TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, November 14, 2006: The 38-year wait for the Gandhi Cultural Center will soon be over, was the announcement made by India’s Vice President, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at a reception hosted by India’s High Commissioner, Sri Jagit Singh Sapra, on Friday night at the Hilton Hotel. The announcement coincides with three important milestones for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. First, it marks the 58th anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination; second, the 161st anniversary of the arrival of East Indians to Trinidad and third, the 137th birth anniversary of Gandhi. The saga began in October 1968 when the late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi visited this country and the late Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams agreed in principle to the establishment of the Gandhi Cultural Center.
The Gandhi Cultural Center will serve as a meaningful extension to the Indian Diaspora. It is projected that the Center will provide opportunities for many to learn Indian music and dance without having to take the long journey to the other side of the globe, preserving and promoting the heritage of our Hindu Culture through the vicissitudes of history. As Trinidad and Tobago joins the world in the yearly memorial of Gandhi, it is hoped that this Center will benefit all the people of Trinidad and Tobago as the culture of India is an integral factor of the heritage of all mankind.