Divakar Shejwal
divakarshejwal1@gmail.com
Kuprej is a place between Mumbai University and Mantralaya, i.e., the center of education and the center of power. The statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar located there is the most beautiful in the city. It was created by sculptor Ram Sutar. What's special about this statue is that it has received the seal of approval and preference from Bhaiyyasaheb Ambedkar. Therefore, the accuracy of Babasaheb's personality has been fully achieved in that statue. That statue was also unveiled by the Governor on Republic Day in 1962 at the insistence of Bhaiyyasaheb.
Now, an international memorial of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is being built on the site of Indu Mill near Chaityabhoomi in Dadar. The work of the statue there has also been entrusted to Ram Sutar. His skill, performance, and fame in sculpture are beyond dispute. However, Ram Sutar, who was instrumental in creating the iconic Babasaheb statue at Kuprej, is currently 99 years old. Next year, he will become a 'centennial hero'! At this age, it is unrealistic to expect his own skills and talents to be incorporated into the planned statue of Babasaheb at Indu Mill.
Therefore, it is clear that the work of the statue in the international monument, which will attract attention from the whole world, has been given to Ram Sutar's 'company' solely because of his reputation. As a result, his son Anil Sutar, who is also a sculptor, is sculpting the statue. However, his skills in capturing the perfect personality of Dr. Babasaheb in the statue have been compromised. Many flaws and shortcomings are clearly visible in the 25-foot-high prototype replica created by Anil Sutar of the conceived statue. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's face, the sadness on it, his hairstyle, his crumpled clothes, and many other things are an injustice to his personality. This has exposed the limitations of that sculptor. Therefore, it is clear that a defective statue of Babasaheb will never be accepted.
The slow pace and delays in the construction of the memorial at Indu Mill are nothing new. Therefore, it is better for no one to be under the illusion that the statue of Babasaheb in that memorial, which is half-finished, will be accepted in a hurry with defects and flaws! Along with the controversial statue, many other issues, such as the total area of the land at Indu Mill (12.5 acres), the plan that is struggling to make full use of the available land for the memorial, its construction, design, and the difference between the expected and determined area for the planned activities in it, are important.
However, it is strongly felt that they are being ignored and set aside.
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