Ambedkar statue awaits installation as VMC decision pending

On July 10, 2020, the General Board of the VMC had resolved “to create an island dedicated to the Dr BR Ambedkar at RC Dutt Road, near the office of the Gujarat Electricity Board, under the Corporate Social Responsibility Fund of a company as well as the commissioning of a Statue of Dr Ambedkar, measuring 12 feet”, which was to be sponsored by a PSU.

The decision was taken following protests from Dalit groups over the current six-feet statue going under the then-proposed (now completed) Atal Bridge. Former Deputy Mayor Jivraj Chauhan of the BJP had taken the lead to conceptualise and plan the island, which was to come up across the road from GEB in a land of the VMC, admeasuring 144 sq metres.

The VMC had removed encroachments from the land in that year and had even resolved to construct the island. The VMC had also resolved to shift the six-feet statue that stands at GEB circle to the upcoming memorial at Kalyannagar. Officials of the VMC said that the 12-feet tall statue made of metal alloy was commissioned and created by a Vadodara-based artist for the island.

“However, when the flyover took shape and the slab was constructed over the statue, the project was set aside as the groups ended their protest. The statue is covered at kept inside Sayajibaug until a decision is made about its installation… The decision will be made by the leaders,” an official said.

Chauhan said, “At that time, several groups of the Dalit community had raised objections to the 6-feet statue going under the bridge that was proposed… Their contention was that it would be a disrespect to a leader like Dr Ambedkar. So, the VMC had resolved to create an island across the road, and we had decided to install a 12-feet statue there. The metal alloy statue was comissioned and readied by a local sculptor. The plan was to shift the existing six-feet statue to the memorial.” Chauhan added that after the part of the construction of the bridge at GEB circle was completed, the Dalit groups withdrew their agitation.

“Once the slab of the bridge came up above the statue, the groups withdrew the protest as they were of the opinion that the bridge had actually provided a shade over the statue which was more desirable, especially since the days of commemoration of Dr Ambedkar’s achievements happen to occur during summer. Since, they had withdrawn the protest, the island project was also suspended as it would not make any sense to have two Ambedkar statues facing each other,” Chauhan said.

According to Chauhan, the administration will now decide the placement of the new statue. He said, “We are going to hold a meeting with the Gujarat Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment and Women & Child Development Bhanu Babariya shortly to discuss the placement of the Statue in the Memorial that is coming up across the Sayajibaug zoo near Kalyannagar… We have identified one or two locations close to the entrance from where the Statue will be visible. We will finalise a spot soon.”