At the stirring dedication ceremony held at 1p on Sunday, November 7, 2010, a new piece of art joined the legend of Fremont. Titled ‘Dreamer of World Peace’ and sculpted by Kaivalya Torpy, the bronze statue commemorates Sri Chinmoy, a life-long ambassador for peace and world harmony. This is the seventh such statue installed around the world, and the first ever installed in the contiguous United States. The statue stands along the Burke-Gilman Trail, between the Aurora and Fremont bridges, with Lake Union just at its back, and will be maintained by History House of Greater Seattle.
Fremont restauranteur, Nayak Pollisar, served as master of ceremonies for the dedication, and declared Fremont can now be known as “the center of the universe for world harmony.” His opening remarks referred to Sri Chinmoy as one who “continuously offered a message of the joy and plentitude of peace.” Salil Wilson, Executive Director of the World Harmony Run, spoke first. He described the run, which was founded by Chinmoy and has gone to over 140 nations, as an event that “gives people an opportunity to express their own hopes and dreams for world harmony.”
The statue, and the poem by Sri Chinmoy on the plaque, will permanently offer runners, walkers and bicyclists along the trail that same opportunity to consider their own vision of peace. Considered a ‘Student of Peace,’ Chinmoy led the Peace Meditation at the United Nations twice weekly for 37 years and passed away in 2007.
Other speakers at the dedication were Bill Pearl, Fremont business owners Suzie Burke and Richard Harrington, Niharika Nuuja, and Ranjana Ghose. Raj Manhas made some remarks, including mention of the term he served as Superintendent of the Seattle School District and how he would place quotes by Sri Chinmoy in his pocket, “to keep my love for fellow human beings in tough times.” Khokan Fulop quoted a wish by Sri Chinmoy, “for the whole world to replace the love of power with the power of love.”
Members of the Sri Chinmoy singers performed songs composed by him, including one titled ‘Seattle.’ Daulot Fountain introduced Pastor Pat Wright who led the Total Experience Gospel Choir in two songs. Their energizing and inspiring performance of ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart,’ fully captured the spirit of the entire ceremony, and gained a standing ovation.
The ceremony ended with Harrington, Burke, Pearl and his wife, Judy Pearl, draping a flower garland around the neck of the statue, and a reception at Silence-Heart-Nest.