Political parties think that public spaces are their private domains. Whenever they are elected to govern, they go about erecting statues in the names of their party ideologues or those who they might be influenced with. The Congress started this culture and the other political parties have carried on with it. In Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati splurged crores of Public money to build statues promoting her party and ideology. However, this did not work well with the masses who were more keen on good governance and her Government soon fell. There are so many statues, roads and Landmarks in the name of Gandhi – Nehru families today all over India. Now we see such landmarks in the name of Patel, Shivaji, Savarkar, S P Mukerjee etc etc. The Left Front has built statues of Marx and Lenin. In Goa, we see demands for statue of Jack Sequeira by people who have otherwise cared very little about him or what he stood for. It is only vote bank politics. Political parties, their leaders and ideologues are not Gods and we should stop treating them as such. The days of Kings and Queens are over. Now we are all equals so let us stop this blind idolizing. Why should any special importance be given to political leaders and their ideologues who otherwise enjoy huge power and perks whenever they occupy office? They are there to serve us and govern us, not the other way around. There has to be a proper Pan Indian policy to manage public spaces and political parties should stop turning such spaces into their personal fiefdoms to promote their personal ideologies. Statue and landmark naming politics is basically divisive. One man’s leader is another man’s villain. Governments need to focus on good governance and keep public spaces open to all and free from divisive politics.
regards Sandeep Heble