Bachchan reading at Gandhi’s statue unveiling in London

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan will read from some of Mahatma Gandhi’s works at Saturday’s event when Union finance minister Arun Jaitley will unveil Gandhi’s statue at Parliament Square.

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan will read from some of Mahatma Gandhi’s works at Saturday’s event when Union finance minister Arun Jaitley will unveil Gandhi’s statue at Parliament Square.

Kishwar Desai, trustee of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Trust that collected over 1 million pounds for the statue, told HT on Thursday that Bachchan will be present at the event that will include personal reflections from former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Speaking before the event, Jaitley said: “It is with great pleasure that I have accepted PM (David) Cameron’s invitation to attend the inauguration of the new statue of Gandhi in Parliament Square in London. Mahatma Gandhi will be honoured in this most prestigious location for his work in peacefully leading India’s struggle for independence.”

He added: “The statue will help ensure that the legacy of Gandhi lives on for future generations…India and the UK share the same values and we are a partnership of equals. This lasting friendship is just one of many legacies left by Gandhi”.

The bronze statue has been created by leading British sculptor Philip Jackson.