The 1st Statue of Mahatma Gandhi unveiled in North Dakota at Peace Park !

In a historic first, a life size statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled today at Peace Park in downtown Bismarck (capital of North Dakota). Installed with the assistance of the Consulate General of India in Seattle, and technical support from the Indian American community of North Dakota and North Dakota Trade Office, the monument was unveiled at a ceremony attended by First Lady of North Dakota Kjersti Armstrong, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Consul General of India in Seattle.

The unveiling ceremony commenced with National Anthems of USA and India, which was followed up with musical renditions of Gandhi ji’s favourite hymns by school students from North Dakota. The ceremony was also attended by officials of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District and members of the Indian American community in North Dakota. Coming in the month of Gandhi Jayanti, observed worldwide on 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence, the unveiling marked the 157th birth anniversary year of the Mahatma.

Addressing the gathering, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring highlighted the growing friendship between India and North Dakota, noting that Mahatma Gandhi’s message resonated not only with India and the world, but also with the people of North Dakota. He described the statue as a symbol of peace and non-violence and recalled Gandhi’s timeless words for the world to embrace. First Lady of North Dakota Kjersti Armstrong expressed her admiration for Mahatma Gandhi and said that it was an honour to celebrate his legacy, which she described as being more important today than it has been in a very long time.
4. Located at 400 East Front Avenue in the heart of downtown Bismarck, the Peace Park was developed shortly after the attacks of 11 September 2001. The park is also home to a Peace Pole installed by the Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota, along with other bronze sculptural artefacts. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, whose life and message remain universal symbols of peace and non-violence, now joins these other installations at the Peace Park, adding to the public art heritage of North Dakota’s capital city.

It may be noted that since the establishment of the first Consulate General of India in Seattle, engagement between India and North Dakota has grown steadily. Consul General’s visits to the State in 2024 and 2026 included meetings with the Governor, the Mayor of Bismarck and leaders in agriculture, business and education, while the Consulate has also organized consular and cultural outreach in Fargo, including the International Day of Yoga 2026 and consular camp in Fargo in February 2026. Senior Delegates from North Dakota Trade Office have also visited India earlier this year as part of ongoing delegation level exchanges with North Dakota. The installation of the first Gandhi statue in North Dakota, therefore, adds further momentum to India–North Dakota cultural and people-to-people ties.

The statue unveiled today is the latest addition under the Consulate’s initiative in the US Pacific North and Midwest, following those at the base of the Space Needle in Seattle (October 2024), at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska (December 2024) and at the Mansfield Center, University of Montana, Missoula (March 2026). Together with the earlier statue at the Bellevue Public Library (October 2009), it is the 5th Mahatma Gandhi Monument within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India in Seattle.

 

Link to video coverage of event by American media (KFYR TV) : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PnyBSwksOlrFiy-WuPx0V5TAf9u4w1Ga/view?usp=sharing