It has also set in motion a debate over whether the 10-foot-tall statue, which today stands in a corner of M S University's faculty of Fine Arts, should have a head once again, and so restore the dignity of the Father of the Nation, or whether a work of art should be left `unedited', as it were.

This was the question The Indian Express put to a cross-section of eminent Barodians, and this was their response:

Bhupendra Lakhawala (Labour Minister): I hope the police look into the matter. Even the M S University authorities cannot shrug off their responsibility of maintaining the dignity of such images.

Anil Mukim (Collector, Vadodara district): It is depressing to note that no respect is beingpaid to art work or to the images of great national heroes. We should be extra careful about such possessions and take immediate corrective steps if anything like this happens.

Ghulam Shaikh (Artist): Of course. I think it is an important piece of work and, if possible, should be restored. From my understanding there should be no problem in restoring it because the artist himself is still alive and we have the required technical expertise. The university ought to take the initiative in this.

Jaidev Thakore (Artist): There's no need to raise a hue and cry over it. Once the head falls off it ceases to be Gandhi. There are a whole lot of broken works of sculpture lying all over the campus; why not make an issue out of them?''

Anandajit Ray (Artist): It is not an insult to the Father of the Nation. He remains the same even if a part breaks. Also, bear in mind that this was not Sankho Chaudhary's finished piece, it was just a pre-final piece. The finished piece is still very much on display in Brazil.