India has a rich “Unity in Diversity” cultural heritage, the origins of which are inextricably built on the “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” principle, meaning that a family is an entire universe.
At the time of India’s independence in 1947, however, it was split into over 560 princely states, and it was India’s first deputy prime minister, Bharat Ratna Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the ‘Ironman’ of India who could turn such imperialism into the united India of today with his firm determination. In the post-independence period, the people of India will remain indebted to him forever for his leadership throughout the struggle for liberty and his vision, wisdom, and statesmanship.
His life is an everlasting source of inspiration for both present and future generations, and it is in this sense that on the 143rd anniversary of his iconic monumental statue, the world’s highest statue of unity, was dedicated to the country.
DETAILS
The Statue of Unity will contribute to the icon-based development of this entire region, which is primarily a tribal area, symbolizing national, spiritual, historical, and academic values. Our vision is to make this location a world-class tourist destination by providing education, science, cultural, environmental enrichment, and health promotion infrastructure. Even in his physical absence, a true leader continues to enlighten the course of humanity and the Statue of Peace is the realization of this, worth witnessing.
FEATURES OF STATUE OF UNITY
- 182 meters tall, the highest in the world, the Unity Statue
- The key bridge linking the Visiting Centre and Memorial and Sadhu Bet Island
- Memorial and Centre for Visits
- At a height of 135 meters, the viewing gallery can hold up to 200 people at a time.
- Around 3.5 km downstream from Sardar Sarovar Dam, on Sadhu Bet Islet, on the bed of the Narmada River.
- Engineered to withstand wind speeds of up to 50 m per second (wind speed of approximately 180 km per hour)
- There are about 12,000 bronze plates, weighing about 1,700tonnes, covering the frame.
- Within three and a half years, more than 3,000 employees, including 300 engineers from Larsen & Toubro (L&T), constructed the statue.
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF STATUE OF UNITY
- Cost of Statue of Unity
Construction on the 182-meter high Statue of Unity started in 2013 and finished in 2018, costing approximately 3,000crores / USD 40-45 million.
- Statue of Unity Construction
Designed using 70,000tonnes of cement, 18,500tonnes of reinforcement steel bars, 6,000tonnes of structural steel, and 1,700 metric tonnes of bronze by over 250 engineers and 3,400 employees, the Statue of Unity in Gujarat is twice as large as the Statue of Liberty in the United States.
The statue’s base is built with more than 129tonnes of scrap iron donated by nearly 100 million farmers from all over India.
- Statue of Unity Architect
Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Sutar, who has designed more than 50 monuments in his 40-year career, designed the Statue of Unity.
Sardar Patel is depicted wearing a traditional dhoti and shawl, towering over the mighty Narmada River, looking out as a commanding yet modest, unfazed, and fearless leader towards the world.
OBJECTIVES OF STATUE OF UNITY
Not only will the statue remind everyone of our great nation’s struggle for independence as a memorial to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, but it will also inspire the people of our country to inculcate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s revolutionary ideals of unity, patriotism, economic growth, and good governance. The basic themes and pillars linked to the monument are:
- It will increase tourism revenue and produce a large number of hotels, transport, and other facilities.
- Increase in the sectors of travel, restaurants, lodging, and operation.
- It is predicted that this statue will remain as it is for 1000 years, meaning that it will contribute for centuries to India’s national income through tourism.
- Local citizens that get employment.
- The local business owner has made a lot of growth.
WAS INVESTING AN IMMENSE SUM ON THE STATUE OF UNITY WORTH IT?
- Every year, this will lead to a lot of new employment opportunities, and PM Modi has promised through this project that thousands of younger generations will get work.
- It’s not only about India’s pride in constructing the highest statue, but it’s about the nation’s production of jobs and profits. At the same time, new business opportunities for people living in neighboring areas will be developed.
- Area firms have made a lot of success. Only during the monsoon when the dam overflowed, earlier nearer restaurants used to remain profitable.
- The transport, restaurant, lodging, and service sectors are growing. Conversely, this would boost India’s economy.
- Living in a developing world, we still strive to think about it from the point of view of giving everything to the needy, but after 76 years of independence, that does not help.
- That’s just one project now. To help the poor with education, medical facilities, toilets, and housing facilities, the government has several projects in place.
- We need to shift our attitude to grow the nation and start thinking about initiatives like these from a different angle, not from the viewpoint of politics.
