An engineer, named in the FIR registered over the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has claimed that he was only responsible for the platform, not the structural integrity of the project.&nbsp;

Chetan Patil, the structural engineer, in an interview with a local channel, said he did not have anything to do with the statue that collapsed at Fort Rajkot in the state's Sindhudurg district. Patil, alongside contractor Jaydeep Apte has been named in the FIR.&nbsp;

“A Thane-based company did the statue-related work. I was just asked to work on the platform on which the statue was being erected,” Patil was quoted as saying by ABP Manjha.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) has blamed the Indian Navy and the sculptor for the collapse of the statue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Navy was in a great hurry to complete the statue before the December 4 Indian Navy Day function at Malvan," a PWD official said.&nbsp;

“We were also told&nbsp;that the sculptor and structural consultant had guaranteed a 200-year life for the statue.”

“The sculptor and foundation expert were welding the statue at the spot for nearly two months. In the last eight days, naval officials took over the welding work and kept others out of the site. This will all come out in the investigation,"&nbsp;PWD executive engineer Ajaykumar Sarvagod added.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;India: 35-foot tall Shivaji statue collapses in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district

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<h2>Indian Navy investigates</h2>

The Indian Navy has also opened an investigation into the incident and will reveal the cause of the collapse in due time.&nbsp;

"Along with the State Government and concerned specialists, the Navy has deputed a team to immediately investigate the cause of this unfortunate accident and initiate steps to repair, restore and reinstate the statue at the earliest," the Indian Navy stated.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/heres-what-led-to-the-collapse-of-chhatrapati-shivaji-statue-in-indias-sindhudurg-753625">Also read |&nbsp;Here's what led to the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in India's Sindhudurg</a>

State Chief Minister Eknath Shinde claimed that strong winds likely led to the collapse of the statue.&nbsp;

“The incident that happened is unfortunate. This statue was erected by the Navy. They had also designed it. But due to strong winds of around 45 km/h, it fell and got damaged," he said.

The 35-foot statue was unveiled only nine months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and collapsed on Monday (Aug 26) - leading to outrage. Chhatrapati Shivaji was the king of the Maratha empire and a revered figure across India.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An engineer, named in the FIR registered over the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has claimed that he was only responsible for the platform, not the structural integrity of the project.

An engineer, named in the FIR registered over the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has claimed that he was only responsible for the platform, not the structural integrity of the project. Chetan Patil, the structural engineer, in an interview with a local channel, said he did not have anything to do with the statue that collapsed at Fort Rajkot in the state's Sindhudurg district. Patil, alongside contractor Jaydeep Apte has been named in the FIR. “A Thane-based company did the statue-related work. I was just asked to work on the platform on which the statue was being erected,” Patil was quoted as saying by ABP Manjha. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) has blamed the Indian Navy and the sculptor for the collapse of the statue. “The Navy was in a great hurry to complete the statue before the December 4 Indian Navy Day function at Malvan," a PWD official said. “We were also told that the sculptor and structural consultant had guaranteed a 200-year life for the statue.” “The sculptor and foundation expert were welding the statue at the spot for nearly two months. In the last eight days, naval officials took over the welding work and kept others out of the site. This will all come out in the investigation," PWD executive engineer Ajaykumar Sarvagod added. Watch | India: 35-foot tall Shivaji statue collapses in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district × Indian Navy investigates The Indian Navy has also opened an investigation into the incident and will reveal the cause of the collapse in due time. "Along with the State Government and concerned specialists, the Navy has deputed a team to immediately investigate the cause of this unfortunate accident and initiate steps to repair, restore and reinstate the statue at the earliest," the Indian Navy stated. Also read | Here's what led to the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in India's Sindhudurg State Chief Minister Eknath Shinde claimed that strong winds likely led to the collapse of the statue. “The incident that happened is unfortunate. This statue was erected by the Navy. They had also designed it. But due to strong winds of around 45 km/h, it fell and got damaged," he said. The 35-foot statue was unveiled only nine months ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and collapsed on Monday (Aug 26) - leading to outrage. Chhatrapati Shivaji was the king of the Maratha empire and a revered figure across India. (With inputs from agencies)

Engineer claims he 'only worked on platform' of collapsed Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in India's Sindhudurg

The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the Maharashtra government intends to bring from a museum in London is not "original", historian Indrajit Sawant said on Monday (Jul 8) and asserted the one used by the legendary emperor remains in the state's Satara itself.

The state government had last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the London-based museum to get the 'wagh nakh' that was used by the founder of the Maratha Empire to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659. The 'wagh nakh' is an enduring and revered symbol of the warrior king's tenacity and valour as it was used to subdue and kill a physically larger opponent.

Watch:&nbsp;India: Heavy rains to lash several places in Maharashtra till July 10

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"The wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra on a loan agreement of Rs 30 crore for three years. In its reply to my letter, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has said there is no evidence the wagh nakh (in its possession) belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Sawant told reporters in Kolhapur.

"The team from Maharashtra under minister Sudhir Mungantiwar that visited London to sign the loan agreement has been told to display this information. The real wagh nakh is in Satara itself," Sawant claimed.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiM9rad75eHAxWraPUHHcuoAwIQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-hit-and-run-case-cctv-shows-maharashtra-politicians-son-leaving-pub-before-crash-738980" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-hit-and-run-case-cctv-shows-maharashtra-politicians-son-leaving-pub-before-crash-738980&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiM9rad75eHAxWraPUHHcuoAwIQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">Mumbai hit-and-run case: CCTV shows Maharashtra politician`s son leaving pub before crash</a>

Another researcher, Pandurang Balkawade, told a Marathi TV channel that Pratapsinh Chhatrapati gave the 'wagh nakh' from his personal collection to Britisher Garnt Duff between 1818 and 1823, adding that Duff's descendants handed it over to the museum.

However, Sawant said Pratapsinh Chhatrapati showed the 'wagh nakh' to several persons after Duff left India. Speaking on the issue, minister Shambhuraj Desai said it is well known that the 'Bhavani talwar' and the 'wagh nakh' are in London.

"Our government verified the details and then signed the MoU. If historians have any other view, our government will clarify the issue," Desai said. Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the government's stand is clear that all artefacts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which are inspirations for the people, will be preserved, promoted and put on display.

The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the Maharashtra government intends to bring from a museum in London is not "original", historian Indrajit Sawant said on Monday (Jul 8) and asserted the one used by the legendary emperor remains in the state's Satara itself.

The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the Maharashtra government intends to bring from a museum in London is not "original", historian Indrajit Sawant said on Monday (Jul 8) and asserted the one used by the legendary emperor remains in the state's Satara itself. The state government had last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the London-based museum to get the 'wagh nakh' that was used by the founder of the Maratha Empire to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659. The 'wagh nakh' is an enduring and revered symbol of the warrior king's tenacity and valour as it was used to subdue and kill a physically larger opponent. Watch: India: Heavy rains to lash several places in Maharashtra till July 10 × "The wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra on a loan agreement of Rs 30 crore for three years. In its reply to my letter, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has said there is no evidence the wagh nakh (in its possession) belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Sawant told reporters in Kolhapur. "The team from Maharashtra under minister Sudhir Mungantiwar that visited London to sign the loan agreement has been told to display this information. The real wagh nakh is in Satara itself," Sawant claimed. Also read: Mumbai hit-and-run case: CCTV shows Maharashtra politician`s son leaving pub before crash Another researcher, Pandurang Balkawade, told a Marathi TV channel that Pratapsinh Chhatrapati gave the 'wagh nakh' from his personal collection to Britisher Garnt Duff between 1818 and 1823, adding that Duff's descendants handed it over to the museum. However, Sawant said Pratapsinh Chhatrapati showed the 'wagh nakh' to several persons after Duff left India. Speaking on the issue, minister Shambhuraj Desai said it is well known that the 'Bhavani talwar' and the 'wagh nakh' are in London. "Our government verified the details and then signed the MoU. If historians have any other view, our government will clarify the issue," Desai said. Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the government's stand is clear that all artefacts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which are inspirations for the people, will be preserved, promoted and put on display.

‘UK museum holding Shivaji’s fake tiger claws, original remain in Satara’: Historian’s bombshell claim

Indian producer-director Sandeep Singh is set to tell the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a new biopic. This will be his first theatrical feature film as a director and will be titled The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film will tell the story of revered 17th-century Indian ruler Shivaji Bhonsle.

<h2>Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj</h2>

On the film, Sandeep said, “It’s taken me 23 years of hard struggle to build and create a position to debut as a director for my first mega-budget film ‘The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.’ There could be nothing better than this. I have been working on the script since 2019, five years of labour and love. I hope our audience will appreciate our film and the efforts invested in it,” Singh added.

For the unversed, Shivaji founded the Maratha empire when most of India was under the rule of Muslim monarchs. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was persecuting Hindus, the community rallied by Shivaji, who was crowned as Chhatrapati (monarch). During India’s independence movement, Shivaji was hailed as a Hindu nationalist hero and continues to be revered as one.&nbsp;

The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be produced by Immerso Studio and Legend Studios presentation. It is speculated to have an expensive budget and will be released in the Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi languages.

Among the crew that have been roped in, there is DoP Aseem Bajaj, choreographer Ganesh Hegde, costume designer Sheetal Sharma, production designer Sandeep Sharad Ravade, with casting by Kavish Sinha. The cast has not been revealed yet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rakul-preet-singh-and-jackky-bhagnani-kick-off-pre-wedding-celebrations-in-style-690790">Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani kick off pre-wedding celebrations in style</a>

The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is due to release in January 2026, during the Indian Republic Day holidays.&nbsp;

<h2>Sandeep Singh's past works</h2>

Prior to this, Sandeep Singh was engaged with the boxing biopic Mary Kom which released in 2014. In the film, he served as an executive producer. He then went on to be involved with gay rights drama Aligarh&nbsp;in 2015&nbsp;and the slum soccer film Jhund in 2022. He made his directorial debut with the ZEE5, transgender-themed film&nbsp;Safed which released in 2023.&nbsp;

Sandeep Singh was last in the news for producing PM Narendra Modi in 2019. It was a biopic of the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Indian producer-director Sandeep Singh is set to tell the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a new biopic. This will be his first theatrical feature film as a director and will be titled The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Indian producer-director Sandeep Singh is set to tell the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a new biopic. This will be his first theatrical feature film as a director and will be titled The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film will tell the story of revered 17th-century Indian ruler Shivaji Bhonsle. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj On the film, Sandeep said, “It’s taken me 23 years of hard struggle to build and create a position to debut as a director for my first mega-budget film ‘The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.’ There could be nothing better than this. I have been working on the script since 2019, five years of labour and love. I hope our audience will appreciate our film and the efforts invested in it,” Singh added. For the unversed, Shivaji founded the Maratha empire when most of India was under the rule of Muslim monarchs. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was persecuting Hindus, the community rallied by Shivaji, who was crowned as Chhatrapati (monarch). During India’s independence movement, Shivaji was hailed as a Hindu nationalist hero and continues to be revered as one. The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be produced by Immerso Studio and Legend Studios presentation. It is speculated to have an expensive budget and will be released in the Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi languages. Among the crew that have been roped in, there is DoP Aseem Bajaj, choreographer Ganesh Hegde, costume designer Sheetal Sharma, production designer Sandeep Sharad Ravade, with casting by Kavish Sinha. The cast has not been revealed yet. Also read: Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani kick off pre-wedding celebrations in style The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is due to release in January 2026, during the Indian Republic Day holidays. Sandeep Singh's past works Prior to this, Sandeep Singh was engaged with the boxing biopic Mary Kom which released in 2014. In the film, he served as an executive producer. He then went on to be involved with gay rights drama Aligarh in 2015 and the slum soccer film Jhund in 2022. He made his directorial debut with the ZEE5, transgender-themed film Safed which released in 2023. Sandeep Singh was last in the news for producing PM Narendra Modi in 2019. It was a biopic of the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Big-screen biopic on Shivaji Maharaj taking shape, to release in 2026

The 17th-century weapon believed to have belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also called the 'Tiger Claws' will be briefly returning to India for a historic exhibition.

UK museum to loan Shivaji Maharaj's tiger claw weapon to India

An iconic tiger claw or wagh nakh (a weapon) that reportedly belonged to&nbsp;Maratha empire's patriarch and legendary Indian ruler Shivaji Bhosale I, often referred to as&nbsp;Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is set to return home centuries after Shivaji is said to have fought a consequential war with the weapon.

The&nbsp;wagh nakh&nbsp;will return to India for the first time after East India Company took it to England in the 1820s during British colonial conquest on Indian subcontinent.&nbsp;

<h2>But India's wagh nakh is returning 'on loan'</h2>

The tiger claw is scheduled to make its return to Indian state of Maharashtra from London in November 2023 coinciding with the 350th&nbsp;anniversary of Shivaji's coronation. It&nbsp;will be brought from London's Victoria and Albert Museum "on loan" for a three-year exhibition in South Mumbai.

Sudhir Mungantiwar, the Culture Minister of Maharashtra, will travel to London on Tuesday to formalise an agreement with the museum for the repatriation of this historic weapon.

It is expected that the wagh nakh will find its home at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in South Mumbai.

<h2>Battle of Pratapgarh and role of wagh nakh</h2>

The Battle of Pratapgarh&nbsp;in 1659, where the Marathas triumphed over the Adilshahi forces led by Afzal Khan, marked a turning point in Shivaji's quest to establish the Maratha Empire. Despite being outnumbered, the Marathas' victory enhanced Chhatrapati Shivaji's reputation as a brilliant military strategist.

Shivaji's personal act of killing Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgarh fort in present-day Satara district, Maharashtra, has become a legendary episode, symbolising his courage in defeating a significantly larger and more powerful adversary.&nbsp;

Shivaji is known to have killed Afzal Khan with wagh nakh.&nbsp;

<h2>How British got India's wagh nakh</h2>

The British purportedly received it from the descendants of the British political agent in Satara after the collapse of the Peshwa rule in 1818.&nbsp;

According to historian Pandurang Balkwade of Pune's Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, the biggest centre of Maratha documents and artefacts, the wagh nakh was kept in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple housed within Satara ruler's family residence, The Times of India reported.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/remembering-ahilyabai-holkar-the-queen-of-marathas-in-indore-483964">Remembering Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Marathas in Indore</a>

"The object must have been sacred for it to be kept in the ‘dev ghar’ (house of god)," he is quoted as saying.&nbsp;

According to Indrajeet Sawant, a history researcher in Maharashtra's Kolhapur, the wagh nakh kept in London museum made its way to the British after it was "gifted" by Pratapsinh Maharaj, the fifth and last Chhatrapati, to British political agent James Grant Duff, ToI reported.

<h2>Did Shivaji use wagh nakh to kill Afzal Khan?</h2>

The government has claimed that the wagh nakh to be brought back to India was used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan.

But some historians have disputed the claim and said that the weapon that's with the London museum, belonged to Shivaji's family and whether Shivaji used the same weapon to kill Bijapur general Afzal Khan, is subject to verification.&nbsp;

<h2>Why wagh nakh&nbsp;is being returned on loan?</h2>

The British museums, both national and regional, argue the notion of&nbsp;"common humanity" and "shared history", as justification to why they keep the items acquired in dubious circumstances or plundered outright. In recent years, they have come up with the concept&nbsp;of sharing some of the "greatest objects" under their possession,&nbsp;"to be shared with audiences around the world" under long-term partnerships with countries or museums in particular.&nbsp;

The purported middle-ground has not been well received by <a href="https://www.ejournals.eu/pliki/art/23369/">African groups</a> and particularly by&nbsp;Greece, whose&nbsp;50 per cent of the total sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, is with the British.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-help-greece-reclaim-historical-artefacts-from-uk-reports-british-media-592664">India to help Greece reclaim historical artefacts from UK</a>

In 2018, the Ethiopian Ambassador said it would not accept a loan of its heritage, and that only the full return with ownership rights and display in Ethiopian museums would be satisfactory. 
 
India in recent years has sped up its efforts to retrieve the heritage it lost to British colonial conquests.

New Delhi&nbsp;is hoping for "a process of retrieval of antiquities through bilateral cooperation and partnership, in a manner consistent with existing international arrangements", an Indian government&nbsp;representative was quoted as saying by Politico&nbsp;in May 2023.

As the current president of Group of 20 (G20) nations, New Delhi had placed&nbsp;the repatriation of antiquities on this agenda G20 leaders' summit that concluded in the Indian capital last month.&nbsp;

The joint statement reiterated its "commitment to strengthen our fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at national, regional or international levels to enable its return and restitution to their countries and communities of origin as relevant, and call for sustained dialogue and action in that endeavour, with a view to strengthen cultural diplomacy and intercultural exchanges, consistent with national law and relevant UNESCO Conventions." 
 
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An iconic tiger claw or wagh nakh (a weapon) that reportedly belonged to Maratha empire's patriarch and legendary Indian ruler Shivaji Bhosale I, often referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is set to return home centuries after Shivaji is said to have fought a consequential war with the weapon.

An iconic tiger claw or wagh nakh (a weapon) that reportedly belonged to Maratha empire's patriarch and legendary Indian ruler Shivaji Bhosale I, often referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is set to return home centuries after Shivaji is said to have fought a consequential war with the weapon. The wagh nakh will return to India for the first time after East India Company took it to England in the 1820s during British colonial conquest on Indian subcontinent. But India's wagh nakh is returning 'on loan' The tiger claw is scheduled to make its return to Indian state of Maharashtra from London in November 2023 coinciding with the 350th anniversary of Shivaji's coronation. It will be brought from London's Victoria and Albert Museum "on loan" for a three-year exhibition in South Mumbai. Sudhir Mungantiwar, the Culture Minister of Maharashtra, will travel to London on Tuesday to formalise an agreement with the museum for the repatriation of this historic weapon. It is expected that the wagh nakh will find its home at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in South Mumbai. Battle of Pratapgarh and role of wagh nakh The Battle of Pratapgarh in 1659, where the Marathas triumphed over the Adilshahi forces led by Afzal Khan, marked a turning point in Shivaji's quest to establish the Maratha Empire. Despite being outnumbered, the Marathas' victory enhanced Chhatrapati Shivaji's reputation as a brilliant military strategist. Shivaji's personal act of killing Afzal Khan at the foot of Pratapgarh fort in present-day Satara district, Maharashtra, has become a legendary episode, symbolising his courage in defeating a significantly larger and more powerful adversary. Shivaji is known to have killed Afzal Khan with wagh nakh. How British got India's wagh nakh The British purportedly received it from the descendants of the British political agent in Satara after the collapse of the Peshwa rule in 1818. According to historian Pandurang Balkwade of Pune's Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, the biggest centre of Maratha documents and artefacts, the wagh nakh was kept in the sanctum sanctorum of a temple housed within Satara ruler's family residence, The Times of India reported. Also read | Remembering Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Marathas in Indore "The object must have been sacred for it to be kept in the ‘dev ghar’ (house of god)," he is quoted as saying. According to Indrajeet Sawant, a history researcher in Maharashtra's Kolhapur, the wagh nakh kept in London museum made its way to the British after it was "gifted" by Pratapsinh Maharaj, the fifth and last Chhatrapati, to British political agent James Grant Duff, ToI reported. Did Shivaji use wagh nakh to kill Afzal Khan? The government has claimed that the wagh nakh to be brought back to India was used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan. But some historians have disputed the claim and said that the weapon that's with the London museum, belonged to Shivaji's family and whether Shivaji used the same weapon to kill Bijapur general Afzal Khan, is subject to verification. Why wagh nakh is being returned on loan? The British museums, both national and regional, argue the notion of "common humanity" and "shared history", as justification to why they keep the items acquired in dubious circumstances or plundered outright. In recent years, they have come up with the concept of sharing some of the "greatest objects" under their possession, "to be shared with audiences around the world" under long-term partnerships with countries or museums in particular. The purported middle-ground has not been well received by African groups and particularly by Greece, whose 50 per cent of the total sculptural decoration of the Parthenon, is with the British. Also read | India to help Greece reclaim historical artefacts from UK In 2018, the Ethiopian Ambassador said it would not accept a loan of its heritage, and that only the full return with ownership rights and display in Ethiopian museums would be satisfactory. India in recent years has sped up its efforts to retrieve the heritage it lost to British colonial conquests. New Delhi is hoping for "a process of retrieval of antiquities through bilateral cooperation and partnership, in a manner consistent with existing international arrangements", an Indian government representative was quoted as saying by Politico in May 2023. As the current president of Group of 20 (G20) nations, New Delhi had placed the repatriation of antiquities on this agenda G20 leaders' summit that concluded in the Indian capital last month. The joint statement reiterated its "commitment to strengthen our fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at national, regional or international levels to enable its return and restitution to their countries and communities of origin as relevant, and call for sustained dialogue and action in that endeavour, with a view to strengthen cultural diplomacy and intercultural exchanges, consistent with national law and relevant UNESCO Conventions." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | How Shivaji's tiger claw weapon is returning to India 'on loan' for three years

Artist uses AI to 'reimagine' portraits of ancient Indian rulers

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday laid the foundation stone for what is set to be the world&#39;s tallest statue, as its projected multi-million-dollar cost sparked criticism and an online petition against the project.

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a 17th-century Hindu ruler who fought the Muslim Mughal dynasty and carved out his own kingdom, will be more than twice the size of the Statue of Liberty and five times higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

The structure, a pet project of Hindu nationalist Modi, will rise 192 metres (630 feet) from an island off the western coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea.

When finished, it will tower over the 128-metre Spring Temple Buddha in China&#39;s Henan province that is currently the world&#39;s tallest statue.

&quot;Even in the midst of struggle, Shivaji Maharaj remained a torchbearer of good governance,&quot; Modi said at the inaugural event.&nbsp;

&quot;So many aspects of his personality inspire us.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The government of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, is expected to spend some 36 billion rupees ($530 million) on the statue, which is scheduled for completion by 2019.

But the project has drawn brickbats from many people who instead want the government to devote its resources to infrastructure, education and development.

By Saturday evening, more than 27,000 people had signed an online petition on Change.org urging the government to drop the plans.

&quot;Apart from a waste of money, this statue is going to be terrible for the environment; for the traffic situation in South Bombay&nbsp;and a security nightmare,&quot; said the petition.

Shivaji is revered by many in&nbsp;Maharashtra. Mumbai&#39;s main train station and airport are named after the ruler, who is also one of the symbols of a Hindu cultural revival promoted by Modi.

The plans for the latest memorial follow an earlier initiative by Modi to build a&nbsp;182-metre tall tribute to Indian independence hero Sardar Vallabbhai Patel in his home state of Gujarat, at an estimated cost of 25 billion rupees ($368 million).&nbsp;Construction on that&nbsp;statue began in 2014.

(AFP)

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a venerated 17th-century Hindu ruler, will be more than twice the size of the Statue of Liberty

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday laid the foundation stone for what is set to be the world's tallest statue, as its projected multi-million-dollar cost sparked criticism and an online petition against the project. The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, a 17th-century Hindu ruler who fought the Muslim Mughal dynasty and carved out his own kingdom, will be more than twice the size of the Statue of Liberty and five times higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. The structure, a pet project of Hindu nationalist Modi, will rise 192 metres (630 feet) from an island off the western coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. When finished, it will tower over the 128-metre Spring Temple Buddha in China's Henan province that is currently the world's tallest statue. "Even in the midst of struggle, Shivaji Maharaj remained a torchbearer of good governance," Modi said at the inaugural event. "So many aspects of his personality inspire us." The government of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, is expected to spend some 36 billion rupees ($530 million) on the statue, which is scheduled for completion by 2019. But the project has drawn brickbats from many people who instead want the government to devote its resources to infrastructure, education and development. By Saturday evening, more than 27,000 people had signed an online petition on Change.org urging the government to drop the plans. "Apart from a waste of money, this statue is going to be terrible for the environment; for the traffic situation in South Bombay and a security nightmare," said the petition. Shivaji is revered by many in Maharashtra. Mumbai's main train station and airport are named after the ruler, who is also one of the symbols of a Hindu cultural revival promoted by Modi. The plans for the latest memorial follow an earlier initiative by Modi to build a 182-metre tall tribute to Indian independence hero Sardar Vallabbhai Patel in his home state of Gujarat, at an estimated cost of 25 billion rupees ($368 million). Construction on that statue began in 2014. (AFP)

India lays foundation stone for world's tallest statue

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