Ahilyabai's thoughts more important than statues: Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari said decisions are often driven by sentiment. File Pic

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has rued the lack of efforts in transforming society by prioritising Ahilyabai Holkar's thoughts and called for a rational approach, as he pointed out sentimentality in demands for building statues of historical personalities and renaming cities.

Gadkari highlighted that he was not against erecting statues and changing the names of cities. The BJP MP on Sunday highlighted the importance of Holkar's vision, reported PTI.

Addressing an event in Nagpur marking the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, Gadkari said, "We erect statues, but do we listen to the thoughts of that great personality," reported PTI.

Ahilyabai Holkar propagated social and economic equality across castes, religions and genders, the minister said.

"Those were her thoughts. We pay respect to great historical personalities. However, we lose direction and end up erecting only statues and changing the names of cities. I am not against it. But there has been no effort to prioritise taking society forward through Ahilyabai's thoughts, which were the foundation of her life and work," Gadkari said, reported news agency PTI.

Notably, Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra had been renamed Ahilyanagar following the central nod to the Maharashtra government's proposal.

Gadkari said decisions are often driven by sentiment.

"Sometimes we get sentimental rather than rational. Erecting statues is acceptable, but do we take the thought process of that person forward? If we erect a statue today, nobody will go to offer a garland to the same statue after ten years," he said.

He said leadership, work and contributions of historical figures must be brought to the wider society to bring about real change.

"The movement gets exhausted in making demands for statues and name changes," Gadkari added, reported PTI.

He said the real question before us is how to take Holkar's thoughts to the maximum number of people.

"How will people benefit from her ideas and achieve social and economic upliftment? How can her thoughts help transform society and create new Ahilyabais? These things are not being prioritised," the minister said.

He also called for moving beyond caste associations with historical leaders.

"We cannot restrict great leaders to their caste. Babasaheb Ambedkar is not only for Dalits, Jyotirao Phule is not limited to Malis, and Ahilyabai Holkar is not only for Dhangars," Gadkari said.

"When we visit a restaurant, we visit it because of the taste (of food), not because of the caste of the owner," he quipped.

(With inputs from PTI)