By: Dr. Avi Verma

The has welcomed longtime community leader Pramod Joshi to its Board of Directors, marking a significant addition to the organization’s mission of promoting peace, nonviolence, and community harmony.

Founded in 2001, the Gandhi Memorial Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and spreading the life, philosophy, and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The organization is best known for establishing the iconic 12-foot Mahatma Gandhi statue at Heritage Park, which was officially dedicated on October 2, 2004, in honor of Gandhi Jayanti.

The Foundation has consistently worked to promote Gandhian values such as Ahinsa (nonviolence), religious tolerance, compassion, equality, and human dignity through educational outreach, cultural programming, and annual community observances including Martyrs’ Day and Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Joshi, a respected civic and community figure, has long been active in public service and currently serves as a commissioner with the Village of Skokie government. His appointment is being viewed as a major boost for the Foundation as it expands its outreach to younger generations and broader communities across the Chicago area.

In its official welcome letter dated April 20, 2026, the Foundation praised Joshi’s commitment to service and leadership, noting that his “voice and vision will play an important role in guiding our future” and helping “build stronger bridges across communities.”

Responding to the appointment, Joshi expressed deep gratitude and reflected on his lifelong connection to Gandhian ideals.

“I’m very grateful to all of you for giving me an opportunity to spread the message of Gandhiji in a very challenging world that we are living in,” Joshi stated.

Recalling his childhood memories, Joshi shared how he used a charkha during his school days to spin cotton into thread as part of his education, a symbolic connection to Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance and simplicity.

He also spoke emotionally about his family’s historic ties to India’s freedom movement, noting that his uncle from Kathalal in Gujarat had gone to jail alongside Gandhi as a freedom fighter during India’s struggle for independence.

“Promoting Gandhi’s ideals to create a peace-loving society with my actions would be the goal,” Joshi said. “My commitment is to carry Gandhi’s message to the community that we live in, with all resources that would be available and created, to accomplish the target of achieving nonviolence, human dignity, equality, and compassion.”

Community leaders believe Joshi’s inclusion comes at a crucial time when Gandhian principles of dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence are increasingly relevant in addressing social divisions and global conflicts.

With Joshi joining its leadership team, the Gandhi Memorial Foundation is expected to further strengthen its mission of preserving Gandhi’s timeless teachings while inspiring future generations to embrace peace, service, and humanity.