Nagpur: Sir Kasturchand Daga is back at Kingsway. The white marble statue of the early 20th century business magnate that stood near Kasturchand Park for 96 years was shattered due to a fierce squall in April last year. The ground gets the name from him.
By sheer coincidence, work on the statue began in 1918-19 when the world was under the grip of Spanish flu. And it fell when the Covid-19 pandemic had begun. The statue was installed at the site in 1924.
Ten months after the incident, even as the pandemic is yet to be overcome completely, a new statue has been readied by Daga’s descendants. The Daga family continues to be among the known business families of the region.
Daga’s firm M/s Bansilal Abirchand ran a successful banking business extending up to today’s Pakistan and Rangoon in erstwhile Burma. A known philanthropist, Daga is also known as the pioneer of coal and manganese mining in the region.
The statue was dedicated after Daga’s death by his business partner Manek Dadabhoy. It was inaugurated by the governor of erstwhile CP & Berar province Sir Frank Sly. The old statute was built by GK Mahatre, a noted sculptor in erstwhile Bombay.
“The new statue is covered now but will be unveiled soon,” said Govind, one of Daga’s descendants.
Govind said the family made an arrangement with the district administration that it will remake the statue while the latter will maintain the precincts.
“The statue was made by an artisan in Jaipur. It was a tough task to get the original facial expressions in the new statute. It could happen only after repeated attempts,” said Govind. “My sister Suman Rathi and her daughter Aditi monitored the work due to which the original features could be retained.”
The family took the pieces which helped in making the new statue. Another statue has been made out of the pieces which will be installed in the family’s land near the city.
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