Patna: The state government plans to build a Bapu Tower in Patna to spread Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. The height has not been decided yet, but it would be the tallest in the state, sources said.
During the Bihar Diwas function last week, chief minister Nitish Kumar had announced that his government would build a Bapu Tower. The building construction department has been given the task.
"The project for construction of Bapu Tower is in a nascent stage," a senior official of the department said on condition of anonymity. "Our department has been asked to prepare the tower's detailed project report and design. The department is also looking for a place where it will come up."
As of now, the Gautam Buddha statue at Bodhgaya is the tallest in the state at 80ft and the Biscomaun Tower in Patna the tallest building at 233 ft. The Qutb Minar in Delhi is 239.5ft high and the Shaheed Minar in Calcutta 157ft high.
Sources said the Bapu Tower will be built either near Bapu Sabhagar or near Sadaquat Ashram. There'll also be a laser show to highlight Bapu's teachings. "It's been observed that schoolchildren are still unaware of Gandhi's contribution to society and his role in the freedom struggle," Nitish had said at the Bihar Diwas inaugural function on March 22, when he first spoke of the tower. "The Bapu tower will have teachings of Mahatma Gandhi so that children can learn about his teachings. Also, plaques will be added, recalling various movements Gandhi led during the freedom struggle. Gandhi's quotes will be written on the plaques."
The Mahatma Gandhi statue at Patna's Gandhi Maidan is the tallest Gandhi statue in the country at 70ft.
The state government has also decided to develop places associated with Mahatma Gandhi in West and East Champaran and Muzaffarpur.
Director, mass education, VN Jha, said: "The education department has decided to build a Mahatma Gandhi statue at L.S. College in Muzaffarpur. A statue of Kasturba Gandhi will be constructed at Bhitiharwa Ashram, Champaran."
During the Champaran Satyagrah, Gandhiji had addressed a public meeting at LS College while Kasturba had opened a school to educate children of indigo planters at Bhitiharwa Ashram.
