SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the immersion site of his ashes at Clifford Pier, with Singapore’s former premier Goh Chok Tong today.
After Gandhi’s demise in 1948, his ashes were sent to various parts of India and the world, including Singapore, for immersion. An AV presentation showing the actual pictures and newspaper clippings was of the immersion was played.
“Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and I unveiled a plaque marking the site where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed at the Clifford Pier in Singapore,” Modi tweeted.
The unveiling of plaque of the Mahatma, today marks Gandhi as a global figure and how he is still revered by the Indian diaspora globally. In his tweet, PM Modi emphasised that Gandhi’s message resonates all over the world. “Bapu’s message reverberates globally. His thoughts and ideals motivate us to work for the greater good of humanity,” he tweeted.
Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye’ was sung on the occasion. A soulful musical presentation of ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ by Singaporean artists on local instruments was indeed commendable and moved everyone in the audiences.
Following the unveiling of the plaque, Gandhi’s picture carved in gold leaf and framed in table-top were gifted to people who attended today’s ceremony.
Later, Modi visited the National Orchid Garden of Singapore where an orchid was named after him, and Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple Sri Mariamman, Chulia mosque in Chinatown and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum. Modi arrived here on Thursday and is on the last leg of his three-nation visit after his visit to Indonesia and Malaysia.
