NEW DELHI: Amitabh Bachchan unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square in London in the presence of British Prime Minister David Cameron and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Bachchan said he was honoured, humbled and felt touched.

Bachchan also read out an excerpt from Gandhi’s The World of Tomorrow on the occasion at the unveiling over the weekend. Gopal Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma, was also present, apart from Lord Meghnad Desai and his wife.

In a message on Twitter, Bachchan later said the respect and dignity given to him was so humbling. Prior to the unveiling, he described the forthcoming event as ‘nerve trepidation.’

“A historic moment and a historic presence. I am honoured and humbled. I am so touched and honoured to have been given this pride of place at this most prestigious occasion,” Bachchan wrote on his official blog srbachchan.tumblr.com.

The statue is the result of efforts of the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust (London) and its trustee Lord Meghnad Desai. The large size nine foot bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been made by British sculptor Philip Jackson, who depicted it from Gandhi's photographs wrapped in a shawl to shield himself from London's cold during his visit to 10 Downing Street, London, in 1931 as the leader of Indian National Movement.