UK to issue coin in honour of Mahatma Gandhi to mark 150th birth anniversary

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has announced that the Royal Mint will soon come up a special coin on Mahatma Gandhi.

(File photo)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid on Thursday revealed plans to release a new UK coin to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi. The plan was released at the GG2 Power list event in London. The Pakistani-origin British finance minister said he had asked the UK's Royal Mint to work on the coin so that the world never forgot what Gandhi taught it.

"Tonight's awards celebrate the 150th birthday of Gandhi - a fitting time to announce that I've asked the Royal Mint of the UK to propose a new commemorative coin in his honour. We should never forget what Gandhi taught the world," said Javid.

"Gandhi taught us that power doesn't just come from wealth or high office. We must always remember the values he lived his life by and that our parents brought with them when they arrived here all those years ago," added Javid, a son of a British Pakistani bus driver who has often spoken of his humble origin.

Sajid Javid who has retained the top spot on the GG2 Power List, the definitive ranking of the UK's 101 most powerful Asians said, "I am honoured to be recognised on the GG2 Power List once more and I am proud to live in a Britain where anyone can become Chancellor, whatever their background."

"Each person on this year's Power List has their own story to tell, but the example they set to young Asian women and men is helping to create a better and brighter future for Britain. I commend and congratulate them all," he said.

The second to feature on the list is UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. This is for the first time that two of the top four cabinet positions have been occupied by politicians of Black or Asian heritage.

Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor, Asian Media Group said, "In occupying their current positions in the cabinet, both Sajid Javid and Priti Patel have demonstrated that the Asian community can provide Britain with formidable leaders.

Sajid Javid has excelled as the first British Asian Chancellor of the Exchequer and deservedly retained the top position in our annual GG2 Power List and following closely behind Priti Patel, who became the first British Asian female Home Secretary earlier this year. They are leading the way in shaping Britain's future and are role models for future leaders from our community."

Activist and businesswoman Gina Miller, who has successfully tabled legal challenges against parliamentary procedures around Brexit, has featured on the third spot.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, at number four, remains a highly influential figure since becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major European city.

The UK's senior-most counter-terrorism officer, Neil Basu, is ranked fifth and the Nobel Prize-winner and president of the Royal Society, Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Venky, is ranked ninth. UK-based Indian-origin businessmen Hinduja brothers--Gopichand and Srichand-- took the 10th spot in this year's list.

Hosted by BBC presenter, Nihal Arthanayake at London's Park Plaza Westminster, GG2 power list every year honours UK's most prominent community leaders and achievers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

(With inputs from PTI)

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