<text>  A new statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Londons Parliament Square was described as a magnificent tribute by David Cameron after he unveiled it yesterday. The 9ft bronze figure marks 100 years since Gandhi began his peaceful struggle for Indias independence from the British. At the ceremony, a band played Indian classical music on sitars, the countrys flags festooned the square and schoolchildren stood in the crowd to watch. Prime Minister David Cameron meets with Gandhis grandson Gopalkrishna, right, at Westminster . The statue of the Indian leader was unveiled in Westminster today by the nations finance minister . Mr Cameron described Gandhi as one of the most towering figures in the history of world politics Mr Cameron said: This statue is a magnificent tribute to one of the most towering figures in the history of world politics and by putting Mahatma Gandhi in this famous square, we are giving him an eternal home in our country. Many of his teachings remain as potent today as when he first made them. This statue celebrates the incredibly special friendship between the worlds oldest democracy and its largest, as well as the universal power of Gandhis message. The privately funded work, created by Philip Jackson, shows Gandhi dressed in a shawl and traditional dhoti skirt, with his hands clasped. Indian finance minister Arun Jaitley, who helped unveil the statue, said: How many countries celebrate the life work of a man who opposed it with vehemence for more than three decades? Not many. Gandhi stands opposite a statue of Sir Winston Churchill, who described him as a half-naked ...seditious fakir. The statue by Philip Jackson is located on Parliament Square, directly across from Winston Churchill . 