Statue of Unity

Statue of Unity, statue of Vallabhbhai Patel—a leader in the Indian Independence Movement who served as India’s first deputy prime minister—located in the state of Gujarat, India. Standing 597 feet (182 meters), upon construction it held the distinction of being the tallest statue in the world. Including the base, it reaches 787 feet (240 meters) high. The statue is located on Sadhu Bet island in the Narmada River, approximately 56 miles (90 km) southeast of the major city of Vadodara, near the town of Ekta Nagar, or Unity Town (previously known as Kevadia). It is downstream from the Sardar Sarovar Dam, a project that had been envisioned by Patel and was completed in 2017. The Statue of Unity was commemorated on October 31, 2018, Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary.

Significance

Patel was an influential leader in the Indian National Congress and worked with Gandhi and others in the party to obtain India’s independence. Often called the “Iron Man of India,” Patel is credited, along with V.P. Menon, with arranging the incorporation of more than 560 princely states into a unified India during the country’s transition from a colony to independence in 1947. Britain’s departure from India did not necessarily ensure the unity of the country, and Patel worked to ensure that the princely states—which were independently ruled by monarchs, albeit with agreements with the British—were incorporated into the fledgling country. In 2014 India declared that October 31, Patel’s birth anniversary, would be celebrated as National Unity Day. To signify his importance in unifying India, the statue was partly constructed with the iron of recycled tools from farmers across India.

Construction and features

The statue was originally planned in 2010 by then chief minister of Gujarat, and later Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, who laid the first foundational stone in 2013. The statue’s construction and design were overseen by Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and was built over 33 months. Designed by renowned Indian sculptor Ram Sutar, who is well known for his statues of Mahatma Gandhi, the Statue of Unity is constructed of bronze-coated cement and steel. It depicts Patel gazing and stepping toward the Sardar Sarovar Dam while wearing a traditional shawl and dhoti. Similar to the Statue of Liberty, it will eventually oxidize and turn green.

The base of the statue features an exhibition hall detailing the life of Patel as well as The Wall of Unity, the soil of which was collected from villages around India signifying national unity. A viewing gallery is located in the statue’s chest at 633 feet (193 meters) above ground. At night a light show projected onto the statue tells the story of Patel’s life and his significance in India’s history.

Controversy

The building of the State of Unity generated criticism from some people who contend that its construction utilized resources that could have gone to other pressing needs. Some critics have chided the Indian government for spending $400 million (approximately 3,000 crore rupees) on the statue, while poverty remained a paramount concern in the country. In the immediate area of the statue’s construction, critics noted that there were some villages that lacked clean drinking water.

Some 5,000 Indians from Adivasi, or scheduled tribal communities, were evicted from the site for the construction of the statue and related attractions in the vicinity, such as hotels, a safari park, a cactus garden, and other tourist amenities. Although relocated residents of the local villages were offered compensation, many felt it to be insufficient. Many Adivasis were offered employment at the site’s attractions—according to authorities some 2,000 Adivasis have been employed in this manner—though many critics have noted inadequate pay. Some Adivasis have expressed a preference for returning to their livelihoods in agriculture.