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Sunday: Westminster Abbey, Gay Sikhs and Gandhi Statue

20/10/2019

Westminster Abbey, Gay Sikhs and Gandhi Statue

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, Westminster Abbey, Gay Sikhs and Gandhi Statue

Religious news and current affairs programme presented by William Crawley.

Westminster Abbey at 750, on being gay and Sikh and the controversy around a statute of Gandhi to be erected in front of Manchester Cathedral.

Edward Stourton visits Westminster Abbey with the historian William Whyte to talk about a new book commemorating the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the current Abbey Church building. 

Bake Off contestant and Sikh Rav Bansal came out as being gay publically earlier this year. Rav received a strongly worded homophobic letter from another Sikh who said he should dissociate himself from the faith. Other Sikhs have voiced their support for Rav and say there is nothing against being gay in their religion. Rav shares his experience with William.

And should a statue of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi be erected in front of Manchester Cathedral? The statue is set to be put up in November but now some students at Manchester University say the decision should be reversed because of his "well-documented anti-black racism." Supporters of the statue say criticisms of Gandhi are too limited in view and the statue is an important message of peace for the city. William hears opposing views from Professor Meena Dhanda and Professor Anindita Ghosh.

PRODUCERS:
RAJEEV GUPTA
CARMEL LONERGAN

EDITOR:
AMANDA HANCOX

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