Many argued where crores of money can be spent in building the statue little could have been spent to get the translations right. (Source: Twitter) Many argued where crores of money can be spent in building the statue little could have been spent to get the translations right. (Source: Twitter)

The world’s tallest statue, the ‘Statue of Unity’, may have made headlines globally, but one group of people were quite miffed. Tamilians were upset – not with the statue – but a signboard that reportedly featured the name of the statue in several languages. They claimed the Tamil translation of ‘Statue of Unity’ was just ‘gibberish’. The signboard was not to be found during the inauguration on Wednesday.

However, a top official from the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam said that the picture of the signboard featuring the Tamil text was fake. They said no such signage was present at the site or had been pulled down.

“The viral image of the erroneous Tamil translation of the Statue of Unity is a mischievous attempt by someone to tarnish the event that is a grand tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The actual signboard is that of the statue with its logo, stating that is a government of India project,” the official said.

“Neither was there a plan earlier nor will it be in the near future to have signboards in foreign languages as indicated in the pictures. We are not expecting foreign tourists, especially from Russia and Europe. If at all such signboard, it would be in all Indian languages to signify unity of India,” the official said.

On Twitter, however, many criticised the alleged signboard:

Spent around 3000 crores but 0 on language translation. #ஸ்டேட்டுக்கேஒப்பியூனிட்டி feeling shame on Government for wrong Tamil translation #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/FupTEwgzk6 — Soundar (@soundarselvam) October 31, 2018

#StatueOfUnity not being unity to South.. once again ignored..no single South language even though tamil translation is wrong… gave more important to foreign language than to regional languages.. pic.twitter.com/iSCgqkvz63 — nikhilesh (@Nikhi_Siripuram) October 31, 2018

It’s a grand honour for our ironman. Great achievement in uniting every part of India thru iron and soil for this. Yet, the translation, especially in Tamil, of the “Statue of Unity” is pathetic. Please intervene and set it proper, @narendramodi Ji pic.twitter.com/zsbPyotCDu — ArunPrabu C H 🇮🇳 (@arunprabu_ch) October 31, 2018

The tamil translation of the word ‘Statue of Unity’ had been done badly. It should be corrected in the board kept at the site of the status as, ‘ஒற்றுமை சிலை’ or ‘ஒருமைப்பாடு சிலை’. Will PM take note of it and get it corrected? — Dr.V.R.Krishnan (@drvrk) October 31, 2018

Tamil translation of ‘Statue of Unity’ turns to be Gibberish. Even the Google translation would have helped a great deal in this. #StatueOfUnity pic.twitter.com/TgJlN8NYg2 — Anand Dave (@AndyDave171) October 31, 2018

Trust us to mess up the details. The statue of unity ‘translation’ in Tamil is the pits. Am sure a professional could have been consulted — bhatnaturally  (@bhatnaturally) October 31, 2018

The 182-metre high statue was inaugurated Wednesday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The article has been updated to include the statement by officials on the image that was shared widely on social media.

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