August 24th 2024.
Rourkela, the bustling Steel City, was abuzz with excitement as the much-awaited statue of a hockey player was finally unveiled. Many believed it to be the legendary Major Dhyan Chand himself, and the spot was even named 'Dhyan Chand Square' with a road sign to mark its significance. The towering 40-foot statue was a symbol of pride for the city, especially with the 2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup just around the corner.
However, tragedy struck on June 11 of the same year, when the magnificent statue came crashing down. The news of this unfortunate event spread like wildfire, and the people of Rourkela were left shocked and disappointed. As demands for the statue's restoration grew louder, the Rourkela Municipal Corporation stepped in to assure the citizens that a new replica of the Hockey World Cup would soon take its place.
But amidst all this, the residents couldn't help but feel disheartened by the lack of attention and concern from the administration. The once-popular spot, which was once a favorite among photographers, now lay empty and unattractive. Srishti Das, a resident of Chhend, expressed her disappointment, saying, "I can't believe the administration is not taking any action to restore the statue. It was such a beautiful and iconic spot in our city."
To make matters worse, the investigation report on the "fall of the statue" never saw the light of the day. This raised suspicions and questions from the public, with former District Congress Committee president Rashmi Ranjan Padhi calling it a "big scam." He demanded to know the whereabouts of the report and what had happened to the statue. Shockingly, it was revealed that the fallen statue had been discarded and sold to a scrap dealer.
Padhi was quick to point out that the promise of a new replica was merely a cover-up for the administration's mistakes. Major Dhyan Chand's son, Ashok Kumar, who was part of the only World Cup-winning team in 1975, also expressed his disappointment. "Whether it was my father's statue or just a hockey player's, it is disheartening to see such negligence in the birthplace of the game," he said during his visit to Rourkela in June 2023.
The fallen statue was not just a monument, but a beloved spot for many in the city. A young girl, who had captured many cherished memories at the spot, shared her sadness, saying, "I used to make so many videos and reels there, and they would go viral. Now, the place just fills me with sorrow."
Thankfully, there is now a glimmer of hope for the citizens of Rourkela as Sudipta Nath, an official of Rourkela Municipal Corporation, announced that the new replica of the Hockey World Cup would be installed soon. This time, it would be made from a combination of aluminum and iron, and a Bhubaneswar-based agency has been hired for the project at a cost of Rs 16 lakh.
The people of Rourkela eagerly await the return of the beloved statue, hoping that it will once again become a popular and iconic spot in their city. As for the past events, it serves as a reminder to the administration that they must take better care of their monuments and preserve their history for future generations to enjoy.
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