Statue of Unity in Gujarat

On Vallabhai Jhaverbhai Patel’s 143rd birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled India’s tribute to him in the form of the world’s tallest statue. Standing at 182 metres, the Statue of Unity is almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty. It was revealed with military celebration and Hindu inaugural rites. Modi’s public address named the monument as a symbol of his ruling party’s ideology – ‘one nation, one creed’. Far from unifying the country, the statue has fractured the nation with various criticisms of the project. This case will explore the political agenda behind its creation as well as the economic and social ramifications at the tribal, state, and national levels.