The incident reported from Gumla district in Jharkhand concerns not only a damaged statue but also the efforts of the mother of a soldier who lost his life serving the country and had to step forward to ensure that his memory was restored. After the statue of martyr Santosh Oraon in Chapka, under Ghaghra block, was damaged, no concrete initiative was taken to restore it for nearly a month. Eventually, the martyr’s mother, Geeta Devi, ended the wait and had the statue reinstalled at her own expense.
Santosh Oraon had sacrificed his life for the country. A statue was installed in Chapka in his memory as a symbol of his sacrifice and a mark of respect for local residents. After the statue was damaged, however, it remained on the ground for nearly a month. During this period, local residents questioned the role of the administration and elected representatives and demanded that the statue of the martyr be restored at the earliest and with due respect.
The responsibility that was expected of those associated with the administration and public representation ultimately had to be taken up by the martyr’s mother herself. Geeta Devi paid for the statue’s reinstallation from her own resources. For a mother, there could be no greater pain than seeing the statue commemorating a son who gave his life for the country lying broken and neglected for an extended period, while she herself had to take the initiative to have it restored respectfully.
There was also local resentment after news of the damaged statue emerged. Residents said that a martyr’s statue is not an ordinary monument. It commemorates the sacrifice of a person who devoted his life to the country and society. Allowing such a memorial to remain damaged for an extended period therefore becomes an issue concerning respect for the martyr, beyond a matter of maintenance.
Local residents also questioned who is responsible for maintaining the martyr’s statue. They asked why the administration and elected representatives did not take concrete steps in time to repair or reinstall it after it was damaged. The resentment was also linked to the fact that every year on the martyr’s death anniversary, officials, elected representatives and leaders of various political parties visit the site to pay tribute. Residents said that ensuring the statue is maintained before paying tribute is also part of the responsibility of those concerned.
