By Shamila Jamaluddin/Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: The Zayed-Gandhi Digital Exhibition was inaugurated on Tuesday at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat island, Abu Dhabi, by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in collaboration with the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Gandhi Digital Museum in New Delhi.

The exhibition which marks 150 years since the birth of Mahatama Gandhi celebrates humanitarian values and legacies of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Mahatma Gandhi.

The exhibition, which is now open to the public until March 29, from 9am to 8pm, uses innovative multimedia technologies and creates an interactive experience for visitors except Fridays. On Fridays, films on the lives of Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi will be screened.

Moreover, it highlights strong cultural relationship between UAE and India, reflecting UAE’s vision through digital content and quotations by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan embodying the solid foundations on which the country was founded in 1971, punctuated with anecdotes from the life and philosophy of Mahatama Gandhi who led India to independence from British rule in 1947.

Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to UAE, said: Both leaders with their love and service to humanity and compassion for all, continue to inspire us.  “The enunciation of peace, tolerance and sustainable living by Mahatma Gandhi, our beloved Bapu and the UAE’s Founder Sheikh Zayed lovingly called Baba Zayed, has been beautifully portrayed at the Gandhi Zayed Digital Museum.”

The opening ceremony on Tuesday was attended by Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh Minister of State, Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director, EAD (Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi), Smita Pant, Deputy Chief of Mission Indian Embassy and a number of government officials from both countries.

Al Kaabi said “The Zayed Gandhi exhibition is the first of its kind in the country. It coincides with the ‘Year of Tolerance’ in the UAE and reflects the cultural values of our society, celebrating two world leaders who contributed to the spirit of tolerance, cohesion and harmony among their people.”

“The exhibition sheds light on the unique vision of the two leaders in the fields of construction, development, kindness, humanity and environment. It also offers the multicultural community residing in the UAE an insight into the lives of the two men who carried the same values and principles but belonged to different cultural backgrounds,” Al Kaabi added.

Running parallel to the exhibition is a series of cultural events and workshops that will explore the strong cultural relations between the two countries and trace parallels between the two iconic figures and their visions on life and land to inspire people to rethink their present and the future.

The exhibition contains six zones namely Resilient Leaders, Passionate Humanitarians, Devoted Peacemakers, Visionary Change makers, Inspirational Orators and Dedicated Custodians.

Zone 1- Resilient leaders

Both sheikh Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi were transformational leaders they were inspirartional, trustworthy and charismatic role-models who led by example.  They worked together with their people to make a difference in their lives.

Zone2- Passionate Humanitarians

Sheikh Zayed and Gandhi s leadership was marked by their charitable and generous values. Sheikh Zayed was a true humanitarian who profoundly impacted the lives of millions of people around the world on the other hand Mahatma Gandhi manifested in others the conscious of humanity by demonstrating the power of spirit over material things by turning his morals searchlight inward and by extending the message of love and peace.

Zone 3-Devoted Peacemakers

Sheikh Zayed put great effort to maintain peace in the region mediating whenever there was conflict and instability in an effort to bring nations together. He was also known for his tolerance and extending his support to his people without discrimination . Sheihk Zayed s commitment to all citizens and advocacy towards unity always drove him to look for common grounds .mahatma Gandhi on the other hand is a global symbol for non violence. He was known for his peaceful activism and a large part of his life was devoted to the discovery of a relationship in which people do not resort to violence to achieve their goals.

Zone 4-Visionary Changemakers

Both leaders are personally connected to the challenges they want to resolve and know how to nurture people around them to bring their vision to life. Gandhi s vision was centred on freeing india from British rule and ensuring each citizen gets their civil rights in order to improve the lives of indias poorest classes. His greatest ability was to walk his talk at every level and in  every way his life was about compassion and change through non-violent activism he led a simple life that demonstrated how one person can be the change they wish to see in the world . Sheikh Zayed strongly believed in bettering the lives of his people through wisdom of his ancestors and foresight into the lives of future generations

Zone5-Inspirational Orators

Both Zayed and Gandhi understood the weight their words carried and the importance of crafting the right message for their people to follow. They know how to articulate their vision and inspire people through brilliant orations. Sheikh Zayed’s poems are brimming with messages of unity, vision for development and appreciating local culture. it is through his words speeches and poetry that we continue to develop our culture, society and familiar lives in the country. Mahatma Gandhi wrote almost 50.000 pages throughout his lifetime that encompassed hundreds of books countless letters everyday and edited many newspapers for many years

Zone 6-Dedicated Custodians

They were both great examples of leading ones lives with sustainability and balance the shape of this zone is inspired by the chemical compound that both salt and sand have in common. Salt replaces a peaceful struggle for independence. Sand represents the dream of building a nation and realizing it dedicated to conservation this entire experience is designed to help us realize the importance of nature.