Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Majestic statue lies sprawling on floor

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI May 10. After over 150 days of suspense, the AIADMK Government allowed a `darshan' of Kannagi, icon of feminine valour, at the Museum complex at Egmore here today.

It was a brief 20-minute `darshan'.

As the Education Minister, M.Thambi Durai, and lensmen gazed excitedly, the iron gates of the Pantheon gallery of the museum clanked open at 9 a.m sharp. And, the statue was found lying flat on the dusty floor there.

Indeed, the 10-feet bronze statue, which kicked off a political furore after it was mysteriously removed from the Marina beach five months ago, looked ``intact and safe".

There is no visible crack on the hollow cast bronze statue, but just the non-corrosive paint on the cheek has peeled off a bit and the cement base was a little damaged.

However, the majestic statue lay sprawling right at the feet of one of the most-hated British generals in pre-Independence India, James George Smith Neil, who ruthlessly put down a rebellion in Bengal. Neil's statue was shifted to the museum in 1940s after a public outcry over its presence on the busy Mount Road.

According to Museum officials, a cursory examination showed that the statue made of several pieces of mould ``is intact''. But, only a ``thorough X-ray examination'' would reveal internal cracks, if any.

However, the Minister, said the ``statue is perfectly fine'' and could be reinstalled after a Madras High Court directive was received.

The PWD Minister, O.Paneerselvam, told the Assembly yesterday that the high-level committee had suggested three alternative sites on the Marina for relocating the statue, and the Government was awaiting the court's verdict.

Opposing the sudden removal of the statue installed in 1968 during the DMK regime, the party moved the court for re-erection of the 34-year-old statue at the same site on the Marina.

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