By Amrit Pal Sidhu @Babushahi Network
Hoshiarpur, April 17:
Former Member of Parliament, Avinash Rai Khanna, announced that the inaugural ceremony for the first life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda took place on April 12, 2026, at Westlake Square in Seattle, United States. This statue represents the first such installation officially commissioned by a government in the United States.
Sculpted by renowned Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, the statue pays tribute to Swami Vivekananda’s landmark address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. It serves as a powerful reminder of his enduring impact and the cultural connections linking India and the United States.
Welcoming this historic event, Avinash Rai Khanna emphasized that the establishment of the statue underlines India’s rich cultural heritage and its acceptance on foreign soil. He attributed this recognition to the robust diplomatic relationships promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with leading global powers. He further remarked that such gestures signify India's growing prominence and the broader acknowledgment of its historical and cultural legacy worldwide.