GD Topic: Statue of Unity - Symbol of Pride or Wastage of Public Money?

Ever since its construction began near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, the Statue of Unity has garnered strong reactions from all quarters. Let's explore it as a GD topic.

By Aritro Dasgupta

This article was first published on August 26, 2019

Current affairs topics are quite common for being posed for GDs. Whatever the GD topic, one needs to steer clear from controversial matters. In this series of articles, we explore certain topics which are quite likely to be given as topics in the GD rounds at the top MBA colleges in India this year. These are all based around the most important of topics centres around business, economy and society. One such hot topic of debate is the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, now located in India. Ever since its construction began near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, it has garnered strong reactions from all quarters over the expenditure on it. Like almost any other topic, this too can be answered in either For or Against motion. Let us explore each option:

GD Topic: Statue of Unity - Symbol of Pride or Wastage of Public Money?

For the Motion

There are several points to justify this spending as a symbol of pride, as explained under the following bullet points:

1. World over, people will be reading about the highest statue being in India. This is a massive symbol of pride.
2. It is also a major statement of respect paid to one of the greatest architects to India’s nation building process. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was in many ways responsible for the creation of modern India, as we know the country. This statue restores his place in the pantheon of greats.
3. In the long run, there will be massive tourism potential to the surrounding area, as people from far and wide, both within and outside the country would be able to visit the place. In the era of Social Media and Instagram, what better place to click a selfie than right under the world’s tallest statue!
4. A lot of employment was generated during the building of this monument, especially among skilled construction workers, stone masons and architects.
5. Over a period of time, more such employment will be generated once the entire complex is well- developed. A museum dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the entire Freedom Movement, plus the usual souvenir shops will do a lot to develop this place.
6. The construction of this monument has been strategically placed to also ensure better distribution of wealth. The Statue of Unity could have been constructed in any of the commercial hubs, but it was done in the Narmada district, one of the most backward ones in Gujarat. As a result, now the returns from this mega-project will over time trickle down to the hinterland.

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Against the Motion

A number of points also go against this topic, as elucidated below:

1. There is an enormous cost to this project which could have been used elsewhere. Large parts of the country are reeling under climate-change induced disasters, the funds diverted there would have been of far greater use to all. Health, sanitation, environment, education and safety could be various other areas to invest in.
2. There are other ways of showing respect to the icons of this nation such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Several older monuments lie in disrepair and in much need of a facelift. Greater awareness too could be spread from primary-level onwards on the contribution these stalwarts played towards the nation-building of India.
3. The high petrol prices in India, at a time when global crude oil prices were in control, could also be attributed to the loans procured from PSU oil companies towards funding this venture. Oil being so fundamental to any economy, its price rise, automatically leads to several economic complications.
4. The tourism potential will need a lot of time to be realised as the area is under-developed in terms of connectivity and infrastructure. A lot needs to be done to make the area a tourism hub, such as building of roads, hotels and regular train links to the bigger cities. That will cost even more to the exchequer.
5. This development in turn, will create major environmental hazards, many of which were already created during the initial construction of the statue. Swathes of green verge were cleared in order to make space.
6. The human impact has also been hard. A number of tribal people were evicted from their land, in order to build the Statue of Unity. These people’s rehabilitation efforts are not yet clear.

The main lesson we draw from the above points of this GD topic is that both viewpoints are perfectly fine, as long as the backing evidence is provided. Supporting examples need also to be drawn up. To prove one’s point, citing of data released by credible sources. is the best way of making one’s point. Indexes and ranks released by government bodies, present a highly credible and scientific justification for the points sought. The key is not to get too emotional. One does not earn brownie points for shouting the most. Instead, one has to work on the 4 Cs of Group Discussions-Content, Collaboration, Communications and Clarity.

About the Author:

Aritro Dasgupta is a Teacher, Trainer and Content Writer. He has taught at several leading colleges and coaching institutes in both India and the UAE. Several of his students have finished in the top 10 of various national level exams such as CLAT, AILET and DUJAT. He is also a prolific content writer, having written for several leading publications in India, while currently, also working for one in the USA.

 

 

 

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