The recent collapse of the statue of Maratha emperor Shivaji at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, has stirred up a major political storm. Opposition parties are blaming the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance for showing disrespect to the emperor, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized at a public event in Palghar.
The 34-foot statue was unveiled by PM Modi last December during Navy Day celebrations but fell on August 26 due to heavy rains and strong winds. The police have arrested sculptor Jaydeep Apte, who was wanted in connection with the collapse.
Political Tensions Rise
With elections approaching, this issue has turned into a political battleground between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP-SP, and Congress. Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena dismissed the claim that strong winds caused the collapse, while NCP-SP leader Sharad Pawar accused the government of blaming the Navy instead of taking responsibility.
The MVA held a protest where Thackeray said that insulting Shivaji was like insulting Maharashtra’s soul and warned that people would remember this. In response, the BJP staged a counter-protest in Mumbai, with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accusing the MVA of politicizing the issue and pointing out that Congress has never truly honored Shivaji, recalling instances from past speeches.
Leaders and Shivaji’s Legacy
Throughout history, many leaders have used Shivaji’s legacy to rally support. During India’s freedom struggle, figures like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jyotirao Phule, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar frequently referred to Shivaji to inspire and unite people. Phule even wrote poems praising Shivaji and rediscovered his memorial at Raigad. Tilak promoted public celebrations of Shiv Jayanti and used his writings to criticize the British. Ambedkar also highlighted Shivaji’s challenges, including the opposition he faced from other kings of his time.
Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sena
Bal Thackeray founded Shiv Sena in 1966 to advocate for Marathi rights, drawing inspiration from Shivaji’s name. Under Thackeray’s leadership, the party often resorted to aggressive tactics against non-Marathi communities and political adversaries. He never held a government position but used Shiv Sena’s network to address local issues. Thackeray also launched the party newspaper ‘Saamana’ in 1989, which regularly highlighted Shivaji’s ideals.
Renaming Cities and Monuments
Shivaji’s name has been widely used in public projects. In 1995, when Bal Thackeray’s ally became Chief Minister, Bombay was renamed Mumbai. Mumbai’s airports were also named after Shivaji, and in 2000, the Prince of Wales Museum was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya. Recently, Aurangabad was renamed Sambhaji Nagar, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the Shiv Sena.
In 2004, plans for a grand Shivaji monument in the sea off Mumbai’s coast were announced, but despite a foundation ceremony by PM Modi in 2016, the project is still pending. When the Statue of Unity was built in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Shiv Sena vowed to make Shivaji’s statue taller by extending his sword, aiming to surpass it as the tallest in India.
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