London: NRI community offers prayers for wellbeing of Swami Shivakumar at Basaveshwara Statue

Bellevision Media Network

London, 20 Jan: A special prayer was organized by The Lambeth Basaveshwara Foundation for the health and well-being of centurion Swami ShivaKumar at the Basaveshwara Statue, here, on Sunday, January 20.

 

On 17th of February 2013 Swami blessed with a foundation stone that was placed underneath the Basaveshwara Statue in London. This foundation stone that was cast in 5 precious metals as per Indian tradition was was laid in the basement of the statue.

 

 

Members of British Indian/Kannada community and the former Mayor of The London Borough of Lambeth Dr Neeraj Patil joined in a prayer to express their wishes for health and well-being of Swami Shivakumar. They also urged union government of India to award the highest civilian award  Bharat Ratna to Swami for his contribution to social work and eradication child poverty in India.

 

The Basaveshwara statue project was approved by the planning department of The London borough of Lambeth and subsequently by the British Cabinet minister for culture media and sports as per the Public Statues Act, 1854. The Basaveshwara statue and its vicinity is the intellectual property of the Foundation.

 

The Basaveshwara statue erected at the Albert Embankment is not only the first statue to be unveiled by an Indian Prime Minister in the UK, but is also the first conceptual statue approved by the British Cabinet in the vicinity of the Parliament. This is located at Albert Embankment in London opposite the British Parliament.

 

The approval was given as a mark of respect to 12th century Indian Philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara for promoting democratic ideals, social justice and gender equality during the 12th century. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Basaveshwara Statue in London on November 14, 2015.