Shinde pledges Rs 5 lakh help for Wadgaon memorial

The memorial, comprising a victory pillar and a life-size bronze statue of the erstwhile Maratha warrior general Mahadji Shinde, has been raised by Express Nagarik Wadgaon Vijaystambh Pratishthan — a forum pioneered by The Indian Express — to commemorate the spirit of Indian triumph over the British colonialists and to act as a perennial source of inspiration for the Indian youth.

Shinde’s announcement was in response to the call for state assistance, made by the Pratishthan office-bearers, for raising another memorial comprising all the five statues of the men involved in the historic surrender event. He described the Vijaystambh as a service to the nation. ‘‘To remember Mahadji is in itself demonstrating love for the country,’’ Shinde said.

Earlier, BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who also announced a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh for the proposed memorial, observed that the country continues to suffer from the slave mentality. ‘‘This is reflected in several relics of foreign rule like the city of Aurangabad, which continues to be known after its erstwhile Mughal ruler Aurangazeb or the row of local railway stations in Mumbai that continue to have the names given by the British,’’ he said.

Former Maharashtra Minister of State Madan Bafna announced a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh for the beautification of the Vijaysthambh. Managing trustee of the Pratishthan and Senior Editor (Express Initiatives) Prakash Kardaley said the Vijaystambh was an attempt to send the message across to youths that they are second to none in this age of globalisation. ‘‘It’s an attempt towards changing the slave mentality,’’ he said.