Sir,
The caving in of the statue
of Maratha warrior king
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
has drawn significant attention, given its emblematic
value and the prominence of
the event at which it was
unveiled by none less than
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in December last year.
The statue was installed as
a tribute to the legendary
Maratha warrior who is celebrated for his contributions
to the establishment of the
Maratha Empire in the 17th
century. The statue was not
only a symbol of Chhatrapati
Shivaji’s valour and leadership, but also a significant
cultural landmark for the
region. The Rajkot Fort itself
is a historic site with strong
ties to the Maratha king’s legacy, making the collapse even
more poignant.
The incident leads to
broader discussions about
the maintenance and preservation of historical monuments and statues, particularly those that hold significant cultural and historical
value. Given the importance
of Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj in Maharashtra’s history, efforts should be made
to restore the statue.
R Sivakumar, Chennai