Dressed in matching skin-coloured
caps, round spectacles and grey moustaches, these young children are
taking part in a lookalike record attempt like no other.
The 485 children donned matching
outfits in
honour of Mahatma Gandhi, the iconic Indian spiritual leader who was
assassinated 64 years ago to the day.
As well as the peace leader's trademark round glasses and moustache, the boys also sported white robes to mimic his traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, as well as holding walking sticks.
Their march was an attempt to
bring alive memories of Gandhi's historic Dandi march in March 1930
which sparked India's independence movement.
The boys, all aged between ten and 16 and mostly from single mothers, walked in costume for half a kilometre in central Kolkata, West Bengal.
The underprivileged youngsters also set a
world record, as their march of 485 children was the largest such
gathering ever recorded.
Their impressive effort eclipsed the previous record for such an event, where 255 children dressed as Gandhi in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on June 13, 2010.
The children took part in the march named 'Rise Up' while watched by Gandhi's granddaughter Usha Gokani.
She said: 'It's a great feeling. When my children heard of the effort they egged me to come to Kolkata.
'They said it may be a bit tiring for you, but the trip is worth to be made.
'I now know they were right. I am moved by the passion for the father of the nation displayed by these children.'
Michael Anthony, who runs the UK-based organisers TRACKS (Training Recourse and Care for Kids) who set up the march, said: 'We don't want the underprivileged kids to forget the rich legacy of Gandhian ideology.'
Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2 is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti - a national holiday which sees tributes across the country.
'Mahatma' Gandhi, which means Great Soul, was born in 1869 and was an inspirational leader of India and the Indian independence movement.
He is famed for his non-violent means to achieve his goals, which resulted in the independence of the country.
Gandhi is one of the most
influential figures in recent history and his methods inspired civil
rights movements across the world.
Gandhi was fatally shot on January 30 1948 while having one of his nightly public walk on the grounds of the Birla Bhavan (Birla House) in New Delhi.
The assassin, Nathuram Godse, was a Hindu radical with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha.
Record: The 485 boys who dressed as peace icon
Mahatma Gandhi represented the biggest number ever
As well as the peace leader's trademark round glasses and moustache, the boys also sported white robes to mimic his traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, as well as holding walking sticks.
Fitting: The half a kilometre march the children
completed mirrored Gandhi's Dandi peace march in 1930
Finishing touches: A young boy puts his grey
moustache back in place as the record attempt in eastern India gets
under way
The boys, all aged between ten and 16 and mostly from single mothers, walked in costume for half a kilometre in central Kolkata, West Bengal.
Icon: Gandhi led the way for non-violent civil
rights and independence in Indian before his death in 1948
Their impressive effort eclipsed the previous record for such an event, where 255 children dressed as Gandhi in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on June 13, 2010.
The children took part in the march named 'Rise Up' while watched by Gandhi's granddaughter Usha Gokani.
She said: 'It's a great feeling. When my children heard of the effort they egged me to come to Kolkata.
'They said it may be a bit tiring for you, but the trip is worth to be made.
'I now know they were right. I am moved by the passion for the father of the nation displayed by these children.'
Michael Anthony, who runs the UK-based organisers TRACKS (Training Recourse and Care for Kids) who set up the march, said: 'We don't want the underprivileged kids to forget the rich legacy of Gandhian ideology.'
Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2 is commemorated as Gandhi Jayanti - a national holiday which sees tributes across the country.
'Mahatma' Gandhi, which means Great Soul, was born in 1869 and was an inspirational leader of India and the Indian independence movement.
He is famed for his non-violent means to achieve his goals, which resulted in the independence of the country.
Dressed for the occasion: A group of boys arrive
in Kolkata on a bus to the march ready prepared
Checking numbers: Guinness World Record
officials count the Gandhis during the attempt in West Bengal
The 485 under privileged boys smashed the
previous record for the most Gandhis by 200 during their effort
Copycats: The young boys also sported
replicas of Gandhi's trademark dhoti and shawl during the march
Gandhi was fatally shot on January 30 1948 while having one of his nightly public walk on the grounds of the Birla Bhavan (Birla House) in New Delhi.
The assassin, Nathuram Godse, was a Hindu radical with links to the extremist Hindu Mahasabha.
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