Our state may have evolved politically over several decades on a plank of rationalism that included protests against all idolatry, but putting up statues has always been considered outside of this principle. The end result is that we are a state of statues, there being one in practically every open space and street corner. These can be religious, political, and of the religio-political variety. The last named comprises statues whose erection and veneration are meant for vote garnering. The latest move in this aspect by the State Government shows that this is a new regime with all the old thought processes intact.
A couple of months ago, the State Government approached the University of Madras for permission to build a memorial complex for five iconic personalities on the Union Cricket Ground at Chetpet. The persons to be so honoured are Rani Velu Nachiyar, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, Anjalai Ammal and K. Kamaraj. The estimated cost of the memorial will be Rs 5 crores. The move has met with considerable opposition from the University teachers, alumni and present students. The Government, it is said, is mulling over the matter.
The first aspect to be considered is – do we need a memorial complex at all? Periyar, Ambedkar and Kamaraj have plenty of statues in their honour. In addition, we have memorials for at least two – Ambedkar and Kamaraj at assigned places elsewhere in the city. Why then do we need further memorials to them? A casual visit to similar spaces in honour of martyrs to various causes, that have been put up in our city, will reveal that almost none of them see any footfalls except on special days of the year. Most of them are also in very poor states of upkeep. The land surrounding these are repeatedly eyed for other development, often destroying the vistas that they were meant to be housed in. In short, in a city like ours where pressure on public spaces is immense, memorials are impractical.
The second aspect concerns sports facilities for the students of the University of Madras. Not many may be aware that the Union Cricket Ground at Chetpet is the only such sports space that our historic university can truly claim as its own. The rest are all owned by the various colleges in their individual capacity. It was in 1932 that the Union of the University was formed and the same year these eight acres that comprise the cricket ground were given. Since then, this venue has seen many cricket matches happen at league level, apart from other sports events. Its upkeep may not be up to the mark but that can be no excuse for considering alternate use for the space.
Happily, for the ground, there has been a wave of protest against the proposed move. University officials have themselves represented for the abandoning of the plan. In addition, teachers of the physical education departments in various institutions have presented a petition. The alumni of the University of Madras too have expressed their disappointment over such a move.
It is high time the party in power realizes that taking over of public spaces is not something that can be done with impunity. It must be recalled that a similar attempt several years ago to convert the Queen Mary’s College campus into a site for the proposed secretariat backfired on the then government. Another realization that must sink in is that statues, memorials and monuments are passe. What is needed are facilities and amenities for building a healthier nation. What better way for this than nurturing a sports ground?