Opinion: Politics of memorials in India

Memorials have become integral to modern public life in India. A tradition which was started by the British has been embraced by Indian politicians and public at large.

The colonial India saw stamping of Indian public spaces with statues and memorials of British public figures to engrave symbols of empire in the colony. Today, politicians have become new colonialists of public spaces. In the name of contribution and commitment, public structures, roads and districts are either renamed or new structures are erected to preserve and honour their memory.

The act of making a memorial serves many functions. It also indicates how much power the successor wields.

During the medieval times, the Mughals made the grandest memorials for themselves. The tombs or the resting places were commissioned during the life time of the emperor. This practice was emulated by many generals and members ofnobility throughout the empire. The tombs were the markers of royalty and nobility. The aim was to tell the tale of glory long after they were gone. The monument was built in the idea of indestructible memory which would stand till the time lasts.
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This hubris continued in the form of statues and road naming during colonial India.

In post-Independence India, memorials became the instruments of personal ambition, dynasticism and hero worship. Kamaraj in Tamil Nadu consented to city corporation for installing his statue in Madras.

Decades later, Mayawati did the same. During her tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, she made parks and installed her own statutes so that her legacy lives past her. This time she did all by herself. In the name of Dalit pride she inscribed herself in public space.

Notably, even when the government allots an 'appropriate' place for memorial, political parties and families still insist on specific locations.

Whether it is Delhi’s Yamuna front which have memorials of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi and Charan Singh or roads which have been named after lesser politicians - public spaces have been crowded by late politicians. Even government bungalows have not been spared. It started from Teen Murti Lane residence which was converted to a Nehru memorial by Indira Gandhi.

The house originally belonged to the commander of the British Army in the sub-continent but it ended up becoming a heritage site. Similarly many government bungalows function as memorial, be it the case of Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri or Jagjivan Ram.

Memorials also tell untold stories of power. The memorial for PV Narsimha Rao is not in Delhi but in Andhra Pradesh because he did not enjoy good relationship with Sonia Gandhi. The memorials in Tamil Nadu are also about power and preservation of politics.

In India, districts and airports have been renamed after politicians. Even Parliament is occupied with massive and midsized statutes of politicians. The central hall is adorned by political figures. In fact Parliament has now run short of space for statues.

The small and mid-sized towns are adorned with the busts and statues of local political figures. When living are not alive, the dead through their statues tell the stories of power and glamour.

In India, size also matters. Gujarat is constructing the tallest statue of Sardar Patel and Maharashtra wants to make the biggest statue of Shivaji near Mumbai. The plan is to make it into a tourist site. Indian politics is saturated with talk on Ambedkar. It does not matter whether you have read him or not but you will find his statues throughout north India as a sign of Dalit assertion.

Indian state continues to mimic both pre-colonial India and the communist regimes. The Communists planted the statues of Marx and Lenin in every nook and corner in the countries they ruled. Two bearded gentlemen were the markers of what ruledthe land. Ideology was planted in the heart of public space to be felt and lived on a daily basis. Indian politicians have emerged as the new Gods of our Republic.

In the name of caste pride, regional pride, religious pride, community’s pride, national pride or perceived contribution, India is being stamped with statues and memorials. It is plain and simple colonialisation of public space and collective memory where an particular memory gets preserved as larger than life memory. Though sub-continent was not always a land of idols (in context of Vedic Hinduism), it has turned into one. The idols of Gods were celebrated and revered in both personal and public spaces. Today, GOD(S) havebeen replaced by people whom we call politicians.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)