As the entire nation paid tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 120th birth anniversary on Thursday, Nagpur airport is still awaiting a new statue of the leader despite a promise made almost three years ago. The airport authorities had assured to replace the statue of Dr Ambedkar, after whom the airport is named, since it did not resemble the leader.
The existing 16-feet statue was unveiled on April 14, 2008, but had left Dr Ambedkar's followers disappointed. Airports Authority of India (AAI) then decided to install a new one. A senior airport official said, "The present statue, made by Amravati sculptor SR Satarkar and costing .Rs 16 lakh had disappointed Ambedkar followers. They said it did not resemble the great man and its hand was also not correctly positioned." AAI appointed an expert committee which finalized the design of a new statue. "Eleven sculptors submitted their designs before the panel and the one by renowned sculptor Pradnya Murti was selected," the official told TOI.
The official added, "A large number of Ambedkar followers had objected to the first statue three years back. They said that it did not resemble Dr Ambedkar and the right hand forefinger of the statue was pointing downwards. Actually, the leader's statues across the country have the finger pointing upwards." AAI executive director had then issued directives to form an expert panel under the then airport director SN Borkar's chairmanship. The panel comprising dean of Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya Prof Hemant Nagdive, former dean Prof Ramteke, and Prof Wanjari, Prof Shirke and Prof Mistry from JJ School of Arts, Mumbai, finalized the new model to be installed. Even Bhante Surai Sasai had given his approval to the new design of the statue. The new clay model statue has apparently the exact likeness of the leader. However, despite three years in the making, the new 16-feet statue is yet to be completed. AAI has invested almost Rs23 lakh in it. Officials informed that the new sculptor Pradnya Murti is finding it difficult to complete the statue. He is moulding it in 27 pieces and will require another three to four months to complete the job. Meanwhile, airport operator Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL) has refused to share the cost of the new statue. "They (MIPL) have agreed to take care of the statue and its maintenance after installation," an AAI official said.
The existing 16-feet statue was unveiled on April 14, 2008, but had left Dr Ambedkar's followers disappointed. Airports Authority of India (AAI) then decided to install a new one. A senior airport official said, "The present statue, made by Amravati sculptor SR Satarkar and costing .Rs 16 lakh had disappointed Ambedkar followers. They said it did not resemble the great man and its hand was also not correctly positioned." AAI appointed an expert committee which finalized the design of a new statue. "Eleven sculptors submitted their designs before the panel and the one by renowned sculptor Pradnya Murti was selected," the official told TOI.
The official added, "A large number of Ambedkar followers had objected to the first statue three years back. They said that it did not resemble Dr Ambedkar and the right hand forefinger of the statue was pointing downwards. Actually, the leader's statues across the country have the finger pointing upwards." AAI executive director had then issued directives to form an expert panel under the then airport director SN Borkar's chairmanship. The panel comprising dean of Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya Prof Hemant Nagdive, former dean Prof Ramteke, and Prof Wanjari, Prof Shirke and Prof Mistry from JJ School of Arts, Mumbai, finalized the new model to be installed. Even Bhante Surai Sasai had given his approval to the new design of the statue. The new clay model statue has apparently the exact likeness of the leader. However, despite three years in the making, the new 16-feet statue is yet to be completed. AAI has invested almost Rs23 lakh in it. Officials informed that the new sculptor Pradnya Murti is finding it difficult to complete the statue. He is moulding it in 27 pieces and will require another three to four months to complete the job. Meanwhile, airport operator Mihan India Private Limited (MIPL) has refused to share the cost of the new statue. "They (MIPL) have agreed to take care of the statue and its maintenance after installation," an AAI official said.
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