The Statue of Unity and the Curse of Disunity

The now infamous Statue of Unity—a 182 metre or 597 feet tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel—was inaugurated in Gujrat on October 31st of this year. The statue’s claim to fame is that it is the world’s tallest statue, and recently reports were circulated that it could even be seen from space. Frankly, I seriously doubt those claims. If the Great Wall of China which is built over two thousand feet above sea level and possessing a height of over 20 feet cannot be seen from space, it is absolutely impossible that a diminutive statue (in comparison) should. 

Obviously, a claim like this falls in with the numerous other hoaxes that have been circulated among the innocent people of the country, hoping to stir up feelings of nationalism and religio-cultural chauvinism. This has been something the present regime has specialized in. Facts about the country: its people, culture, history and economics have been grossly compromised and ignored, while religious myths and cultural legends have been awarded factual status. Claims have been made that some of the life-altering technologies and discoveries that were found and developed in the last few centuries, were not actually new, they were discovered and used millennia ago in the sacred land we now know as India! It wasn’t any Tom, Dick and Harry, or Amar, Akbar and Anthony, if you like, who made these claims, but political leaders of very high standing!

Coming back to the focal point, the Statue of Unity, which has absolutely no unification significance nor any aesthetic appeal, was the idea of the present Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He first announced the project at a press conference in 2010. At the time, he was Chief Minister of Gujrat and this announcement came to mark the 10th year of his taking up office. The idea of fostering the support of the locals by asking them to contribute scrap iron instruments and tools which were treated and used to construct the foundation of the statue was quite brilliant. But was it necessary?

The project was offered to Larsen & Toubro for a whopping 2,989 crores ($420 million)! As if the ignominy of such a colossal investment were not enough, the Prime Minister solemnly dedicated the statue to the entire nation. I wonder who ever asked for something like this? Did the people of nation ask for a gigantic statue to remind them of their common roots? As a citizen, I wish to make it clear that I for one was never asked about anything of this sort. If the Prime Minister was so concerned about the nation and its needs, and had bothered to ask what exactly the interests of the people were, I’m sure the people would have asked for better facilities, cheaper healthcare, corrupt-free governance, cleaner environments, education and sanitation facilities even in the remotest parts and many other immediate necessities in response. I don’t think it would have crossed anyone’s mind to ask for a gigantic statue! 

Did our leaders, who are supposed to be our representatives, bother to ask us before passing this insane project? Of course not! Just like they haven’t asked us whether or not it is alright to divide us on the basis of caste and creed; whether or not it is alright to amend the Constitution in a way that excludes the rights of certain sections of society; whether or not we are okay with subscribing to a specified diet; whether or not we feel the pinch of rising petrol and other necessities’ prices; whether or not we are comfortable living in a polarized society where right-wing elements are given free reign; whether or not demonetization was a good idea.

Over the past couple of years, our Government has shown repeatedly that it doesn’t care much for either the needs or the opinion of the people. Policies are made and implemented regardless of the consequences they have for the common person. Hundreds and thousands of our fellow citizens do not have the basic necessities of food, water, shelter etc. Another multitude of children are living in precarious conditions, without access to education and healthcare, and exposed to the perils of exploitation and abuse. Thousands of farmers commit suicide every year because they are steeped in debt. Women are regularly raped and violated across the length and breadth of the country. Minorities are often deprived of their rights. The list of problems is endless. In the midst of all this, what does our Government see fit to do? Spend an inordinately large amount of money to construct a lifeless statue that serves as nothing more than a narcissistic reflection of their ignorance and ingenuity, while the lives of thousands of their countrymen and women, people they have sworn to serve, is left hanging in the balance. 

This is not development! Not by a long shot. If something needed to be done to foster unity in the country it might as well have been upliftment of the poor, irrespective of caste and creed. I am sincerely curious to know how a 182 metre tall statue is supposed to be of any use. I am well aware that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked incredibly hard to unite the fragmented nation in the delicate period immediately post-independence. If it were not for his timely and effective interventions, India would certainly not have been the country it is today. While his memory must be honoured and gratitude must be shown where it is required, this monument in his honour is grossly inappropriate. 

Vallabhbhai Patel was renowned as a skilled lawyer and a man of impeccable and stoic character. It was these qualities that helped him perform the great feats that he did. Let’s look at our present leaders. They firstly, have little or no regard for the judiciary. One need only refer to the news to get a fair idea of what I’m talking about. Allow me to cite just one example. The implementation of the Aadhar card policy that required citizens to divulge personal information and biometrics, even despite court warnings was defiantly carried out. There is hardly a politician in the country today who can claim to possess an impeccable character. The filthy politics that has been practiced in the last couple of decades has sullied all hands, filled all pockets and blackened all hearts and faces. 

Sadly, the gigantic statue of Vallabhbhai Patel has to look toward the Sardar Sarovar Dam, a project which itself has been the cause of untold harm, symbolically representing the partisan nature of contemporary Indian politics. He who worked tirelessly to unite the nation must now stand and watch it being torn apart by deviant and fundamentalistic ideologies. He who exercised his power while in office to uplift the people of his broken nation must now stand and watch his successors use the power of their office to trample them down. He who desired that the country be united must now stand alone and watch it being torn apart. 

Have our leaders really honoured his memory with this colossal statue or have they ensured the immortalization of their own? Is this honestly the Statue of Unity or an ugly reminder of the curse of disunity that is our daily fare?