NEW YORK: A multifaith delegation of Nevada clergy met Director of Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs in Carson City recently regarding establishing a Gandhi monument near the State Capitol complex. Michael E. Fischer, Director of Cultural Affairs, assured the group, known as Gandhi Monument Council that he will explore the issue further and report back to the Council.

The clergy delegation was led by Rajan Zed, prominent Hindu leader; Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., Bishop of International Community of Christ; and Reverend Alan Dorway, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Carson City. In a memorandum given to Fischer, Gandhi Monument Council requested State help in terms of land, funding, design, planning, promotion, etc., for establishing Gandhi monument.

The purpose of this monument was to pass on the cherished values of Gandhi to the coming generations of Nevadans and others, Zed, Savoy and Dorway said and added that during the last few months after launching this project, Council received overwhelming support for this idea. Fischer said that this was a worthy project as Gandhi was an inspiration to the world.About 41 clergy/religious-leaders of the state have already signed the petition in its support and the Council wants to continue its clergy signature campaign.

The Council will make representations to the mayors of Las Vegas and Reno in the near future to erect one life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi each in their respective cities at suitable place, Zed says. The focus of this Council is to commemorate Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, his commitment to world peace, and his work for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

The Council is formed of the Christian (various denominations), Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Bahai, Native American, etc., clergy of Nevada. Members of the Council are: Father Charles T. Durante (Catholic), Pastor Carl Wilfrid (Lutheran), Father George C. Bratiotis (Greek Orthodox), Reverend John J. Auer (Methodist), Reverend Alan Dorway (Presbyterian), Imam Abdul Barghouthi (Muslim), Rajan Zed (Hindu), Reverend Philip Bryan (Buddhist), Rabbi Myra Soifer (Jew), Trip Barthel (Bahai), Reverend Laurie Chappelle (Episcopalian), Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. (International Community of Christ), and Irwin Sharp Fish Sr. (Native American). Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts, the Council says.

His life and thought had an enormous impact on the world, and he continues to be widely revered as one of the greatest moral, political, and peace leaders of the twentieth century.