Israel announces plan to install grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Jewish nation, Maharashtra govt to extend complete support

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Israel CG Yaniv Revach (Image via X/ani)

Israel has announced plans to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the country as a symbol of friendship and growing cultural ties between India and Israel. The announcement was made by Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach, on Saturday, 6th June, on the occasion of Shiv Rajyabhishek Din.

Speaking about the project, Revach began by extending greetings to the people of India on the coronation anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He said that after arriving in India a few months ago, he noticed several similarities between the histories of India and Israel, particularly the struggles both nations faced in protecting their homeland and identity.

Inspired by shared history

“First, I should greet the Indian people; today is the coronation day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and I need to greet the Indian people on this occasion. Now, when I came to India a few months ago, I learnt about the similarities between India and Israel,” Revach said.

He explained that both countries have a long history of fighting to secure and defend their land. According to him, this shared experience led Israel to choose Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a figure worthy of honour.

“The fact that both nations had to fight is significant. The Jews also had to fight for their land for many, many decades. And we understand exactly what the influence is and how important Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is to India as well,” he said.

Revach added that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jerusalem, efforts were made to deepen ties between the two countries in several fields, including history and culture. “One of the aspects we focused on was the history of our two nations. And that is why we chose Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.

Maharashtra government welcomes proposal

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the announcement and thanked Israel for deciding to honour Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in such a meaningful way. In a post on X, he said, “This is huge news! On the auspicious occasion of Shiv Rajyabhishek din, heartfelt thanks to Israel CG Yaniv Revach for this historic announcement of installing a grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Israel. Maharashtra Govt will extend complete support for this historic initiative. Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji!” 

A symbol of India-Israel friendship

The Israeli diplomat said the plan is to build a large statue of Shivaji Maharaj and install it in one of Israel’s major cities. He believes the monument will become a long-term symbol of friendship between the people of both countries.

“So the idea was to build a big statue of the Maharaj and send it to Israel. So it would be more than just a regular project; it would be a long-term project. And this project will also connect the Indian people with the Israeli people,” he said.

Revach revealed that he had already discussed the proposal with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought the state government’s support. “Of course, he gave us his blessing immediately, and he will provide us all of the support that we’ll need,” he said.

Once completed, the statue is expected to stand as a lasting symbol of the growing friendship between India and Israel, reflecting not only diplomatic cooperation but also the shared values and historical experiences of the two nations.

Written by OpIndia Staff
Last modified at