Statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square!

The bronze statue by leading British sculptor Philip Jackson, renowned for statues of the Queen Mother and Bomber Command. Jackson started work on the statue in July, will be the focal point for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa to kick-start India’s independence movement to start the struggle of self-rule. The sculpture will portray the Father of the Indian Nation draped in a shawl based on pictures from his last visit to the UK in 1931.

The date for the unveiling has been announced as the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust has surpassed the £1 million mark in donations for the statue, with Infosys Board chaired by KV Kamath contributing £250,000 and steel tycoon adding £100,000 recently.

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is expected to be the special guest.

‘The statue in Parliament Square not only marks his huge importance in the history of both our countries, but will enrich the firm bond of friendship between the world’s oldest democracy and its largest,’ Cameron said in a statement.

“Mahatma Gandhi is an inspiration. His approach of non-violence will resonate forever as a positive legacy – not just for the UK and India, but the world over. He was a man of great insight and many of his observations remain as fresh and relevant today as when he first made them – that we should be the change we wish to see in the world is timeless advice, well worth following. The statue in Parliament Square not only marks his huge importance in the history of both our countries, but will enrich the firm bond of friendship between the world’s oldest democracy and its largest.

Our ties with India have remained close throughout history and continue to go from strength to strength – through mutual respect as equals, through cooperation, trade, and of course through the one-and-a-half million Indian diaspora living in Britain today who bring our two nations closer, to the benefit of both”.

The UK culture secretary. Sajid Javid, said “Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s reverence and greatness, a man who fought equally for everyone, in the form of a statue in Parliament Square is a fitting tribute. No matter what your background, history or religion, this statue will allow people from around the world to look upon him and appreciate his endeavour and successes for humanity.”

He is the first Indian and the only person honoured with a statue in the Square who never held public office,’ said NRI economist Lord Meghnad Desai, the founder-chair of the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust.