If the plan succeeds, the statue of Shivaji will be a taller than Lady Liberty. But must it? It has been in the air for some time, like a threat—a giant statue of Shivaji on the Arabian Sea that will be five feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. Environmentalists are hoping it never comes up. Some structural engineers wonder if it is feasible. But now, as the Assembly election draws near, the Maharashtra government has decided to keep Rs 100 crore aside for the project that is estimated to cost Rs 300 crore. Who is going to build it, how, or when, is not clear. There is talk it will be built one kilometre into the bay, off the famed Marine Drive. Surprisingly, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray whose party considers Shivaji a deity, has termed it a political gimmick. But the Congress may not derive any political mileage from this. The common Maratha today is probably not as attached to the old king as political goons and their vandalism suggest. The state government plans to reclaim a small island from the sea. There will be a helipad, restaurants and hotels on it. An open theatre with a capacity to seat 200 will display the life and times of the king. In the heart of the island, giant Shivaji will sit astride his giant horse. Some engineers see a problem there. In public imagination, Shivaji is always on his horse. A statue so grand cannot possibly violate this imagination. But, building a giant horse that must withstand all that load on its four tapering limbs, is a civil engineering challenge— a reason why you do not see such a giant horse anywhere else in the world. The financial wisdom of the project, too, is suspect. Maharashtra is facing a severe financial crunch and its debts stand at Rs 1,54,000 crore.
