Britain issues five-pound coin with Gandhiji's portrait

- Coins can be purchased on the UK's Royal Mint website

- Indian-origin British finance minister Rushi Sunke remembers Gandhiji on Diwali

LONDON: Britain's Indian-origin finance minister Rushi Sunke has honored the Father of the Nation by issuing a five-pound coin with a picture of Gandhiji commemorating his life on the occasion of Diwali.

Available in both gold and silver, the coin was designed by Hina Glover and features the national flower of India, the lotus, along with a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji's world famous statement My life is my message is written on this coin. The coin is a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, one of the world's most influential leaders who has inspired millions of people around the world, Sunke said. As a Hindu, I am very proud to issue this coin of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Diwali. Gandhiji played a key and decisive role in India's freedom struggle.

And in memory of his inspiring life, it is a wonderful thing to have a coin with his picture issued for the first time in Britain, ”Sunke added.

The cultural ties between India and Britain are getting stronger day by day and the issuance of this coin with Gandhiji's picture is proof of that. It may be recalled that India is also celebrating 9 years of its independence. The coin has been put up for sale on the UK's Royal Mint website. Gold bars (small bars) weighing one gram and 5 grams have also been put up for sale on this website for Indians under the Diwali Collection section. A picture of Lakshmiji is also inscribed on this gold bar.