Installing larger than life statues of VIP’s after their death or when they ares still alive is a favorite game plan of Indians – a legacy from the British Raj . Most of these statues get neglected during the year and gets a face lift when their birth or death anniversary is celebrated . These statues are generally located in road junctions , in front of public buildings or in public parks . This act of respect and reverence to popular leaders and great scientists or kings is generally treated as an innocent act of hero worship and the general public hardly takes notice of such statues except when there is a public function based on the statue which at times bring a busy traffic to a grinding halt !
Mayavati , the Chief Minister of the largest state in India brought this game up to a different level when she went on a statue erection spree spending public money unabashedly and put her statue along with that of her political mentor late Kanshiram all over the state . Following this , she also erected statues of Elephants – her party’s election symbol wherever she could find a place in the state .
No one took any action except condemning the act once in awhile in public forum but Mayavati bashed on regardless. Now suddenly , the election commission of India has ordered covering up all such statues till the mid term polls to the state assembly seats vacant are over in January 2012. Naturally , Mayvati is angry and calls it unfair .
The psyche of Mayavati’s supporters are well known and therefore it is to be seen if this action by the Election Commission of India ,though praiseworthy, could well be to the advantage of Mayavati ? . Let us also remember Mayavati is not a STATUE !