Statue of Mahatma Gandhi to Be Installed in Ajapnyak Neighborhood, to Be Transferred from India

The Yerevan City Council today, on April 28, made a decision to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the city. The decision states: “Based on point 2 of the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia on August 31, 1999, N551, the Yerevan City Council decides: 1. To grant permission for the installation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the intermediate park area between Halabyan and Margaryan streets in Yerevan.”

The issue was presented by the acting head of the special regulation programs department of the Yerevan Municipality’s urban planning, Andranik Sedoyan, who noted that all expenses related to the transfer and installation of the statue would be covered by the Indian side.

The justification for the decision states, “The basis for this decision is a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia addressed to the Mayor of Yerevan, proposing to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent political figure and philosopher in world history, in Yerevan in connection with the 150th anniversary of his birth, thereby strengthening and deepening the friendly relations between Armenia and India. The letter also mentions that the statue will be provided by the Indian side and that they will cover all costs related to the statue’s transfer to Yerevan, the construction of the pedestal, and its installation.”

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the leaders and ideologues of India’s movement for independence from Great Britain. He chose peaceful civil disobedience as a method of struggle, advocating for a fight without hatred or violence, where the only weapon for people is their life. Thanks to his relentless efforts, India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947 through peaceful means, demonstrating the effectiveness of Gandhi's philosophy to the world.

Gandhi’s birthday, October 2, is celebrated in India as a national holiday and observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

The proposal presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia has been approved by the Chief Architect of Yerevan and the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the municipality, and is also coordinated with the Department of External Relations of the administration. The location of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi will ensure its more favorable visual perception in the intermediate park area between Halabyan and Margaryan streets in Yerevan.