On May 20, 2023, the Japanese city of Hiroshima hosted the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi’s bust by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
During the unveiling ceremony, dignitariessuch as H.E. Mr. Nakatani Gen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament; Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima City; Mr. Tatsunori Motani, Speaker of the Hiroshima City Assembly; members of the Indian community; and Mahatma Gandhi supporters in Japan were present.
On the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister for the G-7 summit from May 19–21, 2023, the Government of India has given the Mahatma Gandhi bust to the city of Hiroshima as a token of friendship and goodwill between India and Japan.
Shri Ram Vanji Sutar, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, sculpted the 42-inch-tall bronze bust. The bus stop location is close to the famous A-Bomb Dome, which is frequented by thousands of locals and visitors each day. It is situated next to the Motoyasu River.
The site was picked as a symbol of support for peace and non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi devoted his entire life to promoting nonviolence and peace. The setting is genuinely in line with Gandhiji’s beliefs and way of life, which continue to motivate people and international leaders.
As he inaugurated a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in this Japanese city on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that the Gandhian ideals of peace and harmony resonate throughout the world and inspire millions of people. Gandhi’s bust has been placed there as a symbol of support for non-violence and peace.
On August 6, 1945, the US carried out the first nuclear assault on Hiroshima, obliterating the city and killing over 1,40,000 people. The only nation to have ever deployed nuclear bombs in battle is the United States. It dropped two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the closing stages of World War II, killing thousands of civilians either immediately or shortly after the attacks. Thousands more perished from illnesses brought on by their exposure to radiation from the bombs in the years that followed the strikes. The majority of the casualties were civilians.
After revealing the bust, Modi also addressed the media. He claimed that the word “Hiroshima” still causes fear throughout the world.
As a gesture of peace and goodwill between India and Japan and in honor of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the city for the G7 summit, India gave the bust to Hiroshima.
“The bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at Hiroshima. This figure from Hiroshima conveys a crucial message. The Gandhian ideas of harmony and peace resonate around the world and inspire millions, the prime minister tweeted.
Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the ministry of external affairs, said the figure was an appropriate tribute to a city that stands for humanity’s desire for peace.
Ram Vanji Sutar, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, created the bronze bust that is 42 inches tall. The famous A-Bomb Dome, which is frequently visited by both locals and tourists, is close to the bust site, which is next to the Motoyasu River.
Gandhi lived a life committed to nonviolence and peace. According to a statement from the External Affairs Ministry, the area “truly resonates with the principles and life of Gandhiji, which continue to inspire the world and its leaders.”
Modi presented Gandhi with floral tributes after revealing the bust.
The Gandhi bust will further the concept of non-violence, he added, thanking the city’s mayor and the Japanese government for the chance to reveal it.
“It gives me great joy to hear that the Bodhi tree I sent to the prime minister of Japan has been planted at Hiroshima so that visitors may recognize the value of peace when they arrive. Mahatma Gandhi deserves my reverence, Modi stated.
As part of his bilateral discussions with Kishida, Modi also discussed methods to coordinate G7 and G20 initiatives to address various global concerns.
On the first leg of his three-nation trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia, Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday. He is scheduled to participate in over 40 engagements during this time.
From May 19 to May 21, Modi will be in Hiroshima largely for the annual summit of the G7 major nations, where he will likely address global issues like the security of food, fertilizer, and energy.
