The tiny tribal hamlet of Kevadiya, settled between Satpura and Vindhya ranges, in Gujarat, has found its place etched in history as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, built in honour of India's Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to the nation. The 182m tall statue of Sardar built on Sadhu Beyt near Sardar Sarovar Dam was conceptualised by Modi in 2010, when he was chief minister of Gujarat. The figure was built in a record 42 months and unveiled in a spectacular show that included fly past by Jaguar IAF planes colouring the skies in Indian tricolour, and MI-17 helicopter
Dignitaries for the inaugural function remained limited to Gujarat leaders, including Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala, Madhya Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel and national BJP president Amit Shah. Modi, in his address to the nation following inauguration of the statue, said the imposing structure will be a global inspiration and a reminder of Sardar's valour that had won over all pessimism and vanquished conspiracies to disintegrate India. He urged people to rise above caste, class, and religion and imbibe the sole feeling of “being Indian” to realise the dream of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.
Modi said it was the responsibility of the people to give a befitting reply to divisive elements who are trying to break the nation. “The world's tallest statue will remind the entire world, the future generations about the courage, capabilities and determination of the person who did this holy work of vanquishing the conspiracy to disintegrate India into pieces.” The PM also lashed out at his critics who questioned the construction of the monument. “We are criticised for praising the contributions of national heroes like Sardar Patel. We are made to feel as if we have committed a serious crime. Is it crime to commemorate national heroes?”
The £298.3 million statue of Sardar Patel has been built using over 70,000 tonnes of cement, 18,500 tonnes of reinforced steel, 6,000 tonnes of structural steel and 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze, which was used for the outer cladding of the structure. It has been described as the world’s tallest statue as it is 177 feet higher than China's Spring Temple Buddha, currently the world’s tallest statue. It was built by India's major infrastructure and engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T), based on the design etched by Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Sutar. It took about 250 engineers and 3,400 labourers to construct the statue in 33 months.
The statue has a viewing gallery at a height of 193 metres from the sea level that can accommodate 200 visitors at a time. This gallery, at 153 metres height, will offer a view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, its reservoir, and the Satpura and Vindhya mountain range.
