Man of peace final touch for Indian centre

Leela Gandhi with her great-grandfather's statue. Picture/ Glenn Jeffrey

While the world was coming to terms with yet another terror attack on the island of Bali, New Zealand's Indian community honoured a renowned man of peace.

Mahatma Gandhi's 136th birthday was marked yesterday with the unveiling of a full-sized bronze statue atop the Auckland centre that bears his name.

The statue, commissioned by the Auckland Indian Association, took seven months to complete and was airfreighted to Auckland from India.

The tribute to India's father of the nation is the final touch to 16 years of work on the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in New North Rd, which has been transformed from the site of a dilapidated bakery into a modern, multi-use function venue.

A host of dignitaries, including Leela Gandhi, Gandhi's great-granddaughter, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Opposition leader Don Brash and Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard attended.

Dr Gandhi, who is a professor of English literature at Melbourne's La Trobe University, said the ceremony was particularly poignant in light of the Bali bombings.

"We're really living in this culture of death. Not just terrorism, but also the kind of cultural fear that is generated by modern states.

"It seems ironic that these events have happened around Gandhi's anniversary."

She said many people she had met during her Auckland visit carried stories of their own personal encounters with her famous ancestor.

Yesterday's ceremony also marked 50 years since the opening of the Indian community's first hall in Victoria St.