The first-ever life-sized statue of Swami Vivekananda was unveiled in the US on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by Seattle mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle, Prakash Gupta. The bronze statue honouring the famous Indian philosopher and spiritual leader has been installed at the Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, which records over 400,000 visitors daily.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it marks the first such installation hosted by a city government across the US, said the officials. It has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity," said the Indian mission in Seattle in a statement.
“From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle’s skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! The City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle,” the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
While the unveiling of the statue gained many praises for cultural inclusion online, it also had MAGA erupting over an Indian leader standing tall in an American city.
"Seattle becomes the first US city government to install a Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown at Westlake Square. A proud symbol of universal harmony & cultural ties between India and USA" appreciated one user on X.
"Seattle installing a Swami Vivekananda monument in its downtown reflects the growing global respect for his teachings of wisdom, service, and universal harmony. His message continues to inspire people across cultures and generations, highlighting India’s spiritual heritage on the world stage" added another.
However, many Americans pointed out how the spiritual leader had no connection to America and no contribution to the country.
"Seriously?! What the freaking heck! This person has contributed nothing to this city and this is an absolutely meaningless civic gesture. C’mon Seattle!" wrote one user on X.
"This is how assimilation into being an American dies. Foreigners come in, refuse to assimilate, build an exclusive community, preach inclusivity to other races, then install statues heralding their conquered territory" added another.
"An Indian Swami? What kind of utter un-American b******* is that? Democrats let statues of Ulysses Grant - our great Union General and our President be torn down and Seattle puts this up? This will be a primary target if we ever have Martial Law. But why wait?" incited one.
"And what does this have to do with American history?" asked many others.
Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu religious teacher, monk, author and philosopher born on January 12, 1863, gained prominence for his modern teaching and propagation of monasticism. He even travelled to the United States in 1899, delivering lectures across the West Coast. He died in 1902, at just 39 years old, and is remembered for his moral lessons.
