Gandhi ji at Union Square

My husband and I, like true Indians, live in New Jersey (and not in New York City), right opposite to the Indian market. But most of our time is spent in NYC, again like true Indians. I look for Indian things here and there and New York as multi-cultural as it can get, often gives me many reasons to smile. On the weekends, we frequent one of our favorite parts of NYC - The Union Square at 14th street. It is an interesting place, flanked by tall beautiful buildings and in the middle of it, a park. It is not a usual park with green grass and children playing. It offers much more. On the weekends, it hosts a beautiful farmer’s market where farmers from neighboring states and upstate New York displaying their fresh products for sale. My husband and I have favorite things that we like to do there. I make a bee line for my favorite chocolate milk which comes in glass bottles. It’s large by normal standard, but I can easily gulp it down in a few minutes. My husband likes to have his usual blueberry muffins. After those extra pounds in our bellies, we stroll around to see many environmentally conscious stalls about recycling, reducing wastes and animal care organizations etc. There are also more socially conscious groups doing their usual processions against the war in Iraq which I always listen to and encourage.


In short, Union Square is the heart of New York City with many interesting activities and people. Talking about people, this Sunday, I manage to locate probably the most interesting person of all times, Gandhi ji. Amidst green bushes at a corner of Union square, very visible to all, stands a tall black statute of Gandhi ji. I was thrilled to see him. Carrying the usual stick, and marching away stood a man who started the non-cooperation movement against a large salt making monopoly. This is very symbolic to the farmers, who come with a hope of selling their produce, in a country of the largest chains of everything. Like earlier times, when a crowd used to follow him everywhere, Gandhi ji even now is not alone. Many people hang around, admire and take many pictures of this statue. There was even a candle right below his feet.


They say that you know when you are in New York, when in the subway your neighbors are all speaking in a different language. It is a place where people want to learn from others, including their languages, dresses, eating habits and even from their history. The presence of Gandhi ji is a live example of learning the good from others. Gandhi ji at Union square gave me yet another reason to smile.