Rahul Bajaj donates Rs 1.97 crore for Gandhi statue in UK

December 20, 2014 02:54

Leading industrialist Rahul Bajaj has become the largest donor for the Mahatma Gandhi statue to be unveiled at Parliament Square in London in early 2015.

The Bajaj Auto chairman donated 200,000 pounds (Rs 1.97 crore) to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust, set up by NRI economist Lord Meghnad Desai to raise funds for the sculpture.

"This is a wonderful gift for the Trust just before the New Year," said Lord Desai, accepting the donation on behalf of the trust.

He added, "Rahul Bajaj epitomises the best of Indian industrialists who have seen the transition of India from colonial rule to independence. When he called me a month ago to express his desire to donate, he was straightforward and impressive".

"He was happy to give the donation because he is a true Gandhian and a believer in those values. The Bajaj family has been associated with Gandhiji for a long time. It is fitting that Rahul Bajaj has made this tremendous gesture," he said.

With the latest donation, the estimated 750,000-pound budget target for the project is expected to be completed by January next year with the launch of the statue expected in the first half of the new year.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

It's 30 Years of Pulp Fiction!

The cult film celebrated his landmark on April 18 with a special screening in Los Angeles.

It's perform or perish time for RCB against KKR

With five consecutive defeats, bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore confront the daunting task of winning their remaining seven games to keep their play-off prospects alive in IPL 2024.

Elon Musk postpones India visit; cites Tesla 'obligations' as reason

American tech billionaire Elon Musk on Saturday said his proposed visit to India has been postponed due to "very heavy Tesla obligations". The electric carmaker Tesla CEO -- who was expected to be in India on April 21 and 22 and...

What We Can Expect From SRK-Suhana's Film

Shah Rukh Khan is all set to star with his daughter Suhana in a film to be directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

If there's anything that will stop Dhoni, it will be...

Amazed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's longevity, former India batter Robin Uthappa says the Chennai Super Kings talisman's "mind is staying up to date" and the only thing that could end his prolonged run in competitive cricket is his body.