28-ft statue of Netaji to grace vacant canopy at India Gate tomorrow

A grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, will be unveiled on 8^th of September 2022 near India Gate in New Delhi in a jet black granite stone measuring 28 ft. under the Canopy near India Gate, which had King George’s statue originally.

Ever since the plan to install King George V statue by the British was scrapped owing to controversy, the canopy remained vacant. There was a move to install Mahatma Gandhi statue during the late 1980s but opposition from some circles that the Republic Day parade carrying arms and ammunition go against the Mahatma’s message of peace reigned on the government to reject the plan.

India Gate canopy in the 1940s had King George V statue but was removed later.

Finally, the canopy will have the grand statue of Netaji being unveiled on Sept 8, 2022, heralding a befitting tribute to the Indian National Army hero, who fought for Indian freedom based in Japan and Singapore. The statue has been carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT after spending 26,000 man hours of intense artistic endeavor and the final statue weighing 65 MT will greet the visitors to India gate in New Delhi now.

The statue is completely hand sculpted using traditional techniques and modern tools under a team of sculptors led by Arun Yogiraj.

The statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be unveiled by the Prime Minister in the same place where a hologram statue of Netaji was unveiled earlier this year on Parakram Diwas (January 23) by him to mark the 125^th birth anniversary of Netaji.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose inspecting Indian National Army

The 28 feet tall towering statue of Netaji is one of the tallest, realistic, monolithic, handmade sculptures in India.  A 100 feet long truck with 140 wheels was specially designed for this monolithic granite stone to travel the 1665-km distance from Khammam in Telangana to New Delhi.

Details of Netaji statue unveiling ceremony:

• The  unveiling event at the canopy will begin with traditional Manipuri Shankh Vadayam and Kerala’s traditional Panch Vadayam and Chanda.  The unveiling of the statue of Netaji would be accompanied to the tune of Kadam Kadam Badhaye jaa, the traditional INA song.
• To demonstrate the spirit of Ek Bharat – Shrestra Bharat & Unity in Diversity a cultural festival by 500 dancers drawn from all parts of the country, would be showcased on the Kartvya Path.
• The glimpse of the same would be shown to the  Prime Minster on the step Amphitheatre near India Gate by around 30 artists who will perform tribal folk art forms such as Sambalpuri, Panthi, Kalbelia, Kargam and dummy horse with live music  by Nashik Dhol Pathik Tasha and Drums.

• Mangalgaan penned by Pandit Shrikrishna Ratanjankarji on the auspicious occasion of 1st Independence Day of India in 1947 is being presented by Pandit Suhas Vashi along with a team of singers and musicians. Ashish Keskar will be the music director for the presentation.
• The festival at renamed Kartvya Path (old Raj Path) would commence at 08.45 PM on 8^th September, 2022 after the main function and will continue on 9^th, 10, & 11^th September, 2022 from 7.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
• A special 10 minute Drone Show on Netaji’s life would be projected at India Gate at 08.00 PM on 9th, 10^th & 11^th September, 2022.  Both the cultural festival and the drone show would be open to public with free entry.