Montana: Governor of Montana unveils the first Bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Montana (03-04 March 2026)
The Consulate General of India, Seattle undertook an outreach visit to the State of Montana during 3–4 March 2026, engaging with state leadership, city officials, academic institutions, technology companies, and the local community in Missoula and Bozeman.
A key highlight of the visit was the unveiling of the first bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Montana at the Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana in Missoula, by Hon’ble Governor Greg Gianforte along with the Consul General of India in Seattle. Presented as a gift from the Government of India, the bust stands as a tribute to the timeless ideals of peace and non-violence espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The ceremony was attended by First Lady Susan Gianforte, senior state officials, faculty and students of the University of Montana, and members of the Montana World Affairs Council.
During the visit, the Consul General also interacted with Mayor Angela Davis and City Council President Mike Nugent of Missoula, and held a meeting with Mayor Joey Morrison of Bozeman, reflecting the growing engagement between India and local leadership in Montana.
Academic and cultural outreach formed an important component of the visit. At the University of Montana, the Consul General participated in the Academic WorldQuest hosted by the Montana World Affairs Council and engaged with students on India’s democracy, diversity, digital transformation and India–Montana relations. Participants were also introduced to ARAKU Coffee from India’s tribal heartland. The visit also witnessed a vibrant Holi celebration in Missoula, bringing together members of the local community and students to celebrate the festival of colours.
In Bozeman, the Consulate engaged with Montana’s technology and innovation ecosystem, including visits to PHIX Inc., the QCORE (Quantum Collaborative Research and Education) facility at Montana State University, and EngineWorks, an innovation hub supporting collaboration between researchers, start-ups and industry. The Consulate also visited technology companies such as Lumibird and Lattice Materials, working on advanced laser and infrared photonics technologies.
The visit highlighted expanding opportunities for India–Montana cooperation in education, advanced technologies, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.
(3–4 March 2026 | Missoula & Bozeman, Montana)
