Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 30: A life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been unveiled in Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota, bringing together members of the Indian-American community and state officials to honour his enduring message of peace and non-violence.
The monument, described by the Consulate General of India in Seattle as the first Gandhi statue in North Dakota, was unveiled on October 29 at Peace Park in downtown Bismarck.
North Dakota First Lady Kjersti Armstrong, State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and the Indian Consul General in Seattle attended the ceremony. Officials of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District and members of the state's Indian-American community were also present.
The statue was installed with assistance from the Indian Consulate in Seattle, along with technical support from the Indian-American community in North Dakota and the North Dakota Trade Office, according to a consulate release.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of the United States and India, followed by musical performances by school students from North Dakota, who presented some of Gandhi's favourite hymns.
The programme included a rendition of 'Vaishnav Jan To'. Photographs released by the consulate also showed Armstrong, Goehring and the consul general offering floral tributes to the statue.
Addressing the gathering, Goehring highlighted the growing friendship between India and North Dakota. He said Gandhi's message resonated with the people of North Dakota, India and the wider world.
The agriculture commissioner described the statue as a symbol of peace and non-violence and recalled Gandhi's words, the consulate said.
Armstrong also expressed admiration for Gandhi and said it was an honour to celebrate his legacy. She observed that his message was more relevant today than it had been in a very long time, according to the consulate's account of her remarks.
The statue has been installed at Peace Park, located at 400 East Front Avenue in the heart of Bismarck. The consulate described the initiative as another step towards strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people engagement between India and North Dakota.
This is the fifth Gandhi monument within the jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in Seattle.
India's engagement with North Dakota has included visits by the Consul General in 2024 and 2026, during which meetings were held with the governor, Bismarck mayor and representatives from the agriculture, business and education sectors.
The consulate also organised a consular camp in Fargo in February 2026, along with activities marking the International Day of Yoga. Senior representatives of the North Dakota Trade Office also visited India earlier this year, the release stated.
Peace Park was developed shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and already houses a Peace Pole installed by the Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota, along with several other bronze sculptures.
Other Gandhi monuments within the Seattle consulate's jurisdiction are located at Bellevue Public Library, installed in October 2009; at the base of Seattle's Space Needle, installed in October 2024; at Nebraska's State Capitol in Lincoln, installed in December 2024; and at the University of Montana's Mansfield Center in Missoula, installed in March 2026.