NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
San Francisco, CA, March 20, 2026: Residents and social media users were briefly puzzled this week after images circulated online showing a waterfront statue of Mahatma Gandhi with glowing red “laser eyes.”
The statue, located along San Francisco’s Embarcadero near the Ferry Building, appeared in viral posts with the dramatic visual effect, leading some viewers to wonder if the monument had been vandalized or altered.
However, there have been no reports from city authorities or law enforcement confirming any damage or modification to the statue. The images are widely believed to be digitally edited, using a popular internet meme that adds laser-like glowing eyes to figures for dramatic or humorous effect.
The unexpected juxtaposition of Gandhi—known globally for his message of nonviolence—with a sci-fi style visual quickly caught attention online, fueling shares and speculation.
Officials have not issued any statements, and the statue remains intact.
The incident serves as another reminder of how quickly edited visuals can spread online and be mistaken for real events.
Image on the right: By Original work: Zlatko Pounov and Steven LoweDepiction: User:9yz – Self-created, CC BY-SA 4.0
