Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates praised India’s role as a pioneer of life-saving solutions for the Global South during a Gandhi Jayanti event hosted by the Consulate General of India in Seattle and the Gates Foundation. Marking Mahatma Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary on October 2, Gates highlighted how Gandhi’s principles of equality and dignity underpin the foundation’s mission. The event, blending Indian culture, arts, and cuisine, underscored India’s growing influence in innovation and its alignment with the vision of a developed India by 2047, or Viksit Bharat.
“It’s fitting that we’re coming together on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. The ideals he championed are foundational to the work we do,” Gates said at the Seattle gathering, attended by Washington State and Seattle City officials. He emphasised India’s leadership in creating scalable solutions to improve millions of lives across developing nations. The celebration, coinciding with the International Day of Non-Violence, featured a keynote by Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute, on the enduring relevance of Gandhian values in today’s global order. Across Seattle, events included tributes at Gandhi’s statue near Bellevue Public Library and a ceremony at Seattle Center by the Space Needle, where floral offerings were made by State Senator Vandana Slatter and Eddie Rye of the MLK-Gandhi Foundation.
In New York, Consul General Binaya Pradhan visited the Gandhi Peace Garden at SUNY Old Westbury, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. The garden, a joint initiative of the Consulate, Shanti Fund, and SUNY, features 150 trees symbolising all 50 U.S. states, reflecting Gandhi’s message of peace and environmental harmony. Pradhan engaged with university members to highlight Gandhi’s legacy of non-violence and unity, according to a post by the Consulate on X.
In Washington, D.C., the Indian Embassy hosted a commemorative event with the Indian diaspora, students, and professionals. Srimati Karuna, Director of the Gandhi Memorial Center in Bethesda, Maryland, delivered a talk on Gandhi’s life, sharing anecdotes about his inspirations. The event featured performances of Gandhi’s favourite bhajans by differently abled Indian artists Anusha Manjunath and Vasundhara Raturi, celebrating his vision through music. These global tributes reaffirm Gandhi’s timeless principles as India strengthens its role as an innovator and partner in global development.