CHICAGO: Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday was celebrated on October 2 by a group of community members at the Gandhi statue in Skokie, a northwest suburb of Chicago, with lot of fervor and enthusiasm. Village of Skokie had proclaimed Oct 2 as Gandhi Peace Day.
Mrs Susan Van Duessen, wife of the Mayor of Skokie, was in attendance and she explained the significance of Gandhi’s teachings which are inscribed on the pedestal of the statue.
They joined in the prayers in honor of Mahatma Gandhi. Mother Nature blessed the event by providing the cover of a nice weather. Mrs Usha Kamaria, Trustee of Gandhi Memorial Trust initiated the celebrations by offering flowers to attendees. She said “unless you are at peace yourself, you cannot spread the message of peace’.
In his welcome address, Chairman Omprakash Kamaria mentioned that United Nations had declared Oct 2 as an International Day of Non Violence.
Satish Chander, Trustee, stated that Gandhiji’s teachings greatly inspired Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. in his crusade, who in turn impressed the thoughts of our President Barack Obama.
Dr Modi, a trustee mentioned that it is the 10th anniversary of installation of statue and that GMT is working on a plan for beautification of the statue area. Rohit Joshi mentioned that Gandhi believed in cleanliness and he never expressed anger at any one. Later he conducted a 15-minute group prayer.
Mrs Dina Modi, Trustee, Mrs Mira Chadner, Trustee and Mrs. Mina Patel volunteered to distribute the light refreshment among all the attendees.
Madhu Patel
