Shivaji will rise from the sea, but no one’s cheering

The state is readying to raise a statue of Shivaji from the sea, off Marine Drive at a whopping Rs200 crore. A historical icon can do without expensive monuments, Mumbaikars tell Speak Up

Repair old buildings first
Shivaji is a great historical figure, we all look up to him. There is a need to build a monument for him but before that the government needs to do something for the poor. It needs to offer shelter to the homeless. The monsoons are arriving soon and the city's infrastructure still doesn’t seem ready to deal with all the problems. Let us first set these things right and then think of splurging on a statue. If it is built well, it will surely attract many visitors.  
 —Adlin Sicilia

Marine life will be affected
I don’t think that we need to invest such a huge sum in this project. We all love and respect Shivaji Maharaj and he has a significant place in Indian history. But in a country such as ours, the government should invest in development works and infrastructure. A memorial like that will attract crowds initially but how long will it sustain the interest of people? I also fear that the construction work will affect the marine life in the sea.
 —Sagar Gudhate

It will draw tourists
I have great regard for Shivaji Maharaj and do feel the need to build a statue in his honour. He is a great historic figure and money does not matter in this case. The government has enough money to invest in both development works and cultural projects. This could however be a political move because it is symbolic in nature. It will get visitors because Marine Drive is on the tourist map of Mumbai.  
 —Amar Singh

Statue is a good idea
Shivaji is an iconic personality and should be remembered by everyone, not just Mumbaikars. And what better way to keep him fresh in our minds than to erect a monumental statue. I don't think that it is a political move, just a way to pay a tribute to a great leader. But I do feel Rs 200 crore is a lot of money to spend on a monument. I can see Marine Drive getting more congested once this mammoth project is completed.
 —Sarry Rodrigues

It's a political move
It's a political decision and the common man won’t have a say in the matter. It doesn't make any sense to spend Rs 200 crore on a project like this in a city where every civic facility is in desperate need of improvement. The monument will draw visitors but what about the ecological mess it will create in the sea? I have no doubts on this score: elections are around the corner and politicians need new strategies to woo the public. 
 —Gautam Sharma

Use money for schools
Shivaji means a lot to Mumbaikars. But I am completely against spending such a large amount on a monument when so much else can be done with it. The pace at which this city is growing and collapsing at the same time it is in no position to sustain a mammoth project of this kind. Why not use the money instead to educate poor children? That would make for a better tribute to Shivaji, a very pro-people king himself.
 —Sandeep Kulkarni

Seems like a political stunt
There is a political aspect to this move and a cultural one, and neither can be ignored. There is this whole issue of bolstering the Maharashtrian identity that political parties have been talking about. The identity issue cannot be just brushed off. If the government is doing this to help a people connect with their own history and culture then it is OK. Of course Rs200 crore is a large sum of money but sometimes you need to have a structure or monument that defines the ethos of the city. Otherwise the city becomes like a guest house where people walk in and walk out after using it with no show of respect or affection for its culture or heritage. Having said that I have to admit that the whole project sounds like a political gimmick. 
 —Girish Talwalkar. Director, Talwalkars

Shivaji Maharaj statue will attract global tourists
Shivaji Maharaj is an unforgettable figure in Indian history. All Indians, especially Maharashtrians, respect him immensely. Many nations have one such monument that attracts large crowds of locals and tourists. I don't think that it is a waste of money. We can recover the costs from the visitors who will come to view the statue from around the world. It will certainly be one of Mumbai’s best tourist attractions. We need not be negative about every issue.
 —Nitin Sardesai. Spokesperson MNS    

I say spend Rs500 crore
Why not a huge memorial in honour of Shivaji? We should have done this a long time ago. I would say he deserves much more than Rs200 crore. Why not Rs500 crore? We spend huge amounts of money on so many things, so why scrimp on a Shivaji statue? History proves that Shivaji was one of the greatest kings, greater than even Alexander the Great. He created an empire, ruled it and died a king. Many of us know so little about the Maratha Empire. This would be a great opportunity to change that.                                                                      
 —Vinay Apte. Marathi actor and director

Shivaji doesn't need publicity
This is an unnecessary venture. What purpose will a statue of Shivaji in the middle of the Arabian Sea serve? I believe that Shivaji doesn't need that kind of publicity. If the government thinks it is creating something along the lines of the Statue of Liberty, it needs to think again. Surely there are wiser ways of spending Rs200 crore. There are rural pockets in Maharashtra that desperately need help. Farmers are committing suicide because of draught. Shouldn’t money be invested in helping these people out? Even a small intervention in these areas can make a big difference. An expensive statue is not going to make their lives any better.  
 —Sunil Shanbag. Director

It is a matter of pride not money
In my opinion, it is perfectly fine to erect a statue of Shivaji in the middle of the Arabian Sea. After all, what is wrong with having statues of great, inspirational people, who are also an integral part of the State's history? I am aware that the proposed cost of the project is going to be Rs200 crore. In such cases though, it is never a matter of money. It is a matter of pride. And we should never measure pride in terms of money. I think it would be a wonderful gift to the future generations.  They would admire the statue, years after it is built.
 —Ashutosh Rana. Actor

Shivaji is an icon for Maharashtrians
Shivaji Maharaj is an icon for the people of this state. He gives a sense of identity to the common people of this state. Of course, elections are approaching and every election campaign will use his name. But why oppose the project on grounds of the expenses? We don't think twice before blowing up money at festivals. We don't bat an eyelid when corrupt politicians rake in lakhs of rupees. But we crib when we hear of a high-cost venture to do something positive like this. Opposing the statue is an anti-Maharashtra stand. How can we even think of the budget in an issue like this?
 —Neelam Gorhe, Spokesperson, Shiv Sena

Shivaji had nothing to do with Mumbai
We already have many statues of Shivaji in the city. There is one opposite the Gateway of India, not that far from Marine Drive. Historically it is a known fact that Shivaji never came to Mumbai. He had no connection with the city. Why not instead set up his statues in places which actually figured in his life or where he achieved great feats?
The truth is that the Congress has pre-empted the BJP or the Shiv Sena from doing something similar. No political party is going to criticise this project even though it is a big waste of public money.
I think we should put up instead a statue of Gerald Aungier who was the second governor of the East India Company (1668-1675). He is the one who visualised Mumbai as a port. Sir Bartle Frere, the governor of the British government (1861-1867), is another admirable figure. He demolished the ramparts of the fort because he realised that there was no chance of anyone attacking the city.
 —Rajan Jaykar. City historian  

We've enough statues of Shivaji
Though I am a Maharshtrian I feel that we already have enough statues of Shivaji Maharaj. There are two major issues here. First, Marine Drive it is a very beautiful bay. How can we destroy the land and seascape around it by parking a statue in the middle of the sea? They want to also set up an amphitheatre and a restaurant alongside. Second, the art-deco buildings along Marine Drive make for the second largest collection of such structures. So why create something that will distract from their charm? Miami is the only city in the world that has more art-deco buildings along the seafront than Mumbai. If they really want to erect more statues they should do it in the Sahyadris where Shivaji Maharaj has done a lot. By resorting to such stunts are we trying to outdo America? It looks like a political move to me. How many roads are we going to name after Shivaji Maharaj? How many airports? If we continue this we might soon become another UP.
 —Sharada Dwivedi. City historian and conservationist

They give us an insight
Not just Shivaji, but no political leader, past, present or future, deserves a statue worth Rs200 crore. Our economy is going through a period of inflation and our farmers are committing suicide. In such conditions, how can we even think of raising a monument of this magnitude? We can surely put the money to better use. There are many issues which need to be dealt with, urgently. We can show our respect towards the great leaders of Indian history by performing good deeds, just as they did. Setting up a monument is an empty gesture. They are even planning to reclaim 7.5 acres of land to erect the structure. Not only is this ecologically damaging but it is  hazardous as well. Reclamation can exert pressure on the surrounding areas, leading to land erosion. So we need to be a little cautious before venturing into projects like these.  
—Darryl D'Monte. Environmentalist