Potti Sriramulu’s 58-Foot Statue to be Installed in Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced the installation of a 58-foot statue in Amaravati to honor Potti Sriramulu, the freedom fighter whose 58-day hunger strike led to the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1953. The statue, along with a memorial, will be completed before his next birth anniversary. Additionally, Sriramulu’s native house in Padamatipalli will be turned into a museum, and a modern health center and high school will be established in his village.

Key Highlights

• Statue Announcement: A 58-foot statue of Potti Sriramulu will be installed in Amaravati to honor his sacrifice for the creation of Andhra Pradesh.

Historical Background

• Potti Sriramulu undertook a 58-day hunger strike (October 19 – December 15-16, 1952) demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state under the Madras Presidency.
• His death led to widespread riots, forcing PM Jawaharlal Nehru to announce the formation of Andhra Pradesh on October 1, 1953.
• His struggle set a precedent for linguistic states in India.

Other Developments

• A memorial for Sriramulu will also be built in Amaravati.
• His native house in Padamatipalli (Prakasam district) will be converted into a museum.
• A health center and high school will be constructed in his village.
• Naidu’s Statement: CM Naidu emphasized Sriramulu’s historical contribution, stating that he played a vital role in strengthening self-identity and cultural pride in post-independence India.

Statue Trend in Andhra & Telangana

• Several statues have been unveiled in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in recent years.
• April 2023: Telangana’s then CM K. Chandrashekar Rao unveiled a 125-foot statue of B.R. Ambedkar in Hyderabad.
• January 2024: Andhra’s then CM Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled a 206-foot Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada.
• Both KCR’s BRS and Jagan’s YSRCP lost elections, leading to the current TDP-led alliance government in Andhra Pradesh.