A 25-foot-tall statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be installed at Dussehra Maidan in Indore, with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav performing the bhoomi pujan for the project on Sunday.
The foundation-laying ceremony coincided with Vajpayee’s eighth death anniversary, making the occasion both a tribute to the former Prime Minister and the beginning of a permanent memorial dedicated to his legacy.
CM Mohan Yadav Performs Bhoomi Pujan
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav performed the bhoomi pujan with traditional rituals for the proposed statue at a garden in Dussehra Maidan on Annapurna Road in Indore.
The project is being undertaken by the Indore Municipal Corporation, which will construct both the statue and its pedestal. The total estimated cost of the project is around ₹1.97 crore.
Yadav said placing Vajpayee’s statue at a prominent public location was about more than creating a memorial. According to the Chief Minister, the site would help carry Vajpayee’s ideals and contributions to future generations.
25-Foot Gunmetal Statue
The proposed statue will be 25 feet tall and made of gunmetal. It will stand on a specially constructed pedestal at the Dussehra Maidan garden.
Officials said the statue and pedestal are expected to be completed within approximately four months.
Once completed, the site is expected to serve as a permanent memorial celebrating Vajpayee’s contribution to Indian public life.
A Tribute to Vajpayee’s Legacy
Speaking about the project, CM Mohan Yadav highlighted Vajpayee’s contributions to national service, patriotism, good governance, democratic values and nation-building.
He said the memorial would provide citizens, particularly young people, an opportunity to learn about Vajpayee’s life and draw inspiration from his political philosophy and public service.
The project therefore aims to combine a physical memorial with a broader effort to preserve the former Prime Minister’s legacy for future generations.
Project Launched on Vajpayee’s Death Anniversary
The timing of the ceremony was significant. Vajpayee died on August 16, 2018, and Sunday marked his eighth death anniversary.
Earlier that day, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several senior political leaders paid tribute to Vajpayee at his memorial, Sadaiv Atal, in New Delhi.
The Indore project was consequently launched on a day when the country was remembering the former Prime Minister and his contribution to Indian politics.
Vajpayee’s Enduring Political Legacy
Atal Bihari Vajpayee remains one of India’s most prominent political figures and served as Prime Minister during two periods, including a full term from 1999 to 2004.
He was also a founding leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and became the first BJP leader to serve as Prime Minister of India. His political career was associated with parliamentary democracy, coalition politics, infrastructure development and India’s growing role on the international stage.
His reputation as an orator and poet also gave him a distinctive place in India’s political history.
Indore Memorial Expected to Inspire Youth
The Madhya Pradesh government has emphasized the educational and inspirational value of the proposed memorial.
The statue’s location at Dussehra Maidan is expected to make it accessible to a large number of residents and visitors. The government believes that young people visiting the site will be able to learn more about Vajpayee’s approach to governance, public service and national unity.
With construction expected to take around four months, the 25-foot Vajpayee statue could soon become a prominent landmark in Indore.
A Permanent Memorial in Indore
The new statue will add another public memorial to Vajpayee’s legacy across India, where roads, institutions, infrastructure projects and public places have been named in his honour.
For Indore, the Dussehra Maidan project is being presented as a lasting tribute to the former Prime Minister and his contribution to the country.
Once completed, the 25-foot gunmetal statue is expected to stand as a prominent reminder of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ideals of public service, democratic values, good governance and national unity.
