London: Hon Prime
Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi will be paying tribute to Basaveshwara
statue in London 18th April 2018.
The
event will be organized by The Basaveshwara Foundation, a non-profit
organization based in UK that has erected the statue of Basaveshwara on the
bank of river Thames.
Former
Mayor of London borough of Lambeth Dr Neeraj Patil & Chairman of The
Basaveshwara foundation has received the official confirmation from the Prime
Minister’s office about the visit of the Prime Minister to the statue.
During
Patil’s tenure as the Mayor of The London Borough of Lambeth, a prime piece of
land was secured along the bank of the River Thames for erecting a statue of
the 12th century
Indian philosopher, social reformer and pioneer of Indian democracy,
‘Basaveshwara’.
The
project was approved by the planning department of The London borough of
Lambeth and subsequently by the British Cabinet minister for culture media and
sports as per the Public Statues Act, 1854.
The
Basaveshwara statue erected at the Albert Embankment is not only the first
statue to be unveiled by an Indian Prime Minister in the UK, but is also the
first conceptual statue approved by the British Cabinet in the vicinity of the
Parliament. This is located at Albert Embankment in London opposite the British
Parliament.
The
approval was given as a mark of respect to 12th century
Indian Philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara for promoting democratic
ideals, social justice and gender equality during the 12th century.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Basaveshwara statue 14th November 2015 in
London. On
this occasion tribute will also be paid to the architect of Indian constitution
Dr B R Ambedkar because they share a conceptual relationship”. Both
fought against caste discrimination.
Shri
Basaveshwara & Dr B .R Ambedkar both fought for eradication of caste
discrimination and social justice in the Indian society and unfortunately India
still remains divided along caste and religious lines and this must end, said
Dr Patil.
