Sonia Gandhi, who captured the nation’s imagination by refusing to become prime minister, has, according to some, attained “sainthood” by her act of renunciation. Which is perhaps why some admirers are planning to build a temple dedicated to her at Ramtek, near Nagpur, according to a report in The Hindustan Times.

The Sonia Gandhi Vichar Prasar Kendra will build the temple –– and though the ‘Sonia Mandir’ is to be a monument to her school of thought, it will not stop short of deifying her, the report said.

Sonia’s sculpture will adorn the Stupa-like central hall, prayer halls for different religions will drive home her message of secularism. Busts of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, his daughter and Sonia’s mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, Sonia’s husband Rajiv Gandhi, and Mahatma Gandhi will also be on display. Plaques recounting Sonia Gandhi’s speeches, her pictures and achievements are expected to adorn the edifice, the report said.

‘Sonia Mandir’ has been conceived by Sandip Agrawal, convenor of the newly formed Kendra. Agrawal, who is the vice president of Maharashtra Congress Farmers and Farm Labor cell, admits he has for a long time now nurtured the idea of paying homage to the thoughts and principles of the Congress Party.

“However, Soniaji’s unprecedented act of sacrifice recently prompted me to convert the monument into a Sonia temple,” he is quoted as saying in the report.

According to Agrawal, the Congress leader’s decision to turn down the top job in the country is without parallel in a day and age when politicians are willing to do anything for the smallest benefit.

(Compiled from news reports by Charles Isaac)