The Gandhi Foundation of USA (GFUSA) Hosts
Nelson "Madiba" Mandela Memorial at the Gandhi Statue in Atlanta
"...It's DONE!"
--- Mandela
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
On a Saturday 14 December, 2013 the Gandhi Foundation USA (GFUSA)
hosted a magnificent community memorial service for Nelson "Madiba"
Mandela at the pilgrimage site of the historic Gandhi Statue
located on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. National
Historic Site.
Yes! The globally-respected peace legacies of three GREAT
LEADERS were beautifully united in Atlanta. It was an auspicious
and blessed day for civic, government and business leaders
(local-global) to gather and figuratively bend-low for humbly
engaging in pranāma; of honoring their beloved peace teachers:
Mohandas - Martin - Madiba
GFUSA leaders Subash Razdan, Antony Thaliath and Mohsin Bharmal
stayed very busy welcoming all the guests as they arrived, and
everyone's eyes and hearts seemed to be wide open as the
spiritual purpose of the historical ceremony unfolded. Of
primary focus was the upcoming memorial program for Nelson
Mandela (1918-2013), the internationally respected
1990-recipient of the Republic of India's highest civilian
award- the Bharat Ratna (or 'Jewel of India') and also the 1993
Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Antony Thaliath, Exe Director of GFUSA extended a warm welcome
to all the guests reminding all present (at this historic site
visited by approximately a million tourists annually) that
“Nelson Mandela through his life long fight against apartheid
created a non-racial democracy in the oppressed S. Africa thus
serving as a beacon of hope and guidance ….”. He then invited
the Chair of the GFUSA Subash Razdan to bring his remarks.
Razdan stated that “GFUSA this year has been very active hosting
a myriad of tributes and homage and other activities including
hosting Gandhian Anna Hazare , Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, spiritual
leader Swami Adhyatmananda, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (Hawai),
ringing the bell of the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s speech,
et al.” Razdan added, “it is very befitting that today we
celebrate the legacy and life of Nelson Mandela, aka as Mandiba
by his clan name, at the hollowed grounds of Dr. King (and
Gandhi Ji) maintained by and in partnership with the National
Park Service (NPS) and hope his fight for freedom peace and
forgiveness in S. Africa lives on to serve the global humanity.”
Everyone attending was invited to join in together to offer
their individual and collective tributes for celebrating
Mandela's great life and legacy. Within the minds of excited
visitors was the Mandela's powerful quote which 'sang' to all:
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
Held in deep respect by hundreds-of-millions worldwide, and
especially within South Africa, Nelson Mandela is often referred
to by his Xhosa clan name "Madiba" and he is often described as
"the father of the nation". In the same dynamic peaceful manner
of his predecessors, Gandhi and Dr. King... Mandela actually
transformed an entire country and his great civic-service
contribution resulted in inspiring many, many nations of the
world.
The Mandela Memorial service was particularly graced by Hon.
Rajinder Singh, Acting Consul General of India in Atlanta.
Ambassador Singh, who has served as a diplomat in Zambia,
Africa, inspired the audience with powerful reflections and
appreciations for the Bharat Ratna Mandela on behalf of the
Government of India-a message from the prime Minister of India
Dr. Manmohan Singh, and he did so at Gandhi's beautiful statue.
He and other Special Guests were invited to place
flower-garlands on Gandhi's statue in advance of memorializing
Mandela, an internationally loved and iconic leader.
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John Naugle, Hon. R. Sing and Terry
Hester garlanding the Statue |
Following the opening remarks of Hon. Rajinder Singh, Mr. Razdan
introduced Special Guest, John R. Naugle from the "Atlanta: City
of Peace" organization. Mr. Naugle expressed his deep gratitude
to the Gandhi Foundation USA for their significant community
service to propel the legacies of Gandhi & King, and for the
powerful grounding in the peace movement that he had personally
received as a former GF-USA Board Member. Additionally he
stated: "Nelson 'Madiba' Mandela has greatly nourished and
elevated the health of our global family and he is our GREAT
brother, just like Mohandas and Martin. May we all continually
find ways to honor and support their globally-respected peace
legacies in every upcoming year of the future that lays before
us!"
Terry L. Hester, Founder of the international 'Unity in the
Community' campaigns, was the next Special Guest speaker. Ms.
Hester boldly proclaimed: "Nelson Mandela powerfully
transitioned from 27 years of harsh imprisonment into a globally
respected and transformed-life. Madiba opened the door for all
of us to be here today, for if he had not risen up like Gandhi &
King, then we would not be standing here in his honor. We accept
the great torch-of-hope that Mandela has passed to us today...
and we are certain it will help us all run further in our quest
for global peace. His torch will allow the light-of-love to
shine upon all of us when we experience the disease of hate.
Nelson Mandela refused to allow his years of unjust and painful
experience make him a bitter man. He allowed it make him a
better man!"
Gregory G. Pridgeon, former Council Member and Chief of Staff
for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Vice Chair of GF-USA
Board, was the next Special Guest invited to speak publicly. He
shared with the audience the experiences he had when he saw the
City of Atlanta rally its international Corporations to divest
from South Africa to propel an abolishment of its oppressive
apartheid regime and spoke of his memory of Nelson Mandela being
personally invited to Atlanta by former Mayor Maynard Jackson
and Coretta Scott King to speak at Morehouse College (Dr. King's
alma mater). On June 27th, 1990 Mandela was recipient of an
Honorary Doctor Humane Letters Degree.
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Bruce and Joseph of S. Africa flanking
John Naugle |
M. Mohsin Bharmal, GFUSA Treasurer and a bridge builder provided
the Vote of Thanks on behalf of GFUSA. Mr. Bharmal captivated
the audience with the select memorial words honoring Mandela. It
is important to recall that Mandela once proclaimed, "We believe
Muslims in South Africa have the greatest freedom to practice
their religion in comparison to any other country in the world."
He thanked all for their presence and especially Officer Mari
Hayden of the National Park Services and King Center, Sanjay
Pandya of Davis Printing, media TV Asia and Swapna Restaurant
for the catering of the delicious snacks.
Special surprise international guests were Mr. Bruce M.
Chilumuna, from Zambia, and Mr. Joseph Chifamba, from
Johannesburg, South Africa. Both made compelling statements as
they were interviewed by the media. GFUSA also celebrated the
many other supporters and virtual-attendees of the Mandela
Memorial who could not attend physically, but were still with us
in spirit. Of particular mention was the late founding Exe
Director Giriraj Rao. He and many others were each certainly
present 'in spirit'.
The media attending the event was TV-Asia, Namaste Bombay TV,
India Tribune et al. Their coverage was much appreciated. Anjali
Chhabria, with TV-Asia, did on-camera interviews with
Dignitaries and Special Guests. Also present was "the always
amenable" and widely respected Mustafa Ajmeri who handles public
relations for the India Tribune in metro-Atlanta.
A oneness of purpose was celebrated and felt by all of the GF-USA
Dignitaries, Special Guests, International Guests, plus Civic,
Government and Business Leaders while memorializing Mandela and
honoring the memories of Gandhi and King. In summary, the
memorial was a wonderful success and everyone departed with
their hearts and minds filled with inspiration to continue in
their lives of service in deep appreciation for great peace
leaders like Gandhi, King and Mandela.
"Courageous people
do not fear forgiving,
for the sake of peace."
--- Nelson Mandela
Pictures Courtesy Mustafa Ajmeri/Jacob/John.
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