This year the world celebrates the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. To mark this occasion, a flagship event entitled "150 years of the Mahatma:

A Tribute by Bulgarians to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi" was organised by the Embassy of India, Sofia on the eve of his birthday on 30^th September 2019 at "Oborishte 5" Art Gallery in Sofia.

The work of 20 eminent Bulgarian artists and sculptors who specially created artwork for an exhibition entitled "Mahatma Gandhi – The Vigour of Truth", was showcased at this event. The artists included Aglika Gaytanikova, Prof. Dessislava Mintcheva, Ivan Milushev, Krasimir Todorov, Penka Atanasova, Selma Todorova, Prof. Stanislav Pamukchiev, Stefan Churchuliev, Stoyan Dechev, Hari Atansov, Tsanko Tsankov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tzvetan Stoyanov, Prof. Angel Stanev, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentin Gospodinov, Prof. Emil Popov, Ivan Rusev, Prof. Ivan Slavov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamen Tsvetkov, Rasho Mitev and Assoc. Prof. Tzvetoslav Hristov.

A special commemorative stamp with the image of Mahatma Gandhi issued by the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications in Bulgaria was also launched at the event. It was validated jointly by Ambassador Pooja Kapur and  H. E. Ms. Andreana Atanasova, Deputy Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications. Created by the artist Stoyan Dechev, this is the 1^st stamp on Mahatma Gandhi to be issued by Bulgaria.

Some of the highlights of the events were the screening of excerpts from Satyavaarta – short talks by eminent Bulgarians on Mahatma Gandhi’s influence on their lives and also the special musical tribute of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite music performed by Ms. Dyana Dafova and the violinist Professor Angel Stankov.

The event was attended by over 200 persons including eminent political leaders, Ambassadors, senior officials, cultural personalities, journalists and other dignitaries.

The flagship was the high point of the whole series of events in the past year commemorating the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Bulgaria.

The material was provided by the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Photos: "Diplomatic Spectrum"