Statue of Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated on University of Belize Central Campus

Posted: Monday, January 13, 2025. 2:28 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The University of Belize Central Campus in Belmopan now hosts a statue of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known to all as Mahatma (an honorific meaning ‘venerable’ in Sanskrit), which was inaugurated on Friday by Prime Minister John Briceño and High Commissioner of India to Mexico and Belize, Dr Pankaj Sharma.

Gandhi practiced law but is best known for leading the non-violent campaign to obtain independence for India from the United Kingdom, which took place in 1947, although Pakistan and later Bangladesh would be partitioned from the original British Raj. He was assassinated, shot dead by a Hindu nationalist in January of 1948.

Dr Sharma quoted the great man as saying, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever,” demonstrating his support for education as transformative, a means to develop character, instill moral values and empower individuals to contribute to society. The statue is intended to serve as an inspiration to students of the University. India has cooperated with the University in establishing a center for engineering which will be expanded to a CARICOM-wide center.

University President Dr Vincent Palacio said the statue “reflects our values: peace, non-violence and the transformative power of education…this institution serves as a beacon of learning, and a gathering place for exchanging ideas, much like the ideals that Gandhi championed: his vision of truth, harmony and equality resonates with the mission that we strive to uphold here: to nurture critical thinking, compassion and leadership in our students.”

Prime Minister Briceño drew comparison between Gandhi and George Cadle Price – both deeply spiritual, but equally iron-willed in defence of their nations (while India lost much of its Muslim population to Pakistan and Bangladesh, Belize resisted overtures to give up land to resolve the unfounded Guatemalan claim before independence in 1981). He offered formal thanks on behalf of the Government and the University to the people and Government of India and the Indian Council on Foreign Relations which donated the statue.

The Prime Minister and Dr Sharma also planted a ficus tree to symbolize the relationship between India and Belize.

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The post Statue of Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated on University of Belize Central Campus appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Monday, January 13, 2025. 2:28 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: The University of Belize Central Campus in Belmopan now hosts a statue of Mohandas Karamchand
The post Statue of Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated on University of Belize Central Campus appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.