Our Bureau
New York, NY
Gandhi Museum in New York City Moves Forward Following a productive meeting between the Gandhian Society and New York City (NYC) officials late last year on December 15, discussions regarding a potential Gandhi Museum in NYC took a significant step forward.
A virtual meeting was held where Deputy Commissioner of International Affairs Dilip Chauhan introduced and welcomed all the participants. Mr. Nitin Mathuria, representing the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) of companies, presented details about ABG’s global presence and their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. He then introduced the Eternal Gandhi Project, an ABG initiative focused on establishing museums worldwide to showcase the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Mr. Mathuria expressed ABG’s strong interest in partnering with NYC to bring a museum to the city.
The NYC representatives, including Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Alton Murray, Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein, and Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs Dilip Chauhan, were enthusiastic about the proposal. Deputy Commissioner Murray provided valuable insights into the procedures for establishing such a venture in NYC.
Commissioner Cumbo expressed her excitement and offered guidance on potential collaborations with other organizations and city agencies. She also extended an invitation to Mr. Mathuria to visit NYC for further discussions and site visits to similar cultural institutions.
Commissioner Mermelstein highlighted successful past projects where NYC played a facilitating role.
Building on this positive momentum, an in-person meeting is now planned for April 2024 between the Gandhian Society, ABG representatives, and NYC officials. This meeting will focus on developing a concrete action plan for establishing the Gandhi Museum in New York City.
The meeting was attended by Bhadra Butala, founder of Gandhian Society, Mahesh Wani, Secretary of Gandhian Society, Brijesh Kachalia and Sravan Natakala, directors of Gandhian Society.
