How much is too much ?

Mayawati, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, our most populous state, has installed 40 statues — including six of herself (3 ready and 3 in preparation), and 60 marble elephants — the symbol of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) — since 2007, when she won her fourth term as chief minister. (Link)

Sources indicate that in keeping with inscriptions found on old statues, she has also ordered laudatory inscriptions carved in a circular manner all around the base. Rumors indicate that, many of the rural artisans doing this work, are themselves illiterate.

Reports from the field say, that ever since it was ordered that the bodies of the concrete elephants also display inspirational inscriptions, the artisans have followed a go slow policy.

While the Supreme court has summoned Mayawati and her state government in this case, the artisans are worried about a Rs 2 million, modern, state of the art (?) police station that has come up at the entrance to the park housing the elephants.

(This post inspired by this.....)