Shivaji and Mother; Meera at the Zoo

In Mumbai, we had visited the Jijamata Gardens and Zoo (Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udhyan – PraNisangrahalay) named after Shivaji’s mother who had a positive and lasting influence on a young Shivaji. Mumbai’s premier Museum and International Airport are also named after Shivaji. We have all seen many statues of Shivaji, but this one was unique. The mother grooming and sending her son away, as if to go play, but fight for our beliefs and way of life.

I wish it was placed on a lower pedestal, so we could enjoy it better and it would appear that the young Shivaji was going to join other kids in the garden.

Meera loved the animals in the zoo. She seems mesmerized by the variety of birds. Even at home, every time she spies one in the distance, she points to it.

Before leaving, I had taken a pic of the plaque below the statue. In preparing this post, I noticed that the sculptor was a Vithal Shanbhag Whoa! Shanbhag’s are generationally book worms. Atmost lift a pen, peck at a keyboard or squeeze a camera trigger. Sculpting? He definitely got those genes from his mother. Great job Vithal, you make us proud.

Previous Meera Posts:

• Meera Turns One
• Meera in Red
• Meera @ Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum, Mumbai
• Meera tames Wild Animals at the Kala Ghoda Festival
• Meera visits the Harvard Museum of Natural History

Meera is mesmerized by birds

Meera is fascinated by the deer in the zoo

Drawn by the birds

Meera gets so excited by the birds in the cage she nearly jumps out of M’s hands

Mother Jijabai grooming Shivaji; at Jijamata Zoo Ranibaug

Jijabai Bhosle and Shivaji statue sculpted by Vithal Shanbhag