as the world prepares to remember Gandhi’s message of truth and non-violence. Officials have visited the sites and are coordinating with Camden Council and the Metropolitan Police to restore the statues and strengthen their protection.
No suspects have been identified yet, though investigations are ongoing. The incidents have reignited concerns over the security of cultural monuments and brought renewed debate about Gandhi’s contested legacy in the UK. A similar act of vandalism was reported in Leicester in 2014.
For many, the damage goes beyond physical harm. Gandhi’s statues abroad symbolize not only India’s history but also the universal power of peaceful resistance, an inspiration for movements such as the American civil rights struggle and the fight against apartheid. As voices rise in condemnation, many feel that defacing Gandhi’s statues on the eve of his birthday strikes at the very foundation of peace itself.
Also Read: Trump’s YouTube Lawsuit Ends with $24.5M Settlement
