Nagpur: While unveiling the statue of Swami Vivekanand at the Ambazhari Overflow Point, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Swami Vivekanand had introduced rich Indian culture and heritage to the world. Before Swami Vivekanand began to deliver his speech in United Nations meet, he was looked down as a representative of a country which is enslaved. However, the moment he started his speech by addressing the audience as “My dear brothers and sisters”, the entire hall resounded with loud clapping. With this he told the entire world that if there is a country with noble thoughts, rich and varied culture and heritage, it is India. He also conveyed that if some country can bring peace in the world, it has to be the noble thoughts of India. After that other countries in the world realized that India is a global guru.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fighting against the “Black Money” and “Corruption”. All those who join in this fight against black money and corruption will be considered a patriot based on the definition given by Swami Vivekanand of a patriot. Fadnavis said that the darkness, unemployment and superstitious beliefs can be eradicated only when corruption and black money is eradicated.
Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari, Rajya Sabha Members Ajay Sancheti, Dr Vikas Mahatme, Mayor Praveen Datke, MLC Anil Sole, MLA Krishna Khopde, MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, MLA Sudhakar Deshmukh, MLA Dr Milind Mane, NMC Office-bearers including Standing Committee Chairman Sudhir (Bandu) Raut, Leader of Ruling Party Dayashankar Tiwari, City General Secretary of BJP Sandeep Joshi and Deputy Mayor Satish Hole were prominently present on the occasion.
India will rule over the world in 21st Century: Gadkari
Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari while addressing the gathering lauded the NMC for making such a grand memorial of Swami Vivekanand with such meager funds. He went on to say that many thoughts and sayings of Swami Vivekanand have come true today. Nitin Gadkari said that the world was ruled by the Mughals in 18th century, while British ruled the world in the 19th century and America ruled over world in 20th Century. However, India will rule over the world in 21st Century. He also attacked the superstitious and social evils persisting in the country. He brought out the concepts of Hinduism. He claimed that these concepts are their ideals even today. Gadkari said that by the use of Information Technology, the life and teachings of Swami Vivekanand can be experienced in an audio-visual medium in the base of the statue of Swami Vivekanand at the site. A similar technique is conceptualized where the life and teachings of Swami Vivekanand are going to be displayed in a light and sound medium at Ambazhari Garden premises. A musical fountain is envisaged near Telankhedi Temple.
The tenders of this musical fountain project have been finalized too.
The introductory remarks were made by Leader of Ruling Party Dayashankar Tiwari. Mayor Praveen Datke expressed his gratitude to all those who worked hard on this grand memorial site. The dignitaries who were present on the occasion were given a replica of the memorial along with a shawl, shrifal and a bouquet.
One should imbibe the thoughts and ideologies of Swami Vivekanand
Swami Brahmtanand of Ramkrishna Math while addressing the audience said that not only should one imbibe the thoughts but also the ideologies of Swami Vivekanand. He went on to claim that Swami Vivekand was the Yugacharya (Teacher of age) of modern age.
Statue of Swami Vivekanand
The Statue of Swami Vivekanand is situated on 17 acres of land. The pedestal rock is of 30 feet and the bronze statue of Swami Vivekanand is of 20 feet (in all 51 feet tall). The entire project costs Rs 7.5 crore. A gallery is situated at the base of the statue which depicts the life and teachings of Swami Vivekanand with three dimensional images. There are as many as 17 interactive (touch screen screens) Computer Monitors which enables three people to experience an audio-visual depiction of the life of Swami Vivekanand.
During the programme, the sculptor of Statue of Unity and Shivaji Memorial, Ram Sutar was felicitated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The others who were felicitated include Rahul Warke, Prakash Urade, Naresh Borkar, Sunil Sharma, Wakil Singh, Praveen Agrawal, Uday Gajbhiye and NMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar. Immediately after the unveiling of the Statue of Swami Vivekanand, the documents of ownership rights were distributed to the residents of Pandhrabodi.
Mayor Praveen Datke added that in order to make the premises of Statue of Swami Vivekanand more beautiful, and for the installation of a fountain, Rajya Sabha Members Ajay Sancheti and Dr Mahatme have declared to donate Rs one crore each.
