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Construction of world's tallest statue begins in India

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And it's set to cost $300m+

Partly funded through private donations and partly funded through the government.

What a waste of money.


Statue-of-Unity-planned-i-009.jpg




Statue of Unity planned in Gujarat, India, will be world's tallest

BJP's Narendra Modi launches project to build statue of India's first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel





A grandiose project to build the world's tallest statue was launched amid intense political controversy in India on Thursday by the Hindu nationalist leader who is the leading opposition candidate for prime minister in next year's general elections.

The 182 metre high statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was India's first home minister after independence from Britain, is to be built in Gujarat on a river island close to India's largest irrigation dam, which is also named after Patel. Narendra Modi, leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and the state's chief minister, set up a trust to fund the £200m estimated cost of its construction.

The statue – to be called the Statue of Unity – will be made of reinforced concrete on a steel frame, and then clad with "rich bronze". Super-fast elevators will take visitors to the observation deck inside the statue's head with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside, including the dam with its huge reservoir, and dozens of poor villages. Below the statue will be a three-storey visitors' centre housing a museum, an aquarium, and other tourist attractions. The trust funding the project says it will be finished in four years. "The world will be forced to look at India when this statue stands tall," Modi said.

The statue is a pet project of Modi, who has often spoken of how it will be "double the height of the Statue of Liberty". But the statue in Gujarat will not be dedicated to a political idea, but to a political leader who played an important role in India's struggle for independence.

Gujarat-born Patel – hailed as the "Iron Man of India" for successfully integrating over 550 princely states into the Indian union – was a prominent leader of the ruling Congress party, now a rival to Modi's BJP, but is an attractive historical figure for Hindu nationalists. This is especially so as he is popularly perceived to have been a rival of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who spawned the Congress party's Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty.

Modi's main rival in the election is Congress's Rahul Gandhi, Nehru's great-grandson.

"The Hindu nationalists have no icons of their own in the freedom struggle, so they're trying to appropriate somebody else's," said Aditya Mukherjee, professor at the centre for historical studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, in Delhi. "Moreover, Modi is trying to take on the mantle of the 'Iron Man', hoping to appeal to a section of Indian voters who believe an authoritarian leader will resolve the country's problems."

The Congress party has so far failed to support the project to honour one of its leaders and no minister from Delhi agreed to attend its launch on Thursday.
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ity-modi-india-gujarat-will-be-worlds-tallest
 
I always hear this term "Hindu nationalist", what does it mean exactly? Is Hinduism a religion or a nation?
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
I always hear this term "Hindu nationalist", what does it mean exactly? Is Hinduism a religion or a nation?
Click to expand...
yes a weird term. Its like India is a part of Hindu religion, may be one of numerous gods of Hindu religion?
 
Complete waste of money.

It does not even bring tourism. Who would want to see the statue of Sardar Patel even if it is the world's tallest one?

Should have been spent on building proper roads in Gujarat.
 
serious waste of money . gimme 10m $ & 10 acres of land & i would create a nice green park[ major oxygen zone ] with a smart statue of Patel in it .
 
mithun_minhas said:
Complete waste of money.

It does not even bring tourism. Who would want to see the statue of Sardar Patel even if it is the world's tallest one?

Should have been spent on building proper roads in Gujarat.
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That is what I initially thought. No problem in having the world's largest statue, infact it is something to be proud of. It is just, who would come to see Sardar Patel statue. That's all!
 
ahmedzee said:
That is what I initially thought. No problem in having the world's largest statue, infact it is something to be proud of. It is just, who would come to see Sardar Patel statue. That's all!
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you mean it should have been of a bollywood actress?
 
ahmedzee said:
That is what I initially thought. No problem in having the world's largest statue, infact it is something to be proud of. It is just, who would come to see Sardar Patel statue. That's all!
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Indians for sure .
 
A nation isn't explicitly a "state" ... a nation can be any group of people with overarching ideals and values... the term "hindu nationalism" is a pretty good term to describe Modi's values.
 
Gabbar Singh said:
And it's set to cost $300m+

Partly funded through private donations and partly funded through the government.

What a waste of money.


Statue-of-Unity-planned-i-009.jpg





http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ity-modi-india-gujarat-will-be-worlds-tallest
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What do u mean by , waste of money ??? Learn facts before saying whatever u want to ...

Sardar V Patel is an iconic figure in India , who is known as the Iron man of India .... He contributed greatly in the Liberation Movement & always fought for unity in India ....
We r not building this statue to show off, but to give respect to this great man , who was India s first Home Minister ...

Will it b fine if I say ,Jinnah isn't that great... ? I wud b wrong Bcos a Pakistani understands the importance of Mohd Ali Jinnah than what an Indian could .... Same goes with Sardar Patel ...

Stop calling Narendra Modi a Hindu nationalist , its just a name given by congress for political benefits
 
Haripotter said:
What do u mean by , waste of money ??? Learn facts before saying whatever u want to ...

Sardar V Patel is an iconic figure in India , who is known as the Iron man of India .... He contributed greatly in the Liberation Movement & always fought for unity in India ....
We r not building this statue to show off, but to give respect to this great man , who was India s first Home Minister ...

Will it b fine if I say ,Jinnah isn't that great... ? I wud b wrong Bcos a Pakistani understands the importance of Mohd Ali Jinnah than what an Indian could .... Same goes with Sardar Patel ...

Stop calling Narendra Modi a Hindu nationalist , its just a name given by congress for political benefits
Click to expand...


Sardar Patel is an iconic national figure and a true hero.

But outside of Gujrat, does anyone care? Why would you want to build a statue when it does not even bring much revenue which could be put to good use by the Govt?

This statue building fetish must stop in India.

If Sardar Patel was alive, he would not approve this madness.
 
Colossal waste of money. Build some toilets in his name or set up a scholarship using the $300million to educate poor kids.
 
It is ironic that building this Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue is project of RSS member Modi when you consider that RSS were banned by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel after RSS member killed Mohan Das Gandhi.
 
coca-cola said:
A nation isn't explicitly a "state" ... a nation can be any group of people with overarching ideals and values... the term "hindu nationalism" is a pretty good term to describe Modi's values.
Click to expand...

I had previously assumed Hinduism to be considered a religion rather than an ideology, due to the holy reverence given to the cow and the strictures on eating beef. It is a confusing and constantly shifting ideology in some ways, yet very medieval in others.
 
Ah ! Guardian. When you lose faith in humanity, there is Guardian. A "Hindu nationalist leader".
 
With India's size of resident and non resident population guess some years down the line the structure will start making profit.

$300m+ is big amount but Gujjus and making a non-profitable deal is not heard of.
 
Sardar Patel s the biggest leader in India after Gandhi. Indian map would have been lot different if we didn't had sardar. He was the architect behind Hyderabad joining with India when the nizam folks were threatening to join with Pakistan. He ordered to kill the razzakars when they resisted Indian army. Not only Hyderabad he was the force behind getting 600 plus princely states joining with India. He was known as the Bismarck of India.
He deserves such importance in Indian history...
 
mithun_minhas said:
Sardar Patel is an iconic national figure and a true hero.

But outside of Gujrat, does anyone care? Why would you want to build a statue when it does not even bring much revenue which could be put to good use by the Govt?

This statue building fetish must stop in India.

If Sardar Patel was alive, he would not approve this madness.
Click to expand...
Gujarat has always put its money on good use.. that v all know .hence v see the development ..

Talking of the statue , I know that tourism perspective its not soo significant whereas a Mahatma Gandhi statue would have been better ....
But one thing we have to observe that , even "Statue of Liberty" is not a statue of a famous person , but a symbol of LIBERTY... In the same vien, "Statue of Unity" symbolizes Unity among people...:) ( that's the whole idea behind this )
 
endymion248 said:
It would be ironic if it were a statue of Tendulkar.
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shut up! :haha


:))) :))) :))) :)))





Epic waste of money really, Modi said India needed toilets more than temples and now he's doing this. Hypocrisy at its best! I am disappointed Modiji. :(
 
Jawaharlal Nehru had called Sardar Patel a total communalist, says LK Advani

BJP today raked up another controversy over Sardar Patel with L K Advani quoting a book to allege that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called his Home Minister a "total communalist" when the latter suggested that army be sent to take over a defiant Hyderabad after Independence.

In his latest blog posting, Advani has referred to extracts of a book - "The Story of an Era Told without Ill Will" by MKK Nair which deals with the "sharp exchange" between Nehru and Patel in a Cabinet meeting before "police action" against Hyderabad.

The Nizam, who wanted to accede to Pakistan, had sent an emissary to the neighbouring country and transferred a huge sum of money to the government there.

The Nizam's officials were reportedly heaping atrocities on locals.

"At a cabinet meeting, Patel had described these things and demanded that army be sent to end the terror-regime in Hyderabad. Nehru who usually spoke calmly, peacefully and with international etiquette, spoke losing his composure, 'You are a total communalist.I will never accept your recommendation...

"Patel remained unperturbed but left the room with his papers," Advani says, quoting from Nair’s book.

BJP has of late been trying to appropriate Sardar Patel as a leader close to the Hindutva ideology.

On Patel's 138th anniversary on October 31, Advani had heaped praise on India's first Home Minister at the inauguration of a project to build a 182 metre tall statue- the tallest in the world- of the leader.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is behind this endeavour, said India needs Patel's secularism which united people and not the "votebank secularism" that is being practiced today.

Both Advani and Modi have sought to fashion themselves as inheritors of Patel's legacy.

BJP has also alleged that Sardar Patel contribution was never hailed by the Congress and that it only eulogised the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Click to expand...

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...el-a-total-communalist-says-lk-advani-1913953
 
^ Nehru is seriously over-rated
his contribution to india is the iit's he set up,nothing more nothing less.
 
If this is going to be a tourist place and get revenues,its fine.Else the part of spending that govt. is going to give is waste.If it was totally through donations it was different.
 
India to break record for world's largest statue … twice
Sardar Patel statue to stand 182m tall, then be surpassed in 2021 by Shivaji memorial

India says it will unveil the world’s largest statue next month, depicting the independence leader Sardar Patel.

However, the reign of the 182-metre structure as record holder could be short-lived, with work due to begin on an even larger statue of a Hindu king off the coast of Mumbai.

The two statues have strong resonance for the Hindu nationalist movement, which has been on the rise in India, and will cost a total of nearly £700m to build.
Click to expand...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/14/india-to-break-record-for-worlds-largest-statue-twice
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
I always hear this term "Hindu nationalist", what does it mean exactly? Is Hinduism a religion or a nation?
Click to expand...

They are low-live idiots that live in Maharashtra, Gujarat and in pockets of few other states in India mostly in northern states. These men are nothing but street level party workers and loyalist of BJP and other right-wing nationalists. They don't actually know much about Hinduism but think they do. They have been manipulated to think that India was cucked by Persian-Arab invaders and hold grudge over all minorities. They hate Pakistan, Muslims, Christians and every other minorities. They are harmless 99% of the time. Think of a typical Bolton Pakistani muslim gangbanger that goes on partying, drinking but then doesn't eat pork and doesn't use mouthwash cause it contains "alcohol" lol.

Funny common occurrences, lot of these Hindu-nationalists meet their political idols but some are not allowed to touch them because they aren't high caste enough lol. But that doesn't stop from hating on muslims and loving Hinduism lol.

BJP's stentur since the last election has given more power to these guys. These nationalists has found their way into Southern India which is a tragedy but pretty harmless as they are only viewed as jokers and not a threat.
 
Love vanity projects. Can we expect one of Modi and his 54 inch chest?
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The world's tallest statue has been built in India. It's 240m tall and is of the 'Iron Man of India' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.<br><br>For more of today's videos: <a href="https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt">https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt</a> <a href="https://t.co/qe6VKgZKMA">pic.twitter.com/qe6VKgZKMA</a></p>— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1057359501593100294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The world's tallest statue has been built in India. It's 240m tall and is of the 'Iron Man of India' Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.<br><br>For more of today's videos: <a href="https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt">https://t.co/iOm40vn1kt</a> <a href="https://t.co/qe6VKgZKMA">pic.twitter.com/qe6VKgZKMA</a></p>— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1057359501593100294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Glimpses of the ‘Statue of Unity’ that will be dedicated to the nation shortly. <a href="https://t.co/UWVYhizMn8">pic.twitter.com/UWVYhizMn8</a></p>— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1057476254956507136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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Another proud moment for us Indians. The tallest statue is symbolic of our global stature and the unity and harmony within our borders. May India continue to be the shining light guiding other nations to peace and prosperity.
 
Singham said:
Not only Hyderabad he was the force behind getting 600 plus princely states joining with India. He was known as the Bismarck of India.
He deserves such importance in Indian history...
Click to expand...

This is what I also believe makes Patel a very important leader in India's modern history. It would have been a disaster if the princely states had not been integrated into India. Nehru without Patel to check him would have led the country into a deep hole.
 
The reason Congress is so weak today is because they sidelined other tall leaders to promote the Nehru dynasty. If only they had given all other non-dynast leaders their due, they would have never lost power.
 
Swashbuckler said:
The reason Congress is so weak today is because they sidelined other tall leaders to promote the Nehru dynasty. If only they had given all other non-dynast leaders their due, they would have never lost power.
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Agreed. They were voted out because people were upset that patel and bose were not being given their dues.
 
CricketCartoons said:
Agreed. They were voted out because people were upset that patel and bose were not being given their dues.
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They were voted out because they disrespected their tall leaders and didn't allow regional leadership to grow. Where are the state leaders of Congress party today? All of them are incompetent bootlickers of the Nehru family or weak leaders that can never threaten the chosen ones.
 
Looks powerful. How are people going to worship it? There is no space around it.
 
Weird statue!! I don't see the point of wasting money on such things when so many people live under the poverty line not knowing where there next meal is coming from.
 
This will increase tourism and provide jobs and business to local market. This looks similar to the brazilian jesus statue.
 
gazza619 said:
Exactly! These leaders of the world will be answerable to the almighty in their graves.
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The reason the world is in a wretched state is that instead of fixing the problems now, people find consolation in believing the wrongdoers will be punished after their death.
 
Why is SVP statue not facing the road that leads to it? I see a lot of difficulty for people wanting to take selfies.
 
Those who are saying it's a waste of money have no grasp whatsoever of an investment. That money will be recouped and more likely to be profitable via tourism. Also it will provide jobs which is what you need to boost the economy.

Seems like some posters want to find any opportunity to bash what India does.
 
topspin said:
Those who are saying it's a waste of money have no grasp whatsoever of an investment. That money will be recouped and more likely to be profitable via tourism. Also it will provide jobs which is what you need to boost the economy.

Seems like some posters want to find any opportunity to bash what India does.
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It's not something tourists come to India to see. The largest statue before this was apparently in China but no one had heard of it. Maintenance costs will eat away what little tourism gains there might be
 
Adijazz1706 said:
It's not something tourists come to India to see. The largest statue before this was apparently in China but no one had heard of it. Maintenance costs will eat away what little tourism gains there might be
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Look at Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and etc. It may not be a money maker in our life time but in the long term horizon, it has the potential to be on the level of those tourist landmarks.
 
topspin said:
Look at Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and etc. It may not be a money maker in our life time but in the long term horizon, it has the potential to be on the level of those tourist landmarks.
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The monuments that you mentioned are all rather aesthetically pleasing, and in (or near enough) big cities with other things to see.

This is a giant statue of a man in a dhoti and chappals. I am not sure anyone will travel so far to a provincial town (?) to see this.

I mean, if it was a giant statue of something well known, like Gandhi, or the Buddha, etc... it may have gained some traction. But I can't see this working out. Maybe something just for the domestic Indian population.
 
Zahid87 said:
The monuments that you mentioned are all rather aesthetically pleasing, and in (or near enough) big cities with other things to see.

This is a giant statue of a man in a dhoti and chappals. I am not sure anyone will travel so far to a provincial town (?) to see this.

I mean, if it was a giant statue of something well known, like Gandhi, or the Buddha, etc... it may have gained some traction. But I can't see this working out. Maybe something just for the domestic Indian population.
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The novelty value is what will get people there.
 
Zahid87 said:
The monuments that you mentioned are all rather aesthetically pleasing, and in (or near enough) big cities with other things to see.

This is a giant statue of a man in a dhoti and chappals. I am not sure anyone will travel so far to a provincial town (?) to see this.

I mean, if it was a giant statue of something well known, like Gandhi, or the Buddha, etc... it may have gained some traction. But I can't see this working out. Maybe something just for the domestic Indian population.
Click to expand...

This statue has been built by Modi to snub the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, doubt it will have much tourist value or potential as a famous landmark. Sardar Patel was a legendary Congress leader who was snubbed by Nehru and his successors, this is Modi's way of undermining Congress party by showing how one family hijacked the party and India's fortunes. Also since Patel was from Gujarat like Modi, maybe he wants to appropriate the rich legacy. In my opinion a better way to remember Sardar Patel with 3000 crores budget would have been to set up a world class university cum research centre or government hospital chain in his name.
 
When Sardar Patel Took on the 'Forces of Hate' and Banned the RSS (https://www.thewire.in/history/sardar-patel-rss-ban-1948)

When Sardar Patel was Home Minister he banned RSS, with some harsh words - “to root out the forces of hate and violence that are at work in our country and imperil the freedom of the Nation and darken her fair name”. Funny to see Sanghis trying to appropriate the legacy of the 'Iron Man' in the 21st century.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s search for a hero (https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/52FLWgLFkg3oKvEtWVyfBI/Opinion--The-Bharatiya-Janata-Partys-search-for-a-hero.html)

The irony of the Prime Minister, who has been a member of the RSS, extolling the man who banned the Sangh after the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi should not be lost.
 
Swashbuckler said:
When Sardar Patel Took on the 'Forces of Hate' and Banned the RSS (https://www.thewire.in/history/sardar-patel-rss-ban-1948)

When Sardar Patel was Home Minister he banned RSS, with some harsh words - “to root out the forces of hate and violence that are at work in our country and imperil the freedom of the Nation and darken her fair name”. Funny to see Sanghis trying to appropriate the legacy of the 'Iron Man' in the 21st century.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s search for a hero (https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/52FLWgLFkg3oKvEtWVyfBI/Opinion--The-Bharatiya-Janata-Partys-search-for-a-hero.html)

The irony of the Prime Minister, who has been a member of the RSS, extolling the man who banned the Sangh after the assassination of Mohandas Gandhi should not be lost.
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Nice to see someone who knows his indian history. Please tell us when and under whose tenure the rss ban was lifted and why?

There is no irony, in fact it shows that rss is open minded and doesn't hold spite towards anyone in the larger interests of the nation. It would be very selfish to pay respects to only those who had favoured you.
 
lol..The statue looks like the usual Indian uncles you see walking about here in Leicester..lol
 
Poverty will always remain in South Asian countries. That doesn’t mean government should stop building mega-structures. People need entertainment and sense of pride in life. Projects like this are essential IMO.
 
the Great Khan said:
lol..The statue looks like the usual Indian uncles you see walking about here in Leicester..lol
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If only Sardar Patel rode a horse with a sword in his hand and severed head in the other, the statue would have looked more impressive.
 
troodon said:
If only Sardar Patel rode a horse with a sword in his hand and severed head in the other, the statue would have looked more impressive.
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yes that would have been alot better...something to look at..
 
CricketDon said:
Don’t see the issue if it’s largely funded through private funding.
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Private funding?

Get your facts right. PSUs like ONGC were forced to divert their CSR spending on this joke!
 
Zahid87 said:
The monuments that you mentioned are all rather aesthetically pleasing, and in (or near enough) big cities with other things to see.

This is a giant statue of a man in a dhoti and chappals. I am not sure anyone will travel so far to a provincial town (?) to see this.

I mean, if it was a giant statue of something well known, like Gandhi, or the Buddha, etc... it may have gained some traction. But I can't see this working out. Maybe something just for the domestic Indian population.
Click to expand...
This. Shows where Modi's priorities lie. Sadly, Indian electorate agrees with him.
 
There will be even bigger wasteful expenditure on Shivaji statue at the banks of Arabian sea, the bhumi pujan has been done by none other than Modi. Adityanath is also saying that he'll construct a big statue of Lord Ram.

Thank you Modi. Your contribution to the welfare of India will never be forgotten.
 
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