India has called for immediate action after the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in London was defaced, condemning the act as both disrespectful and jarring. The Indian High Commission publicly condemned the vandalism, calling it “shameful” and describing it as a violent affront to Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence.
The defaced monument is located in Tavistock Square and had been erected in 1968 as a memorial to Gandhi’s years as a law student at University College London. The graffiti included the word “Terrorists” painted on the statue’s base, along with references to “Gandhi, Modi and Hindustani [Indians].” Local authorities are treating the incident as “racially aggravated.” As of now, no arrests have been reported.
Camden Council dispatch teams to clean the statue, while the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal‐damage probe. The Indian mission stated that its representatives were on site, coordinating restoration efforts to restore the monument’s dignity.
The timing of this incident is especially sensitive, as it occurred just days ahead of Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary on October 2, which also coincides with the International Day of Non‑Violence. Historically, the statue is a focal point for tributes on that day, with floral offerings and hymns often placed at its base.
This is not the first time Gandhi’s likeness has been targeted. In 2014, a statue in Leicester was similarly vandalized. Over recent years, there have been debates in some parts of the U.K. calling for the removal of Gandhi monuments.
The Indian government is pressing UK authorities for a thorough investigation and swift action to ensure such incidents do not recur.
