Stolen San Jose Statue Fetches Dollar 800: In a bizarre twist of events, the saga of the stolen statue in San Jose took a surreal turn when a reporter discovered it in a scrapyard. The statue, depicting the 1600s-era Indian political figure Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had been gifted to San Jose as part of a sister city program with Pune in 1999. However, the statue met an unfortunate fate when it was stolen in January and later found next to a Coca-Cola machine in a scrapyard.
The reporter’s discovery shed light on the statue’s diminished value as scrap metal, estimated to be only a few hundred dollars, contrasting sharply with the estimated cost of $100,000 for its restoration. The statue, sawed off at the feet, was no longer intact, presenting a challenge for the city’s decision-makers.
The San Jose-Pune sister city group, responsible for the statue’s upkeep, faced financial constraints in re-erecting it. The dilemma prompted discussions about alternative, more cost-effective ways to honor the sister city relationship. Despite the setback, city officials expressed openness to exploring future opportunities for commemorating the bond between San Jose and Pune.
This incident isn’t the first time the statue faced adversity. In 1999, shortly after its transfer to the city, the statue was stolen from the garage of Suneel Kelkar, president of the San Jose-Pune sister city organization. Thieves disposed of it on a San Jose trail, but it was eventually recovered after repairs costing $1,500. The recent theft adds another chapter to the statue’s tumultuous history, leaving the city grappling with how to navigate its future in light of financial constraints.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Which Indian statue was stolen in San Jose?
The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a 17th-century Indian leader, was taken from Guadalupe River Park in January. The statue was installed over 20 years ago as a symbol of friendship between San Jose and Pune, the ninth-largest city in India. The theft of this statue has caused concern and disappointment among those who value the relationship between these sister cities.
What is the famous statue in San Jose?
In 1988, a statue of Captain Thomas Fallon was commissioned to commemorate the raising of the U.S. flag in San Jose back in 1846. At that time, California was still under Mexican rule. However, the statue’s installation in 1990 was met with a heated debate, causing quite a stir.