Vikramaditya to follow Shivaji in statue hub Lucknow University

LUCKNOW: The executive council (EC) of Lucknow University (LU) on Monday approved the proposal to install a life-size statue of King Vikramaditya, believed to be the chief architect of Vikram Samvat, popularly known as Hindu calendar, in the university. This will be second statue of a Hindu king to be installed in LU. Earlier, a life-size statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was installed in 2016.
The proposal for the statue was mooted by the Nav Varsh Chetna Samiti (NVCS), an organization which has been demanding since long to make Vikram Samvat the national calendar of India.
LU registrar SK Shukla said the organization has requested the university to allot a piece of land for the installation of the statute. “After EC’s approval, now we will arrange a suitable place for the statue,” he said.
NVCS president Dr Girish Gupta thanked the university for the decision. “Now, we will finalize the sculptor, material and the size of the statue to be set up on LU campus.”
Dr Gupta claimed that King Vikramaditya ruled a large swathe in India with Ujjain as his capital, and his empire extended till Iran. “Known for his generosity and courage,” the King gave us the most scientific calendar — Vikram Samvat — which Hindus use from birth till death. However, many are not aware of his contribution and some even call him fictional,” he said.
A section of historians say that there are no archival or archaeological evidences to substantiate that King Vikramaditya of Ujjain actually existed.
The NVCS was established in 2009 to popularise King Vikramaditya and his work by organising seminars in educational institutions.
The body was also instrumental in getting a postal stamp released on Vikramaditya. It is also demanding incorporating the teaching of his life and contribution in history curriculum in schools and higher education.