STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: K K Gandhi reached Chitkara University with his Peace Dove “Franz Xaver Gruber” which travelled from Austria to India. He was received by Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Pro- Chancellor, Chitkara University. On this occasion Prof. (Dr.) Ranjan Kumar Mallik, Dean, Chitkara Design School and Dr. Sudarshan Pal Singh, Director, Office of the Planning & Architecture, Chitkara University, Punjab were also present and received KK Gandhi. Dr. Madhu Chitkara felt this precious moment related to peace, prosperity. She said that a grand peace message to all society should be spread in a creative way. The artwork GruberTaube (GruberDove) is assigned to the composer Franz Xaver Gruber (1787- 1863), who created the music of the world-famous Christmas song Silent Night, Holy Night. The dove has her permanent home at the Silent Night Museum Hallein, in Salzburg, Austria. Indian artist Gandhi was artist in residence” in Hallein, Salzburg, Austria, the eminent painter for one month. K.K. Gandhi was chosen as a messenger of peace. As he travels back to Jammu, India, he will be carrying the peace dove with him. The bronze sculpture was designed by the artist and sculptor Richard Hillinger, who came up with a concept of assigning individual doves to well-known people. This particular bird is named #GruberTaube and acts as a messenger of peace, while visiting different people or institutions. Its mission is to travel the world during ten months of the year and to return to the Silent Night Museum Hallein during the pre-Christmas season.
The dove stands for peace, justice, freedom, humanity, democracy and human rights. May these values be held high in the spirit of mutual appreciation and respect. In the picture: Mag. Florian Knopp, manager of the Silent Night Museum Hallein presenting the peace dove #GruberTaube to K.K. Gandhi. Dr. Madhu Chitkara gave her blessings on behalf of Chitkara University’s Family, Punjab, India to this worthy cause and whished all the good luck to all the deserving art fraternity associated with this artistic novel mission. She appreciated the bronze sculpture of Dove and the aesthetic thinking behind this art peace. Lastly, Dr. Ranjan Mallik gave the vote of thanks to Pro- Chancellor Dr. Madhu Chitkara and to artist K K Gandhi.
