The Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston (EGMH) has been awarded a grant of USD 475,000 from Fort Bend County as part of the American Rescue Plan, which will help to finish the construction of the first museum in the United States dedicated to preserving and promoting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and values.
The museum’s ground-breaking ceremony took place on July 3 this year, with Congressman Al Green as the keynote speaker, as well as a slew of other officials and members of the Houston community in attendance.In 2023, the museum is scheduled to open.
Atul B Kothari, a volunteer, trustee, and co-founder of the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, said, “The Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston is delighted and truly grateful to the Fort Bend County Commissioners’ court for approving this grant.”
The gift was revealed at a news conference held by Fort Bend County Judge of Indian Origin KP George and the county commissioners on Wednesday evening.
“From the moment he was invited to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial service at the Unity of Houston in February 2019, Indian-American Fort Bend County judge KP George has offered unwavering support to the activities of EGMH.” “This grant will go a long way toward bringing to life the first-ever Mahatma Gandhi Museum in the United States,” Kothari explained.
The EGMH has purchased three acres in southwest Houston to house the museum. The proposed building budget is USD 6.5 million. The capital campaign has raised almost USD 2.9 million, with the board of trustees committing an additional USD 1.1 million. A further USD 0.8 million has been pledged by private donors to the trust.
A capital grant of USD 500,000 was recently issued by the Houston Endowment Foundation.
The remaining funds will be raised through a comprehensive fundraising campaign involving foundations, corporations, and private donors.
The EGMH board has also enlisted the help of a reputable museum consultant with a Smithsonian experience to kick off this endeavor. The museum will also have exhibits and interpretations that highlight Mahatma Gandhi’s mission and vision.
A design and construct museum firm, an architect, and an education consultant were among the other consultants hired for this project.”The museum will provide a free field trip for Houston and neighboring area schoolchildren.
“The EGMH will be an interactive museum divided into three sections: ‘His Journey’ (Mahatma Gandhi’s Life), ‘Our Journey’ (Impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution in the world featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, and others from around the world), and finally ‘My Journey,’ where each visitor will be asked to make a commitment to make the community a better place to live in,” Kot.