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.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Potti Sriramulu’s 58-Foot Statue to be Installed in Amaravati
Location	Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
Statue Size	58 feet
Reason for Installation	To honor Potti Sriramulu’s 58-day hunger strike for Andhra’s statehood
Date of Hunger Strike	October 19 – December 15-16, 1952
Formation of Andhra Pradesh	October 1, 1953
Additional Developments	Memorial, museum, health center, and high school in his village
Potti Sriramulu’s Birth	March 16, 1901
Naidu’s Statement	Sriramulu’s sacrifice led to linguistic states in India
Other Recent Statue	Installations 125-ft Ambedkar statue in Hyderabad (2023), 206-ft Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada (2024)
Political Impact	Both previous CMs (KCR & Jagan Reddy) lost elections despite statue installations