The Almatti dam area, which have already become popular among visitors for its rock garden and Mughal garden, has now added one more attraction by installing statues replicating the historic Dandi March of 1930 led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British rule for imposing tax on salt.
Life-size statues of 11 freedom fighters marching behind Mahatma Gandhi were unveiled recently in the dam area recently. The project, implemented by Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL), is said to be the second of its kind after one at Kasturba Ashram in Arsikere in Hassan district.
The first one was unveiled in New Delhi in memory of the historic event that took place during the freedom struggle. Though the project has been implemented by the KBJNL, the idea was proposed by the Mahatma Gandhi Philosophical Youth Forum of Basavanabagewadi taluk. According to officials, it took around three months to complete the project, taken up Bengaluru-based artists led by Mahadev Badiger. As many as 12 artists of States helped implement the project.
Built at a cost of around ₹25 lakh, statues are made of cement and concrete but resemble bronze statues in their colour and presentation.
“The objective behind getting the project implemented is to spread awareness among today’s generation about the struggle of Mahatma Gandhi for the country’s freedom. We took the idea to the previous Water Resources Minister, M.B. Patil, the Basavanabagewadi MLA Shivanand Patil, and the then KBJNL managing director Anjum Parvez. They finally agreed for the project and today, we have this replica here,” said Nilesh Benal, founder of the forum.
Mr. Badiger expressed happiness with the chance of being part of the project.
