India inaugurated the world’s tallest statue on October 31, reports Reuters.
The 597-foot statue of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel-- a political leader celebrated for his pursuit of independence of India-- towers nearly twice the height of New York’s Statue of Liberty.
The structure in the western state of Gujarate, India, is the world's tallest statue. The previous record holder was the Spring Temple Buddha in China, which is 420 feet tall.
“Patel wanted India to be a forceful, strong, sensitive, vigilant and accommodative nation, and we’re working toward that,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the ceremony.
Sardar Patel integrated and unified India, in letter and spirit.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 31, 2018
He was clear that after 15th August 1947, India would never be bound by the chains of colonialism. pic.twitter.com/tZVWiaI8H9
Depicting the bald Patel in traditional attire, with a shawl over the shoulders, the statue used 210,000 cubic meters of cement, 25,000 tonnes of steel and 1,700 tonnes of bronze.
The “Statue of Unity” weighs about 67,000 tones and has been built to withstand major earthquakes as well as heavy winds.
