Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development inaugurated the Zayed-Gandhi Digital Exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat on 12 March. Organized by the Ministry in collaboration with the Mahatama Gandhi Digital Museum in New Delhi, the exhibition celebrates humanitarian values and legacies of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Mahatma Gandhi. Marking 150 years since the birth of Mahatama Gandhi, the opening ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh Minister of State, Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, Mrs. Smita Pant, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy and a number of government officials from both countries.
“The Zayed Gandhi exhibition is the first of its kind in the country. It coincides with the Year of Tolerance in the UAE and reflects the cultural values of our society. It celebrates two world leaders who contributed to the spirit of tolerance, cohesion and harmony among their people.” Al Kaabi notes, “The exhibition sheds light on the unique vision of the two leaders in the fields of construction, development, kindness, humanity and environment. It also offers the multicultural community residing in the UAE an insight into the lives of the two men who carried the same values and principles but belonged to different cultural backgrounds.”
The Zayed-Gandhi Digital exhibition highlights strong cultural relationship between the UAE and the Republic of India. It reflects the UAE’s vision through digital content and quotations by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that embody the solid foundations on which the country was founded in 1971, punctuated with anecdotes from the life and philosophy of Mahatama Gandhi who led India to independence from British rule in 1947.
The exhibition uses innovative multimedia technologies and creates an interactive experience for visitors. Zayed-Gandhi Digital Museum is open to the public until 29 March 2019 from 9 am to 8 pm, except Fridays.
Navdeep Singh Suri, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said: The enunciation of peace,tolerance and sustainable living by Mahatma Gandhi, our beloved Bapu and the UAE’s Founder Sheikh Zayed lovingly called Baba Zayed, has been beautifully portrayed at the Gandhi Zayed Digital Museum. Both leaders with their love and service to humanity and compassion for all, continue to inspire us.
As we celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and UAE celebrates the Year of Tolerance, I am confident that visitors to this dynamic exhibition will absorb the essence of those universal values which the two leaders stood and dedicated their lives for”
Running parallel to the exhibition is a series of cultural events and workshops that will explore the strong cultural relations between the two countries and trace parallels between the two iconic figures and their visions on life and land to inspire people to rethink their present and the future. On Fridays, films on the lives of Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi will be screened.
ZONE 1: RESILIENT LEADERS
Both Sheikh Zayed and Mahatama Gandhi were transformational leaders. They were inspirational, trustworthy and charismatic role models who led by example. They worked together with their people to make a difference in their lives.
ZONE 2: PASSIONATE HUMANITARIANS
Sheikh Zayed and Gandhi’s leadership was marked by their charitable and generous values. Sheikh Zayed was a true humanitarian who profoundly impacted the lives of millions of people around the world. On the other hand, Mahatama Gandhi manifested in others the conscience of humanity by demonstrating the power of spirit over material things, by turning his moral searchlight inward, and by extending the message of love and peace.
ZONE 3: DEVOTED PEACEMAKERS:
Both Sheikh Zayed and Mahatama Gandhi were beacons of tolerance, hope and peace, forging good relations with other nations and aspiring for a world of harmonious co-existence. Sheikh Zayed put great effort to maintain peace in the region, mediating whenever there was conflict and instability in an effort to bring nations together.
He was also known for his tolerance and extending his support to his people without discrimination. Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to all citizens and advocacy towards unity always drove him to look for common grounds.
Mahatama Gandhi, on the other hand, is a global symbol for non-violence. He was known for his peaceful activism and a large part of his life was devoted to the discovery of a relationship in which people do not resort to violence to achieve their goals.
ZONE 4: VISIONARY CHANGEMAKERS:
Changemakers like Sheikh Zayed and Mahatama Gandhi are focused on the greater good. They are personally connected to the challenges they want to resolve and know how to nurture people around them to bring their vision to life. Sheikh Zayed strongly believed in bettering the lives of his people through wisdom of his ancestors and foresight into the lives of future generations. The reforms that he implemented in the fields of education, empowerment of its people and development of the country all represent a true spirit of transformation.
Mahatama Gandhi’s vision was centered on freeing India from British rule and ensuring each citizen gets their civil rights in order to improve the lives of India’s poorest classes. His greatest ability was to walk his talk at every level and in every way. His life was about compassion and change through nonviolent activism. Mahatama Gandhi led a simple life that demonstrated how one person can be the change they wish to see in the world. He inspired and led protests against discrimination and for economic empowerment of his country.
ZONE 5: INSPIRATIONAL ORATORS
Sheikh Zayed and Mahtama Gandhi understood the weight their words carried and the importance of crafting the right message for their people to follow. They knew how to articulate their vision and inspire people through brilliant orations. Sheikh Zayed’s poems are brimming with messages of unity, vision for development and appreciating the local culture. It is through his words, speeches and poetry that we continue to develop our culture, society, and familial lives in the country. Mahatama Gandhi wrote almost 50,000 pages throughout his lifetime that encompassed hundreds of books, countless letters every day and edited many newspapers for many years.
ZONE 6: DEDICATED CUSTODIANS
Sheikh Zayed and Mahatama Gandhi are both great examples of leading ones lives with sustainability and balance. The shape of this zone is inspired by the chemical compound that both salt and sand have in common.
Salt represents a peaceful struggle for independence. Sand represents the dream of building a nation and realizing it.
Dedicated to conservation, this entire experience is designed to help us realize the importance of nature.
