First Kalidasa statue in China unveiled in Shanghai

BEIJING: China's first statue of Kalidasa was unveiled on Thursday at the prestigious Shanghai Theatre Academy in the eastern Chinese metropolis.

The bust size bronze statue of Kalidasa is one of the 19 statues of world renowned literary luminaries that are proposed to be installed.

Kalidasa's bust is the first to grace the place and the only literary figure from Asia to have been accorded the honour, official sources said.

The neighbourhood of the academy is being developed as a cultural and artistic hub and would be re-christened as 'Shanghai Theatre Way' once the project is completed.

Kalidasa's masterpiece Shakuntala, had been staged in Shanghai to critical acclaim.

Speaking on the occasion, Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai's Jing An District, Gong De Qing hailed Kalidasa as one of the greatest Indian poet-dramatist.

Gong pointed to centuries old and mutually enriching India-China cultural linkages, and called for deepening them further.

He thanked the Consulate General of India, for supporting his government's initiative, official sources said.

Consul General of India, Vishnu Prakash said that India was privileged to be Shanghai's partner in building bridges of friendship and cultural understanding.

Prakash described Kalidasa as a pre-eminent poet of love. His skillful characterisation of the human and the divine, the inane and the sublime, with consummate delicacy, had few parallels.

"By honouring him, the people and leaders of Shanghai had made a profound statement that literature and literary figures, were the common heritage of the mankind," Prakash said.

The function was attended by a number of city leaders including, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Commission for friendship with International cities, Wu Jin Lan, Mayor of Shanghai's Jing An District, Zhang Renliang, President of Shanghai Theatre Academy, Han Sheng, Chinese officials, artists, media representatives and members of the Indian Community.