iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The next time you visit the historic India Gate, you will have a giant statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to look up to. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, September 8, evening unveiled a 28-feet statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate in New Delhi.
This adds to the growing list of giant statues that the Narendra Modi government has unveiled ever since it came to power. After the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel – the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, a 6.5-meter bronze national emblem atop the new parliament building in New Delhi, now the “grand, jet-black granite statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose under the Canopy near India Gate.
“The grand statue of Netaji has been carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT. After 26,000 man-hours of intense artistic endeavor, the granite monolith was chiseled to produce a statue weighing 65 MT. The statue has been hand sculpted using traditional techniques and modern tools. The team of sculptors for executing the statue was led by Arun Yogiraj,” the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.
The towering statue of Netaji is one of the tallest, monolithic, handmade sculptures in India. A 100 feet long truck with 140 wheels was specially designed for this monolithic granite stone to transport the giant statue over 1665 km from Khammam in Telangana to New Delhi.
Modi also inaugurated the ‘Kartavya Path’ in New Delhi at the same event. The PM said that Kartavya Path symbolizes a shift from the erstwhile Rajpath which was an icon of power, to an example of public ownership and empowerment.
He added “Kingsway i.e. Rajpath, the symbol of slavery, has become history from today and has been erased forever. Today, a new history has been created in ‘Kartavya Path’. I congratulate all the countrymen for their freedom from yet another identity of slavery.”
Referring to Netaji’s statue, the PM said that during British rule there used to be a statue representing the British Raj at the same spot. “Today the country has also brought to life a modern, strong India by establishing the statue of Netaji at the same place.”
“Today India’s ideals, dimensions, resolve and goals are its own. Today our paths are ours, our symbols are our own. The Rajpath ceases to exist and becomes Kartavya Path, and the statue of Netaji has replaced the mark of the statue of George V. This is not the first example of the abandonment of slavery mentality. This is neither the beginning nor the end. It is a continuous journey of determination till the goal of freedom of mind and spirit is achieved,” Modi said.
The PM also spoke about other significant changes like the change of the name of the PM Residence to Lok Kalyan Marg in place of Racecourse Road, showcasing Indian musical instruments in ceremonies of Independence Day, and the Beating the Retreat ceremony. He also referred to the change of ensign by the Indian Navy from colonial to the ensign of Chhatrapati Shivaji. “Similarly, the National War memorial also represents the glory of the country”, he added.
The Prime Minister said that these changes are not confined to these iconic symbols but have also infused the policies of the country too. “Today the country has changed hundreds of laws that have been going on since the British era. The time and date of the Indian Budget, which was following the times of the British Parliament for so many decades, have also been changed. Through the National Education Policy, now the youth of the country are being liberated from the compulsion of the foreign language”, he pointed out. “That means, both the thinking and the behavior of the countrymen are freed from the mentality of slavery”, he added.
The PM emphasized that the Kartavya Path is not just a road of bricks and stones but a living example of India’s democratic past and all-time ideals. He also expressed special gratitude toward the laborers for their contribution to the redevelopment of Kartavya Path. Laborers who have worked on the new Parliament Building will get a place of honor in one of the galleries, he informed, he announced.
Recalling the greatness of Netaji, Modi said, “Subhas Chandra Bose was such a great man who was beyond the challenge of position and resources. His acceptance was such that the whole world considered him a leader.”
In a veiled attack on Congress and former governments, Modi said, “If after independence India had followed the path of Subhash babu, what heights would the country be at today! But unfortunately, this great hero of ours was forgotten after independence. His ideas, even the symbols associated with them, were ignored.”
He then proceeded to highlight measures taken by his government’s to right this “wrong”: “In the last eight years, we have taken many such decisions which are imprinted with the ideals and dreams of Netaji. Netaji Subhash was the first head of Akhand Bharat, who freed Andaman before 1947 and hoisted the Tricolour there. At that time he had imagined what it would be like to hoist the Tricolour at the Red Fort. I personally experienced this feeling, when I had the privilege of hoisting the Tricolour at the Red Fort on the occasion of 75 years of the Azad Hind government.”
Modi invited every citizen of the country to come and see this newly constructed Kartavya Path in all its glory. “In its development, you will see the India of the future. The energy here will give you a new vision for our vast nation, a new belief”, Modi said.
To demonstrate the spirit of Ek Bharat – Shrestra Bharat & Unity in Diversity a cultural festival by 500 dancers drawn from all parts of the country, would be showcased on the Kartvya Path. The festival at Kartvya path would continue on 9, 10, and 11 September 2022. The Prime Minister also urged people to watch the 10-minute drone show based on the life of Netaji Subhash that will be projected on the India Gate for the next three days.
