16 February 2025
The World's Tallest Statue - The Statue of Unity
Some statues are big but The Statue of Unity in India is
breath-takingly huge. In fact, it is the
world’s tallest statue, looming over the town of Ekta Nagar (previously known
as Kevadia) at 182 metres (597 feet). What makes this different from the rest
of the world's tallest statues is the fact that it represents a person
rather than a symbol of religion or culture.
This is the monument to the life and works of Sardar Patel. With the best will in the world, if you live
outside of India you might just shrug and ask “Who?”.
Sardar Patel (1875-1950) was the first deputy prime minister of the newly independent India, coming to power in 1947. Although he dies just a few years later, his role in the independence movement and that of one of Gandhi’s earliest political lieutenants together with his commitment to national integration earned him the title “The Iron Man of India”. Without irony, the statue is made of steel framing, reinforced by concrete and brass coating, with bronze cladding.
The price? The jaw-dropping equivalent to US$422 million
(estimated at the time of its inauguration in 2018). Almost astonishingly,
although the project was announced to the public in 2010, after construction
started in 2013 it only took five years to build. Although the project was a public/private
model the build of the money came from the Government of Gujerat (where the
statue stands).
There were over 3000 workers and several hundred engineers
involved in the construction of the statue and the list of materials is almost
as staggering as the statue itself. As
well as the 7 million cubic feet of concrete and cement, the statue’s frame is
made of 6.500 tonnes of structural steel, not to mention almost 20 million tonnes of
reinforced steel. The bronze panels and cladding
come in at a massive 3,500 tonnes. In
fact, the panels were cast in China – there was no place in India large enough
to facilitate their creation.
When it comes to size, the statue is now the world record
holder. Relegated to second place, the
Spring Temple Buddha in China is 177 feet smaller than the Statue of
Unity. India doesn’t have a huge track
record for this kind of monumental statue – previously the tallest had been 135
feet tall Hindu deity in the state of Andhra Pradesh, so this was something of
a departure for the country. The statue did,
however, cause anger among local tribal groups, who opposed the acquisition of
their land for their project (and although it obviously went ahead, many of
their demands were met).
The statue is split into five zones, but only three are
accessible to the public. The first zone, from the base to Patel's shins,
includes three levels: the exhibition area, mezzanine, and roof. It also
features a memorial garden and a museum. The second zone reaches up to Patel's
thighs, while the third zone extends up to the viewing gallery at 153 meters.
The fourth zone is dedicated to maintenance, and the final zone encompasses the
statue’s head and shoulders.
The museum in the first zone highlights Patel's life and
achievements. Nearby, an audio-visual gallery offers a 15-minute presentation
on Patel’s story and the tribal culture of the state. The statue's legs are
formed by concrete towers, each with two elevators that can carry 26 people at
once. These lifts can take visitors to the viewing gallery in just over 30
seconds. Located at 153 meters (502 feet), the gallery can hold up to 200
people.
In the five years since it opened, the statue has attracted
over 15 million visitors. While you might think that doesn’t sound like many,
given that India is a country of over a billion souls, think on this. The Statue of Unity can be seen from a
distance of up to 20 kilometres (12 miles) under clear visibility conditions. So, many people don’t even need to visit it!
First Image Credit
