Heiligenweg presents a poor reflection of the man who is known worldwide, as it has been stripped of its arms, walking stick, and glasses. Garbage is also deliberately dumped around the statue. Some people describe this as a “national scandal.”

The statue of Mahatma Gandhi began losing its parts several months ago. It was damaged before the walking stick was broken and the arms were separated from the rest of the statue. The damage became evident months ago, but no repairs were made. Last year the walking stick was broken and the glasses were taken. This year the arms were severed and taken by vandals. Sources from the Culture Directorate indicated that repairs would not be made in the short term, but that the area around the statue would be cleaned up before October 2. The Gandhi statue was made overseas from a special material. Repairs would be too expensive and technically complicated. Authorities have not yet decided what to do with the statue, which has stood on Heiligenweg for over 60 years. It was suggested that an entirely new statue be placed, but no final decision has been made. Officials have not found an organization to look after the statue. The statue that once radiated respect and inspiration has turned into a symbol of negligence. Tourists often express shock when visiting this monument. The sad reality is that there is not enough time to fix Gandhi’s statue before October 2. This means the damage will be visible on that day. In the past, there have been plans to protect the statue by placing a fence around it, but that is not in line with the values Gandhi advocated. He fought for freedom and access, which is why putting a fence around the statue is not an option. It has become clear that the authorities do not have a structural solution for maintaining statues located in the inner city. On October 2, visitors will be confronted with a mutilated statue instead of one that represents the greatness of the man.