ArmInfo.The Embassy of India in Armenia welcomes the decision made earlier by the Council of Elders of Yerevan to erect a monument to the Indian political and public figure Mahatma Gandhi in the Armenian capital.
<This will be a tribute to the great leader on the occasion of the celebration of his 150th anniversary, celebrated around the world. It is also a symbol of centuries-old historical and friendly relations between India and Armenia>, the embassy said in a statement. It is noted that relations between the two countries have centuries-old roots, and originate from 149 BC. "The first Armenian church in India was built in 1562, and we still proudly preserve the rich cultural heritage and architecture of Armenia in Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Lucknow and Surat," the diplomatic service emphasizes. Particularly indicated is the high level of current bilateral relations, which includes not only cultural ties, but also interaction in the fields of politics, economics, trade, security, and so on. They also noted the work of the Armenian-Indian Center for Excellence in Information and Telecommunication Technologies, as well as close partnership in a number of areas, which facilitates the exchange of experience and knowledge, including through technical and economic cooperation.
<In this context, the Indian Embassy would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Yerevan Municipality for making the decision to erect a monument to Mahatma Gandhi in the Armenian capital. We very much hope that this will inspire the younger generation to learn more about the teachings and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, and to contribute to the cause of peace>, - emphasizes the embassy, recalling that the International Day of Non-Violence is celebrated on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The monument to Mahatma Gandhi will be erected in the park near Alabyan and Margaryan streets, as a sign of strengthening and deepening friendly relations between Armenia and India. It was previously noted that the Indian side is ready to take on all the costs of moving and installing the monument. Mahatma Gandhi is one of the leaders and ideologists of the movement for the independence of India from Great Britain. His philosophy of non-violence (satyagraha) influenced the movements of supporters of peaceful change. In the struggle for Indian independence, Gandhi used methods of non-violent resistance: in particular, on his initiative, the Indians resorted to a boycott of British goods and institutions, and also defiantly violated a number of laws. In 1930, he led the Salt Camp against the salt tax. His implacable struggle against caste inequality is also widely known. Gandhi enjoyed enormous influence both among the Indians and among the Muslims of India and tried to reconcile these warring factions. Mahatma Gandhi was killed on January 30, 1948, as a result of a ramified conspiracy of Hindu extremists.