Artists from Odisha working on Shaktiman’s statue

Sandeep Rawat

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Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 27

A statue of Shaktiman, the deceased Uttarakhand Police horse who died last month, is currently being made in Haridwar.

Shaktiman died when his leg was broken allegedly by BJP Mussoorie legislator Ganesh Joshi during a march towards the state Assembly.

Artisans from Odisha are working to give the final touches to the statue at Bhoopatwala-based Parida Moorti Kala Kendra.

The statue is being made at a cost of more than Rs 6 lakh. Glass fiber and other material of high quality are being used to ensure the statue can bear heat, rain and cold. It will be installed at Rispana bridge near Dharampur in Dehradun.

Saint Brahamswarup Brahamchari of Jai Ram Ashram, who is also an office-bearer of the Pradesh Congress Committee, had ordered the statue to pay tribute to the deceased horse.

The father-son artist duo from Odisha, Kali Charan Parida and Fakir Charan of the Parida Moorti Kala Kendra, said since the past few weeks, they had been making the statue and it would be over by early next week.

“Brahamswaup Brahamchari wanted to pay tribute to Shaktiman, who died during duty hours and has been credited with the status of a martyr. We are making sure that the bravery and courage of the horse gets reflected in the statue. Every part of the statue is being given additional timing, with four other artisans involved in the making,” said Kali Charan.

The artists have made hundreds of statues till date, with one being installed at Parliament House, New Delhi.

Kali Charan said they had made a statue of Maharana Pratap in Haridwar only, which has now been put up at Parliament House.

Senior Congress leader Poonam Bhagat appreciated the initiative of Brahamswarup Brahamchari. She said Shaktiman was now a part of the Police Bravery Act and his statue would be a place to offer tributes as well as take inspiration to do one’s work diligently.