Narendra modi had been privileged to serve Gujarat as its Chief Minister for nine years. And he deeply grateful to the people of Gujarat and India for extending their unflinching support and co-operation. Bharatiya Janata Party Government has completed nine years in the State despite many hurdles and storms, natural calamities and that too amidst the atmosphere of political intolerance and ill-feelings and a barrage of misinformation. It will be nevertheless etched in the annals of history as a decade of development in Gujarat in the 21st Century.

They have marked the entry of this government in the tenth year by unveiling the grandiose plan to build ‘Statue of Unity’- the world’s tallest 182-metre high statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The statue, befitting the stature of the Iron Man of India, will be double the height of ‘Statue of Liberty’ in America and four times that of ‘Christ the Redeemer’ in Rio de Janeiro. (Watch – Video unveiling the grandiose plan)

It is being named ‘Statue of Unity’ as it was the Sardar who had united India at its most trying times after Independence, amalgamating nearly 550 princely states within Union of India, and providing good governance as an able administrator in diverse fields like modern farming and empowerment of tribal communities, besides rebuilding the Somnath Temple.

The Statue of Unity will be built on the Sadhu Bet riverbed of the Narmada about 3-km from the Sardar Sarovar dam to be reached in boats. My vision is to develop the place as a source of inspiration for ages to come. It will have a high-tech museum, chronicling 90 years history of India’s freedom fighters (1857-1947). Going much beyond a structure- it will be developed as a research and academic centre for preserving the unity and integrity of India, its rich culture and heritage, for research on agriculture which was dear to Sardar, for research on tribal life and so on. Thus, it would be standing high not just in meters and feet but much more in terms of academic, historical, national and spiritual values.

We have been giving befitting tribute to the great sons of India- be it the Mahatma Mandir being built at Gandhinagar, Krantiguru Shyamaji Krishnavarma Memorial in Mandvi-Kutch or the launching of broadband connectivity from Haripura, near Surat (the venue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s historic Congress session).

Friends, I hope you would love this gift, one more from Gujarat to the nation and world on this joyous occasion. Do watch the video clip on this. I would love to have your suggestions for this historic memorial.