The local community of Harrow approached their then-Mayor, Mrinal Choudhury, with the idea of a public monument to be situated in the grounds of Harrow Arts Centre in London; for the high number of Hindus in the area.  Choudhury subsequently commissioned an over life-sized sculpture of Swami Vivekananda (1862-1902) an Hindu monk and philosopher, one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders of India. 

 

Vivekananda attempted to combine Indian spirituality with Western material progress and was a key figure in the introduction of yoga to the Western World.  With his deep spiritual insight, eloquence and his role as India’s spiritual ambassador to the Western world, Vivekananda is regarded as a highly important and influential figure of modern India.