MONROVIA — The Embassy of India in Liberia has marked the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with a call for peace, nonviolence, dialogue and compassion, while strengthening its humanitarian engagement with Liberia through a donation of medicines to the Group of 77 Disabled Center.
By Patience M. Jones, [email protected]
The celebration, held Friday at the Indian Embassy in Mamba Point, brought together members of the Indian community, government officials, disability advocates, educators, students and other invited guests, including a delegation of Liberian legislators led by Hon. Ellen A. Attoh-Wreh, Chairperson of the Women Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL).
A major highlight of the commemoration was the unveiling of a newly installed bust of Mahatma Gandhi on the lawn of the Embassy’s Chancery.
The Embassy said the bust is intended to serve as a lasting reminder of Gandhi’s philosophy and his call for humanity to choose peace over violence, love over hatred, dialogue over confrontation, compassion over indifference and service over self-interest.
Gandhi Jayanti, observed annually in India as the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, is also commemorated by the United Nations as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Speaking at the ceremony, Indian Ambassador to Liberia Manoj Bihari Verma welcomed the Liberian lawmakers and other guests, describing their participation as a reflection of the growing partnership between India and Liberia.
Ambassador Verma also recalled Gandhi’s famous Talisman, which urges decision-makers to consider how their actions affect the poorest and most vulnerable members of society.
He said Gandhi’s philosophy remains relevant beyond India, emphasizing that his message belongs to humanity as a whole.
For Liberia’s disability community, however, the commemoration carried a more direct humanitarian significance.
As part of the celebration, medicines were donated to the clinic of the Group of 77 Disabled Center by members of the Indian pharmaceutical and business community in Liberia.
The contributions came from Abeer Pharmaceuticals, Lucky Pharmaceuticals, Bunty Pharmaceuticals and other members of the Indian community.
The donation was formally received on behalf of the Group of 77 Disabled Center by Senior Administrator Raymond Kolubah Zarbay Sr. and Deputy Health Services Director Fatu Sirleaf.
Zarbay, speaking on behalf of Madam Synleseh Stephenie Dahn Koung-Second Lady of Liberia and Executive Director of the Group of 77 Disabled Center, expressed appreciation to the Embassy of India, Ambassador Verma and the Indian business community for their support.
He said the donation followed engagements between the Center and the Embassy in November 2025 and September 2026, during which the needs of persons with disabilities and possible areas of cooperation were discussed.
According to him, the medicines will strengthen the Center’s capacity to provide healthcare services to persons with disabilities and surrounding communities.
He also reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to ensuring accountability and responsible distribution of the donated medical supplies.
The medicine donation, the Center said, represents more than material assistance, describing it as a demonstration of solidarity and friendship between the Indian and Liberian peoples.
The humanitarian gesture came as the Embassy concluded Seva Pakhwada, a fortnight-long service campaign observed from September 17 to October 2 by India and Indian diplomatic missions abroad.
During the campaign, Embassy officials participated in a Swachhata Pledge, beach-cleaning activities and the planting of coconut saplings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
The Embassy said the campaign reflects the spirit of seva, or selfless service, which was central to Gandhi’s philosophy.
At the Gandhi Jayanti celebration, the connection between the philosophy of service and community action was further underscored through cultural performances by schoolchildren, including traditional dances and Gandhi’s favorite devotional songs, known as bhajans.
The program also featured reflections on Gandhi’s life and values and the singing of Vande Mataram.
Meanwhile, WLCL Chairperson Ellen A. Attoh-Wreh highlighted the continued relevance of Gandhi’s principles of peace, nonviolence, service, dialogue and reconciliation.
She said the values are particularly relevant to the work of legislators as they seek to promote inclusion, dialogue and peaceful resolution of differences.
The Liberian legislators’ participation also followed their recent South-South Peer Learning Mission to India from August 10–15, 2026, under an IBSA Fund-supported project titled “Women Legislators in Liberia: Promoting Voice, Leadership and Gender-Responsive Governance for Sustainable Development.”
The project is supported by the governments of India, Brazil and South Africa.
The Embassy of India also praised the Indian community in Liberia for its continued contribution to Liberia’s social and economic development and for helping strengthen the longstanding bonds between the two countries.
For the Group of 77 Disabled Center, the partnership signals an opportunity to deepen cooperation in healthcare, disability inclusion and community development.
The Center said it looks forward to strengthening its engagement with the Embassy of India and members of the Indian business community, particularly in addressing the healthcare and inclusion needs of persons with disabilities.
As Gandhi’s bust now stands at the Indian Embassy in Monrovia, the occasion served not only as a commemoration of his life, but also as a practical demonstration of one of the values associated with his legacy: service to humanity.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
