Statue of Shivaji a la Statue of Liberty

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Wednesday August 20 2003 15:13 IST

 

Mumbai may get a Statue of Shivaji a la Statue of Liberty

 

MUMBAI: It could be a monumental achievement. The Kalyan Dombivli

Municipal Corporation is considering a proposal by sculptor Sadashiv

Sathe to erect a unique monument to mark the establishment of the

country's first-ever naval base at Kalyan, by Maratha warrior king

Shivaji.

 

``When I had conceived the idea, I was thinking in terms of the

Statue of Liberty. It is a very big project. I have had initial talks

with the mayor. He seems very enthusiastic,'' says the 77-year-old

sculptor.

 

Except, instead of New York Harbour, this statue will occupy pride of

place off Kalyan creek.

 

Mayor Harischandra Patil says he's awaiting a final proposal from the

sculptor, popularly known as Bhau Sathe. Patil promises to personally

pursue the proposal with the civic authorities.

 

The idea of the monument was born 30 years ago and Sathe has

preserved a small model he sculpted then. Sathe, who has given the

city the statue of Shivaji Maharaj at the Gateway of India, has

already designed a model of the proposed monument at his Kalyan

workshop. It will have a bronze Shivaji standing high on a pedestal

designed as a ship. In the background will be the sail of the ship,

in stainless steel. From pedestal base to to sail tip, this Shivaji

will stand 70 feet tall— and Sathe is not ruling out a hike in

height.

 

``We have always visualised Shivaji Maharaj on his horse. His efforts

to establish Indian supremacy on the seas has seldom been depicted.

Since Kalyan is where the naval base was established, I've

tentatively identified a spot off the Kalyan creek,'' Sathe says.