Gandhi commemorated

The Indian community in Malta last Sunday marked the 55th anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi with a garland-laying ceremony at the John XXIII Peace Lab, Hal Far.

Gandhi, who was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic in 1948, led India's struggle for independence promoting non-violence to reach his aims.

The president of Indian community, Mr Tikamdas Bharwani, placed a garland of white and red roses around Gandhi's bronze bust by the entrance to the chapel of the Peace Lab.

Another garland was laid by Emanuel Scicluna, chairman of the Peace Lab. In a short speech, Fr Dionysius Mintoff, OFM, founder of the Peace Lab, recalled what Gandhi had declared on January 29, 1948 - a day before he was shot dead: "I work for India in which the poorest feel it is their country in whose making they have an effective voice, an India where there shall be no high-class or low-class people, an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony."