On April 14, 2023, Hyderabad celebrated the 132nd birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice. The city witnessed a historic event as Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unveiled a 125-foot-tall bronze statue of Ambedkar near Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. The statue, which is the tallest of its kind in the country, is a grand tribute to the Dalit icon and a symbol of pride and respect for his followers.
Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, in a Dalit family in Madhya Pradesh. He faced discrimination and oppression from an early age due to his caste. He overcame many hurdles and challenges to pursue his education and became a scholar, lawyer, economist and social reformer. He fought for the rights and dignity of the Dalits and other marginalized communities in India. He also played a key role in drafting the Indian Constitution, which ensures equality, liberty and fraternity for all citizens.
Ambedkar’s statue in Hyderabad is a testament to his vision and contribution to the nation. The statue depicts Ambedkar holding the Constitution in his left hand. It has a height of 125 feet and a width of 23 feet. It weighs 350 tonnes and is made of bronze. It is mounted on a 15-foot-high pedestal, which has four pillars with carvings of Ambedkar’s life and achievements. The pedestal also has a museum and a library dedicated to Ambedkar.
The statue was inaugurated by Rao in the presence of thousands of people who were mobilized from across the state. Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Ambedkar, was the chief guest for the event. A special helicopter showered flowers on the statue as a mark of respect to Ambedkar. A public meeting was also held after the unveiling, where KCR, Prakash Ambedkar and state welfare minister Koppula Eshwar spoke about Ambedkar’s life and legacy.
KCR praised Ambedkar for his vision and contribution to the nation. He said that Ambedkar sacrificed his entire life for a noble cause and made India proud worldwide. He also credited Ambedkar for incorporating Article 3 for separate states in the Constitution, which enabled the formation of Telangana state. He said that he had decided to erect the statue of Ambedkar two years ago and it took a lot of technical and manufacturing efforts to complete it. He honoured Ram Vanji Sutar, the 98-year-old Padma Bhushan awardee sculptor who created the statue.
The state government made elaborate arrangements for the grand event. A total of 750 buses of the Road Transport Corporation were arranged for public transport. Food was provided for people who came to the assembly complex within 50 km before reaching Hyderabad. One lakh sweet packets, one-and-a-half lakh butter milk packets and equal number of water packets were given to the participants.
The statue is expected to become a new icon of the city and attract tourists and visitors. It is also a symbol of pride and respect for the Dalits and other marginalized communities who revere Ambedkar as their leader and emancipator.
The statue is not only a tribute to Ambedkar but also a reminder of his ideals and values. It is a source of inspiration and motivation for the people and the state administration to work towards achieving social and economic justice for all.