A bust of Mahatma Gandhi has been installed at the Mike Mansfield Center of the University of Montana in Missoula. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, the Consul General of India in Seattle, and various state officials, faculty, and students. Governor Gianforte expressed gratitude for the gift from the Indian government and highlighted Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence as relevant in today’s world.
The Mike Mansfield Center, established by an Act of the US Congress in 1983, focuses on developing leaders with integrity and promoting civic and international education. In addition to the Gandhi bust unveiling, students at the University of Montana celebrated the Indian festival of Holi, marking the arrival of spring and unity. The event included playing Holi with organic Indian colors, a screening of the Bollywood movie “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” and enjoying the traditional Holi sweet ‘gujiya.’
The day also featured a briefing session on Brand India for nearly 400 Montana students, introducing them to Indian coffee flavors and ODOP. This session took place during the Academic World Quest Conference hosted by the Montana World Affairs Council. The installation of the Gandhi bust and the Holi celebrations further strengthened cultural and people-to-people ties between India and Montana.
