A small village in Punjab, India, has become the latest home to a replica of the iconic Statue of Liberty. The unexpected addition to an under-construction house has left the internet in stitches after a video capturing the moment went viral. The footage, shared on X with the caption “Somewhere in Punjab the THIRD liberty statue is installed,” has amassed lakhs of views and sparked a flurry of comments and explanations.
For residents of Punjab’s Doaba region and beyond, ornately designed water tanks or sculptures are a familiar sight. These elaborate rooftop decorations often signify that a family member has moved abroad, even if their new life is not particularly glamorous. One user, referencing their cultural research, noted, “We found many families installing water tanks shaped as aeroplanes, Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, etc. This was a way of showing others that one of the sons/family members has moved abroad.”
These unconventional sculptures are a charming reminder of the pride families take in their heritage and the creative ways they express their stories. Gurmeet Singh Brar, the head of the family now settled in Indiana, chose the Statue of Liberty as a way to thank the United States for the opportunities it had afforded him.
“The desire for a symbol of our American connection was clear,” Brar explains. “The first thing that came to our mind when we thought of having a statue related to the US at our Punjab home was the Statue of Liberty. The entire world knows where it is located, so a glance at it and people would know that our family has a US connection.”
While the statues of liberty gifted between France and the United States are well-known, Punjab’s unique rooftop sculpture stands as a delightful testament to global connections and family pride, turning heads and sparking smiles across the internet.
