Amit Shah unveils equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Gandhinagar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday unveiled a 21-foot-tall equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Gandhinagar, describing the Maratha warrior king as a timeless symbol of courage, self-rule and cultural pride.

The statue, constructed by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar, was inaugurated in the presence of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other dignitaries in the state capital Gandhinagar.

Addressing the gathering, Shah said the grand statue would inspire generations, particularly the youth, and will reaffirm Shivaji Maharaj’s enduring relevance in India’s national consciousness. He recalled that at the age of 16, Shivaji Maharaj took a solemn pledge at Raireshwar Temple in Raigad to establish ‘Hindavi Swaraj’ at a time when much of the country was under Mughal rule.

“In the deep darkness of slavery, when the idea of self-rule had nearly faded, Shivaji Maharaj resolved to fight for Swaraj, Swadharma and Swabhasha,” Shah said. He noted that despite having limited resources, no large army and facing formidable opposition, Shivaji Maharaj succeeded in laying the foundation of self-rule and was later coronated as Chhatrapati.

Shah highlighted Shivaji Maharaj’s resistance against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his efforts to protect pilgrimage sites and temples. Referring to the restoration of religious sites in recent years, Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken projects such as the redevelopment of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the restoration of the Somnath Temple, which he described as reflecting Shivaji Maharaj’s spirit of cultural resurgence.

The Union Minister also underscored Shivaji Maharaj’s naval vision, recalling his assertion that control of the seas was vital to sovereignty. Shah said the Narendra Modi government had honoured this legacy by removing colonial-era symbols from the flag of the Indian Navy.

He further noted that several prominent thinkers and poets, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo, had drawn inspiration from Shivaji Maharaj’s life and struggle. Shah said Shivaji Maharaj promoted Marathi and Sanskrit in administration and fostered a generation committed to self-rule and cultural pride.

“Within a century of his demise, the saffron flag he raised was seen flying across vast stretches of India. Today, guided by his values, India stands before the world in a radiant form,” Shah said.

The unveiling ceremony concluded with tributes to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy as a unifying force and an enduring inspiration in India’s journey toward national development.