Statue of Mahatma Gandhi (New York City)

The bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Union Square Park depicts the leader in a naturalistic pose, mid-step, clutching a rustic staff as he walks forward. Sculpted by Kantilal B. Patel, this eight-foot-tall figure was dedicated on October 2, 1986, which marked the 117th anniversary of Gandhi's birth. The statue’s location was chosen specifically for Union Square’s long-standing reputation as a site for public assembly, protest, and the exercise of free speech. Its dedication ceremony featured a keynote speech from the renowned American civil rights leader Bayard Rustin, reinforcing the connection between Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent civil disobedience and the history of social activism in the United States.