Maya’s Memorials

Critics have called it a waste of resources in a state where social and economic indicators are among the lowest in the country. Political opponents have started speaking out against it. Mulayam Singh Yadav even said his party would raze the memorials if it came to power. But nothing has deterred Mayawati.

To her, this is the BSP’s way of expressing its gratitude to the great men who inspired it. She has been accused of narcissism: at least four of her own statues have been installed at these places and more are on the way. Mayawati has a stock reply: she is fulfilling the wish of her mentor Kanshi Ram, who had willed that her statue be installed wherever his statue was put up. A look at Maya’s memorials.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal

Government order: no structure higher than memorial to be built in the area

Spread over 123 acres on the banks of the Gomti, this expanse of stonework is the mother of all memorials that the Government is building. Nothing about the memorial is modest, be it the size or the money spent—over Rs 600 crore.

Originally, it was a more modest project designed by Satish Gujral, spread over 25 acres, and work on it began during Mayawati’s first term in 1995. The project was completed in 2002 at a cost of Rs 150 crore by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). After Mayawati became Chief Minister again last year, she decided to revamp it. The Ambedkar Sahitya Sansthan and Museum, Satkar Bhawan and the adjacent Ambedkar Stadium were razed. In the last one year, Rs 360 crore has been spent, and another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the project, to be completed by March 2009. The state government has given the LDA Rs 160 crore for the maintenance of the structure once it is complete. The UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) is working on the project.

The new design has nothing in common with Gujral’s, which had a main dome, a multipurpose complex, a lake and a museum with paintings of Dalit icons. The lake has been done away with; buildings are being added. Under the dome is a hollow, housing a big statue of B.R. Ambedkar. A gallery dedicated to Ambedkar is under construction—its estimated cost is Rs 60 crore—and it will house statues of Mayawati and five other Dalit icons. Massive, ornamental stone gates are being built. Several columns mounted with elephant heads carved in stone are being erected. The government has issued instructions that no structure higher than the memorial should be built in the area.

There is an art gallery and an elephant court, with 60 stone statues of the BSP’s election symbol, each costing Rs 56 lakh. All structures are made of pink sandstone, brought from Rajasthan, Mirzapur and Paharpur in huge blocks. Recently, the LDA decided to close three roads in the area to develop parking for the memorial. A police post was also built, blocking a road on the Gomti embankment. After a PIL challenging the action came up before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, the LDA changed the land use of the roads from transport to public utilities. A stadium and an office of the crime branch were razed for the project.

Manyawar Kanshi Ram Memorial

Rs 110 crore spent on project, another Rs 125 crore needed

This memorial is coming up on 42 acres on Jail Road, Alambagh. In 2003, Mayawati had developed the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Maidan on this land—for holding political rallies and cultural programmes—at a cost of Rs 6.54 crore. After Mayawati became Chief Minister again in May last year, the Government decided to build a Kanshi Ram memorial there. About Rs 110 crore has been spent on the project and officials say another Rs 125 crore will be required to complete it. The UPRNN started work in November 2007 and the Government has set a deadline of March 2009 to complete the project. Giant, 18-foot-tall bronze statues of Mayawati and Kanshi Ram have been installed. Over a dozen big stone elephants have come up near the main entrance. The original stone boundary has been demolished and a new one, with more expensive stones, is being built. In the middle, a large garden is being planned. Thirty-foot-high bronze fountains are being positioned at the four corners of the memorial.

Kanshi Ram Museum

The 140-foot-high structure built on 11 acres will cost over Rs 100 crore

It is a 140-foot-high structure, being built inside the Kanshi Ram Memorial, covering an area of 11 acres, costing over Rs 100 crore. The museum will have a giant statue of Kanshi Ram along with a library of study materials like research papers and books on Dalits. Pictures and other materials related to Kanshi Ram, Ambedkar and Mayawati will be on display here. The museum is being developed by the LDA and the deadline for completion is March 2009.

Kanshi Ram Bahujan Nayak Park

Bungalow, which housed BSP headquarters, demolished for park

This park is being developed in the memory of the late Kanshi Ram on South Avenue, on a property of the Estate Department. A bungalow here that housed the BSP headquarters has been demolished. The project, sprawling across 4,800 sq m in a prime area of Lucknow, costs Rs 4 crore. Construction began on May 1 this year and although Mayawati inaugurated the park on October 9, the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram, work is likely to go on for another month. Statues of Kanshi Ram and Mayawati have been installed in the middle of the park.

Ramabai Ambedkar Rally Maidan

Developed on 51 acres of land acquired from villagers

After the Ambedkar Maidan was converted into Kanshi Ram Memorial, the city needed a ground for holding political rallies and cultural programmes. The government decided to develop a rally ground on Bijnore Road and name it after Ramabai Ambedkar, wife of Dr Ambedkar. The project is being developed on 51 acres—acquired from the villagers of Khwajapur in 2007—at a cost of Rs 65 crore. A huge, permanent stage and two VVIP cottages are under construction. A statue of Ramabai Ambedkar has been erected at the centre and a police barrack has been set up. A rain basera has also been built for people who will come to attend the rallies and may like to stay back for the night.

Last month, the Housing Department issued a notification for acquiring over 100 acres in Aurangabad Khalsa and Aurangabad Jageer villages for developing a parking lot for the rally ground. Three separate PILs challenging the Government decision have been filed at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The court has restricted any fresh demolition or construction in the area notified for acquisition.

Kanshi Ram Sanskritik Sthal

Over 100 acres carved out of a memorial for Kargil martyrs

While the Allahabad High Court had restrained the Uttar Pradesh Government from undertaking any permanent construction inside Smriti Upwan, developed on 101 acres in memory of Kargil martyrs, the Supreme Court recently allowed permanent constructions there. The Government has already carved out 80 acres from the Upwan to develop a Sanskritik Sthal and named it after Kanshi Ram. It plans to organise cultural programmes here. The Government has allocated Rs 90 crore for the Sanskritik Sthal. Statues of Mayawati and Kanshi Ram were installed in October. A boundary wall of chunar marble has been erected around Smriti Upwan.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal

Mayawati’s 12-ft-high statue pulled down because it wasn’t tall enough

The LDA has developed this on a two-acre area on the Gomti embankment, adjacent to the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal. Work started in November 2007 and was completed in April 2008. The project cost Rs 7 crore. Bronze statues of Kanshi Ram and Mayawati have been placed on a pedestal, directly opposite the statues of Ambedkar and his wife Ramabai. The statues were unveiled by Mayawati on April 14, Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. However, on June 1, Mayawati’s statue was pulled down. It turned out that the statues of the other leaders were 15 feet high while Mayawati’s was only 12 feet high. A new statue of Mayawati, as high as the others, has been installed.

Manyawar Kanshi Ram Yaadgar Vishram Sthal

Bungalow makes way for guest house

The UPRNN and the UP Estates Department are developing a guest house named after Kanshi Ram on Mall Avenue, which was initially allotted to Mayawati as a former chief minister. The bungalow on this 4,225-sq-metre plot was demolished to make way for the monument. The project is going to cost Rs 12 crore and is likely to be completed in the next three months. Sources said that the guest house will consist of two big halls, over a dozen air-conditioned rooms and a garden.

Buddha Sthal and Sharda Canal Front Development

Over 145 flats demolished for Sthal

This monument, dedicated to Lord Buddha, is coming up on 6,000 sq metres of land on VIP Road in Alambagh, at a cost of Rs 90 crore. A big platform for a huge statue of the Buddha is in place. Four 50-foot-high stone pillars are being erected to support a stone canopy over the statue. On three sides, the park will have 100 stone columns, each topped with the elephant head.

Simultaneously, a 3.5-km stretch of Sharda Canal from Kanpur Road to Bangla Bazaar is being given a facelift costing Rs 100 crore. UPRNN is handling the project along with the Irrigation Department, which is the nodal agency and owns the land. The deadline for this project was September 30, but UPRNN authorities say they will take two more months to complete it. For the extension of this project, the Government demolished over 145 flats in Parikalp Nagar Colony and the adjacent Central Design Directorate building of the Irrigation Department in a late-night operation on November 21. A large number of trees were felled. The demolition was challenged in the High Court. The UP Government has filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court, where the matter is subjudice.

Samtamulak Chauraha and Ambedkar Chauraha

PWD made a proposal for renaming the two crossings on December 3, project was approved the same day

The Public Works Department is developing two roundabouts and two triangular crossings at Samtamulak Chauraha, earlier known as Uptron crossing. Statues of Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Narayan Guru and Jyotiba Phule will be installed at the crossings. The LDA is developing a new gateway at Gandhi Setu, near Jiamau crossing, at the cost of Rs 10 crore, which has been renamed Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal Chauraha. Interestingly, the proposal for renaming the two crossings was sent by PWD on December 3 and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation gave its approval the same day.