Statue of Mahatma inaugurated at House of Culture in West Sumatra

Jakarta: In a unique gesture, a standing statue of Mahatma Gandhi made by an Indonesian artist was installed at the house of Culture associated with the House of Poetry of famous Indonesian poet Taufiq Ismail. 

The statue, made by Bambang Winaryo, was inaugurated by the Ambassador of India to Indonesia, Gurjit Singh and HE Fadli Zon, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia.  The Governor of West Sumatra HE Irwan Prayitno was present on the occasion as were a large number of dignitaries.

The statue of Mahatma Gandhi is made in such a way that it faces Mount Marapi, one of the three volcanoes around that area of Padang Panjang in West Sumatra.

The statue is an inspiration of Zon, the emerging political leader of Indonesia, who has a passion for art and culture and a cultural promotion in his area of West Sumatra.  He has opened a museum of eminent poet Taufiq Ismail and a House of Culture which houses his collection of art, books and keris. 

A special friendship programme with India was held after the inauguration and was attended by number of dignitaries of West Sumatra province. 

The Ambassador of India spoke on the occasion about the long friendship between India and Indonesia and the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, which are valid for all of us today. 

The Ambassador spoke of the ideas of the new government of India like the International Yoga Day, Swachh Bharat campaign, Make in India campaign, Digital India and the like and mentioned various events of Sahabat India: The Festival of India in Indonesia, of which this event was an important part.  The Indonesian dignitaries recalled their long abiding friendship with India.