‘Budhbhushan Creator’ Chhatrapati’s Statue Stands Tall – Tribute to a Struggle
Pune | 26.5 | Rayat Samachar
(Cultural Politics) Four members of the Sambhaji Brigade who removed the statue of playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari from Sambhaji Garden in Pune were felicitated at a grand civic ceremony. The protestors had alleged that Gadkari’s play Rajsanyas portrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj inaccurately and in a defamatory manner. The four activists – Harshvardhan Magdum, Pradeep Kanse, Swapnil Kale, and Ganesh Karle – were honored by Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati with a symbolic statue of Shambhuraje.
Speakers at the event said that due to the activists’ bold protest, a grand full-sized statue of Budhbhushan creator Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj now stands prominently in Sambhaji Garden.
(Cultural Politics) What was the historical protest?
On January 23, 1962, a bronze bust of Ram Ganesh Gadkari was installed in Sambhaji Garden by P. K. Atre. However, the Sambhaji Brigade alleged that Gadkari’s play Rajsanyas misrepresented Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by depicting him as immoral and indulgent, thereby distorting history. After pursuing removal of the statue through the municipal administration for eight years without success, four young activists allegedly entered Sambhaji Garden on January 2, 2017, and removed Gadkari’s statue, immersing it in the nearby Mutha River. The incident sparked statewide discussion.
(Cultural Politics) “Because of Their Struggle, Shambhuraje Found a Place”
During the ceremony, speakers stated that the four activists acted fearlessly, despite possible legal consequences and arrest, to uphold the dignity of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. They argued that without this protest, the installation of the Budhbhushan statue in Sambhaji Garden may not have become possible.
A grand public event celebrating this symbolic victory was held in Pune, where the four activists were felicitated with applause and slogans of “Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Ki Jai.”
Former MLA Anil Bapu Bhosale, Ravindra Anna Malvadkar, former corporator Balasaheb Bodke, former Additional Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Molak, and Deeptitai Chaudhary were also honored for their contributions to the statue installation.
The event was attended by Pravin Gaikwad, Manoj Akhare, Rajendra Kondhare, Saurabh Khedekar, Navnath Ghadge, Vikas Pasalkar, Madhukar Mehkare, and office bearers and workers from several organizations in large numbers.
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