Statue of Maratha King Shivaji unveiled at Pangong Tso
A statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji has been installed on the banks of Pangong Tso, a 135-kilometer glacial lake located on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. The lake, which lies divided between India and China, is a strategic location and has seen significant military activity in the past.
The statue was inaugurated on December 26 at an altitude of 14,300 feet by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, the head of the Leh-based 14 Corps of the Indian Army. The Indian Army posted on X (formerly Twitter) stating that the “majestic statue” serves as a towering symbol of “valour, vision, and unwavering justice.” Lt Gen Bhalla, who also serves as the Colonel of The Maratha Light Infantry, a regiment associated with the Maratha legacy, marked the occasion by honoring the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji, whose leadership continues to inspire generations.
The unveiling of the statue highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen India’s symbolic presence in strategically significant locations like Pangong Tso, which has been a site of historical and contemporary military importance. Notably, the northern bank of the lake saw intense fighting during the 1962 India-China war, where Major Dhan Singh Thapa was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery.
This installation comes amid recent developments involving Pangong Tso in the Indian Army’s visual representations. Earlier this month, a painting of the ‘Surrender at Dhaka’ was replaced in the office of the Indian Army Chief with a new artwork depicting tanks operating near Pangong Tso, alongside figures of Lord Krishna and Chanakya, symbolizing India’s strategic military vision. The area has also witnessed tensions, with both Indian and Chinese troops engaged in confrontations over routes to the northern bank of the lake. The statue serves as a reminder to safeguard Indias’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
