Mahatma Gandhi’s Statue in Yerevan

Vahe H. Apelian

 

First and foremost, I would like to note the following. I have been maintaining my blog since March 2017. Throughout my penning in my blog, I have steered away from making commentaries that may come across polarizing in nature. The 283 posted blogs attest to that. Most of my blogs are originals. They are my own. But I have also translated many stories that I thought shed light on our history which otherwise might not have been accessible to my English reading audience. The primary language of my blog is English.

This blog will be an exception.

 It pertains to the issue of installing the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Yerevan. Many in the social media post commentaries against the installation. Those who make those commentaries do not necessarily come from Armenia only. Many are from the Diaspora.  Most attempt to impart an air authority as if having mastered the history of India, center it on a stand that Mahatma Gandhi allegedly took against Armenia during its crucial history between 1915-1920. I say allegedly because I have not read the statement he made in any history book. But my layman’s knowledge of Mohatma Gandhi and India, I bet, is no different than those who comment with a mistaken authority on Mahatma Gandhi’s stand and hence blame the Municipality of Yerevan and the Armenian Government for planning to install Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Yerevan. The debate acquires a far-reaching dimension claiming that the government is more interested in installing Mahatma Gandhi’s statue than those of the Armenian historical figures, further muddying the issue with such unnecessary linkages. The issue basically pertains simply on the merit on the installation of the statue.

My commentary pertains only to that. That is to say, on the merit installing  the Mohatma Gandhi’s statue.

.First and foremost, it is not the Yerevan municipality or the government  of Armenia who, out of blue, have suddenly decided to install Mahatma Gandhi’s statue. It is the government of India who has proposed to have his statue installed.  I quote: “YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of India in Armenia has proposed to install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Yerevan, Yerevan City Councillor Levon Zakaryan from the My Step faction said on social media. He said the proposed locations of the statue are either the Circle Park or the park adjacent to the Republican Hospital.”

Obviously those who comment against the installation of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue want the Armenian government refuse Indian Embassy's proposal. I see no justification for Armenia to take such a draconian stand against the Indian Government. Needless to say, Mohatma Gandhi is an internationally revered figure. “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Famously said Albert Einstein.

I noted earlier that I have not read the statement about Armenians Mahatma Gandhi has said in any history book other the comments I read on Facebook. I will not question the veracity of Gandhi’s statement allegedly against Armenian during the 1915-1920 crucial period of our history, but I will put it in context.

We have to bear in mind that India gained its independence from the British rule in 1947. Wikipedia notes that  Indians celebrate their  Independence Day  annually on  August 15, as a national  holiday marking the nation's independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, the day when the UK Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act. Consequently, India was a not accepted onto the fold of nations as an independent state to have set its course of foreign policy during 1915-1920 period.

We should also bear in mind that Mohatma Gandhi, who is considered to be the father or the architect of independent India, was not elected into any office although he remained the voice and the conscious of the Indian people throughout his life and naturally remains revered to this day.

What was India then during 1915-1920 crucial period of our history?

India as we know today did not exist then. It was the British India that comprised what is modern day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the disputed Kashmir region. It will be a historical understatement to note that the British India was a whole subcontinent and within this subcontinent Gandhi led the fight against the powerful British Empire of the day. It was the global empire where sun never set as it carved the world according to its interests. India had no say during those years.

What was the vision of Mohatma Gandhi during independence war he led during 1915-1920?

Mahatma Gandhi stood for an undivided British India gaining its independence. To assure the Muslim minority that they will be welcomed and not harmed in the emerging India he led, Mahatma Gandhi went out of his way to placate the Muslim population of India by making serious concessions to their political leaders to occupy the important seats of the emerging India he envisioned and advocated. Gandhi’s stand did not sit well with the Hindu nationalists and as a consequence of which he was assassinated by one of them. The outcome is history now.

It does not surprise me that within the context of what he advocated and envisioned for India, he might have made statement to the affect having Armenia within Turkey. Surely Mahatma Gandhi had experienced the British ire but not the Turkish yatagan, Armenians experienced for centuries.

Whatever Mahatma Gandhi said within the context of what transpired over 100 years ago, not honoring the Indian Government’s proposal and not erect a statue  of Mahatma Gandhi and accord it an official opening worthy of what Mahatma Gandhi stood for, will be a serious political mistake and will adversely effect our bilateral relations. And those who oppose the erection of the statue with uncalled for rhetorics, would be contributing to that grave mistake.