Chennai (AsiaNews) A seven-metre (22 ft) statue of Pope John Paul II was unveiled yesterday at the Besant Nagar mission in Chennai, southern India, to mark the first anniversary of his death.
The statue is the work of Shihan Hussaini, a famous sculptor from Tamil Nadu, author of other statues depicting Kalpana Chawla, the capture of the outlaw Veerappans and the imprisonment of Shankaracharya Jeyandra Saraswa.
For Hussaini, the statue "represents a personal tribute and thanksgiving to John Paul II who saved my life three times."
As black belt and a showman, he pulled several stunts such as setting himself on fire, cobra bites and breaking heavy rods with his chest. "Several times my life was in danger and the Pope's miracles probably saved it".
John Paul II's statue is in bronze with reinforced metal fibre and concrete. It shows the late Pontiff at the top of three large steps, "which represents the three phases of the Pope's life: the first as Karol Wojtyła, the second as John Paul II and the third, on a path to sainthood."
From the three large steps, another 26 begin, one for each year of his pontificate. The Pope blesses the world with his right hand and with the left holds a cross with a terrestrial globe on top from which a dove takes off.
Commemorations are taking place elsewhere in India as well. In New Delhi, people from different religions gathered at the Vishwa Shanti Sammelan to remember "the activities of the great Pope during his pontificate".
Minorities Minister A. R. Antulay said at the meeting that John Paul II was "the embodiment of peace and brought together all human virtues."