While people of Gujarat, India and indeed rest of the world appreciate and admire 182 meter high Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s “Statue of Unity” as one of the wonders of modern world, dwarfing the popular tourist attraction in New York harbour, “Statue of Liberty” a gift to American people from people of France; as well as 153 meter tall “Spring Temple Buddha” in China; English media, as usual were critical of BJP government and in particular PM Narendra Modi.
Their allegedly main concern is cost and the land government acquired to build “Narbada Dam and Sardar Sarover” paying full compensation and resettling displaced people near-by, on 1200 acres of land, fair and generous compensation most were willing to accept, although tiny minority, puppet on the string, in hands of opposition, mainly Congress party, were opposed to resettlement. Then India is a vibrant and free secular democracy in the region where religion, tribalism and military rule prevails.
Another concern of West and especially of Gandhi, Nehru clan is that at last history will recognized and appreciate Sardar Patel, not Nehru, as jewel in India’s struggle to free itself from clutches of British Raj, as history of independence struggle was written first by British and then Nehru dynasty, distorting facts beyond belief.
Sardar was the first and favourite choice of Congress Executive Council members to be first PM of India. But due to Nehru’s tantrum and personal ambition compel Gandhiji to request Sardar to step down and let Nehru to be the first PM of India. Gandhiji commanded such a respect and moral authority that no one could go against his wishes, his command. India has paid heavy price of this folly, depriving India of the rule of Bismarck, the iron man of Germany.
Sardar’s Statue, standing alongside the reservoir, surrounded by landscaped gardens, long modern promenade on the river bank, with rows of shops intended to take care of tourists’ every need, will become prime attraction, when fully completed, drawing tourists from all over the world, in line with Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Delhi, which attracts more visitors than Taj Mahal!
Although this project cost £314 million but compared to the cost of £900 million for millennium dome, a white elephant, this is a bargain, giving jobs to many. It will recover cost within couple of decades from entrance charges and relevant commercial developments to cater for mass tourism. No wonder this is sour grape for British media, in Donald Trump’s words “Fake News.”
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
