Mahatma Gandhi statue unveils in North Dakota carries a message beyond borders ‘World is very divided’
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta on Friday unveiled life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi for the first time in North Dakota, using the occasion to underline the relevance of non-violence at a time of conflicts and divisions across the world.
School students performed Gandhi’s favourite hymns at the Bismarck ceremony.
The installation is the fifth Gandhi monument under India’s Seattle consular jurisdiction.
The monument was inaugurated at Peace Park in Bismarck, the state capital.
The ceremony brought together American officials, Indian diplomats and members of the Indian-American community.
Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta said Gandhi’s philosophy could offer a message far beyond the United States, particularly as countries confront international tensions.
He spoke to local television station KFYR-TV, Gupta said, “Today, when the world is very divided, and we have conflicts raging across the world, to have Gandhi’s message of nonviolence emanate out of North Dakota, not only to the US, but to the rest of the world, is very important.”
He linked the message to the democratic traditions shared by India and the United States, describing the two countries as the world’s largest and oldest democracies, respectively.
North Dakota first lady Kjersti Armstrong, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and representatives of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District attended the event alongside Gupta and members of the Indian-American community.
The ceremony featured the national anthems of India and the United States, followed by performances of hymns associated with Gandhi by local school students.
According to the Indian consulate, Goehring described the statue as a symbol of peace and non-violence and spoke about the strengthening relationship between India and North Dakota.
Armstrong also paid tribute to Gandhi, emphasized the contemporary importance of his legacy.
The monument has been installed at Peace Park with assistance from the Consulate General of India in Seattle and support from the local Indian-American community and the North Dakota Trade Office.
Peace Park was developed in Bismarck after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
It houses a Peace Pole associated with the Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota and other public artworks.
Gandhi’s ideals were part of the park’s identity even before the installation of his statue.
In February 2026, an Indian consular delegation visited the park to honour Gandhi and met North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong as part of a wider outreach programme.
The October unveiling added a permanent life-size representation of Gandhi to a site already dedicated to peace and reconciliation.
The Bismarck installation is the fifth Gandhi monument within the jurisdiction of India’s Seattle consulate, which covers eight northwestern and central US states.
Other installations include memorials at Bellevue Public Library in Washington, Seattle’s Space Needle, Nebraska’s State Capitol in Lincoln and the University of Montana’s Mansfield Center in Missoula.
The Montana installation was unveiled in March 2026 by Governor Greg Gianforte and Gupta during a ceremony attended by university representatives and members of the Indian-American community.
India’s engagement with North Dakota has included discussions on trade, agriculture, education and technology.
The Seattle consulate’s February visit included meetings with state and city officials, a community gathering in Bismarck and consular outreach in Fargo.
The latest monument gives that relationship another public symbol while placing Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence in a park whose history is closely associated with the pursuit of peace.
