A statue of unity and pride

It is a matter of pride for India that such a gigantic statue of Indian politician Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has been built in the country, that too, in just 33 months. It cost Rs29.89 billion (about Dh1.47 billion, or $402 million). The 182-metre sculpture and structure made out of 100,000 tonnes of steel, concrete and bronze is indicative of what India can do. All other tall statues in the world have been dwarfed by this one.

The statue has been named the ‘Statue of Unity’ and is taller than the famous Statue of Liberty in the US. It is a tribute to Patel who amalgamated around 560 states of Rajas and Maharajas into one single nation, India, inr 1947. It may be surprising to the younger generation that as a member of the Congress party he contributed resolutely and effectively with Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in the liberation of India from the clutches of Britain.

Therefore, he is called the ‘Iron Man’ of India. Some critics and opposition leaders have questioned the huge expenditure incurred by the central government when there are other aspects of the country that need improvement. The objective of building this statue is to show the US and the rest of the word what India can do. With such resolution and speed of development, there is nothing impossible for India. We should congratulate the chief architect, engineers and more for this achievement. The workers should also be commended for their tireless work and round-the-clock effort to complete this gigantic task to perfection.

■ The writer is a resident of Dubai.