Home > Magazine > Around Town > Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s statue unveiled at the Georgia Capitol

 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s statue unveiled at the Georgia Capitol

By Viren Mayani
October 2017
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s statue unveiled at the Georgia Capitol

 

(Left) Mr. Isaac Farris, nephew of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Antony Taliath of Gandhi Foundation USA and Viren Mayani. 

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s epic public speech, “I have a Dream,” was made on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In it, Dr. King called for an end to racism in the United States and sought civil and economic rights. Exactly 54 years later, his statue on the Georgia State Capitol Building lawns was unveiled. Although legislation for the installation was approved by Hon. Governor Nathan Deal and the House in 2014, the statue had not come to fruition as the original sculptor was killed in a car accident. Now, as the nation ponders the race issue again, the peace apostle’s statue has arrived in our sight.

Dr. King’s appearance here is young, scholarly, and lifelike. He faces east towards the sunrise, to remind us all of the forward looking leader he was, and the peaceful coexistence that Georgia’s diverse communities are proud to have maintained since then, over the decades. The relevance of his presence on the Georgia State Capitol lawns should be a matter of pride to all Indian-Americans, as Dr. King’s life’s success was significantly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha and civil disobedience movement, and just like him, Dr. King was also assassinated at a time when his disruptive presence was most needed.

The statue was unveiled with over 500 elected officials, community leaders, and people of varied races and origins in attendance on the bright sunny morning, with a feeling of resilience in the quiet, cool air. Amongst those present were patrons of the Gandhi Foundation of USA, there to express gratitude to the King family, who have enshrined the life-size statue of the Mahatma at the entrance to the King Center, and in particular for Mrs. Coretta Scott King, who generously provided a Gandhi Room on the 1st floor of the building to showcase Gandhi ji’s life and the success of his struggle for independence. History shall always remember the might of the simple loincloth-clad man who rocked the British Empire without a bullet fired!

MLKStatue_Amb Young300.jpg

 

(Left) Ambassador Andrew Young with Gandhi Foundation's John Naugle, Subash Razdan, and Viren Mayani.

Governor Deal’s statement on the program brochure read, “Let this statue be, if I may borrow the words of Dr. King, ‘a tunnel of hope through the mountain of despair,’ that those who visit our Capitol grounds would be reminded of what a godly man can accomplish in the face of adversity.”

Speakers and people honored for their contribution in the work it took to have this leader’s presence outside the State Capitol included Gov. Nathan Deal; Rev. Bernice King, Daughter of Dr. King and CEO of the King Center, and other King family members; Lt Gov. Casey Cagle; Mayor Kasim Reed; Rep. Calvin Smyre, Chairman of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Statue Tribute Committee; Speaker of the House David Ralston; and Dean Lawrence Carter Sr. of the MLK Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College. Prof. Timothy Miller of Morehouse College provided music.

MLKStatue_Gp.jpg

 

 

(Left) Patrons of the Gandhi Foundation with Consul for Community Affairs Mr. D. V. Singh of the Indian Consulate.

 

https://www.facebook.com/fox5atlanta/videos/707716839423577/


[The article above is a Website Bonus Feature, appearing only on the website for October 2017, not in the October print/digital issues.]

 Remember, we have Website Bonus Features that are not in the print magazine. Every time you see the W symbol in the print magazine, you can go to our website to see additional print or audiovisual material!

Submitting your report for consideration in Around Town

Please send post event reports for consideration in the Around Town section to AroundTown@khabar.com. Publication of reports is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. Guidelines for the reports are on our website at http://www.khabar.com/magazine/around-town/guidelines_for_submitting_reports_to_around_town. Deadline: 15th of each month—for consideration in the following month. However, chances of inclusion are better if reports are received well in advance of the deadline – where possible, e.g. within 3-7 days of the event

Submitting your news item for consideration in Newsmakers

Please send news items for consideration in the Newsmakers section to CommunityNewsmakers@khabar.com. Publication of news is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. We are focusing on local community members with some achievement or award that will be interesting and/or inspiring to our readers.


Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.


  • Add to Twitter
  • Add to Facebook
  • Add to Technorati
  • Add to Slashdot
  • Add to Stumbleupon
  • Add to Furl
  • Add to Blinklist
  • Add to Delicious
  • Add to Newsvine
  • Add to Reddit
  • Add to Digg
  • Add to Fark

Back to articles

 

DIGITAL ISSUE 

03_24-Cover-NMACC-W.jpg

 

eKhabar

Sign up for our weekly newsletter
eKhabar

        

Potomac_wavesmedia Banner ad.png 

TrophyPoint-Webads-200x200-4.jpg

  NRSPAY_Khabar-Website_2x2_Ad.gif

Krishnan Co WebBanner.jpg

Raj&Patel-CPA-Web-Banner.jpg

Embassy Bank_gif.gif 

MedRates-Banner-11-23.jpg

DineshMehta-CPA-Banner-0813.jpg