Recap 2023- List of Statue Unveiled
On Sunday, December 10, a significant cultural milestone unfolded in the French town of Cergy with the inauguration of a statue dedicated to Thiruvalluvar, a revered cultural icon among Tamilians. This event holds special significance, emphasizing the enduring cultural ties between India and France. The External Affairs Minister underscored that the statue is not merely a sculptural marvel but also another symbol of the enduring cultural links that form a crucial pillar of the friendship between India and France. The inauguration marks a profound gesture that strengthens the cultural bonds shared by the two nations.
In a significant tribute to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a wax statue has been unveiled at the Jaipur Wax Museum, Nahargarh Fort. The Founder Director of the museum, Anoop Srivastava, shared the motivation behind this addition, citing the demand from tourists and visitors. The wax statue was inaugurated on December 6, coinciding with Mahaparinirvan Day, commemorating the passing of Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
On December 4, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic moment by unveiling the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. This gesture not only pays tribute to the legendary Maratha warrior king but also emphasizes the importance of preserving and celebrating India’s rich maritime heritage. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the visionary leader of the Maratha empire, was renowned for his strategic prowess in constructing coastal and sea forts. The unveiling ceremony highlighted his significant contribution to India’s maritime history, with a special focus on the iconic Sindhudurg Fort.
On the auspicious occasion of Constitution Day, President Droupadi Murmu revealed a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar within the Supreme Court premises. This symbolic gesture aimed to honor the renowned architect of the Indian Constitution. The event drew the attendance of numerous judges from the Supreme Court, emphasizing the significance of commemorating Constitution Day. Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal paid their respects to Dr B R Ambedkar by folding their hands and presenting flowers to the impressive over 7-feet tall sculpture.
In a decision resonating with the euphoria of India’s semi-final victory in the Cricket World Cup and Virat Kohli’s extraordinary feat of completing 50 centuries in one-day cricket, a wax statue immortalizing the star cricketer is poised to join the distinguished ensemble at the Wax Museum within Jaipur’s Nahargarh Fort.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with other dignitaries, inaugurated a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on November 7. The statue, a symbol of cultural pride, was installed at the 41 National Rifle (Maratha LI) camp, which is located in close proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) separating India and Pakistan.
The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is set to witness a momentous occasion as a statue of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar will be unveiled, coinciding with the World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka. The statue, capturing the legendary batsman in the midst of a cricket stroke, finds its place adjacent to the Sachin Tendulkar stand, paying tribute to the ‘Little Master.’
In a historic event, a 19-foot tall statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of India’s Constitution, was formally inaugurated in a suburb of Maryland, Washington. This statue is being considered as the tallest of its kind outside of India and holds significant importance for both Indian-Americans and the Indian diaspora around the world. During the inauguration ceremony, the air was filled with enthusiastic chants of ‘Jai Bhim.’ More than 500 Indian-Americans, including attendees from various parts of the United States, India and other countries, came together to witness this historic moment. The event was an evident to the global reverence for Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions.
The tallest statue of the ‘Architect of the Indian Constitution,’ B.R. Ambedkar, known as the ‘Statue of Equality,’ is set to be unveiled in Maryland on October 14. This statue of Ambedkar is an integral component of the Ambedkar International Center (AIC), currently under construction on a 13-acre plot in Accokeek city, Maryland.
Standing at a towering height of 19 feet, the ‘Statue of Equality’ is a testament to the enduring impact of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s work. This monumental sculpture is poised to become the largest statue of Babasaheb outside of India. It serves as a pivotal element of the Ambedkar International Centre (AIC) project, situated on a sprawling 13-acre expanse in Accokeek, Maryland, approximately 35 kilometers south of Washington.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated a 108-foot-tall statue of the 8th-century spiritual leader, Adi Shankaracharya on 21st September. This significant event occurred amidst political dynamics and is an evident to the promotion of Sanatan Dharma and cultural unity.
The ‘Statue of Oneness,’ conceived six years ago, portrays Adi Shankaracharya as a 12-year old child during his visit to Omkareshwar. Omkareshwar is renowned for being one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, considered the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva.
World leaders attending the G20 Summit were welcomed by a stunning 27-foot-tall statue of Nataraja, portraying Lord Shiva in his cosmic dance. This impressive sculpture, crafted from ashtadhatu, an eight-metal alloy, boasts an astonishing weight of 18 tonnes, necessitating a transportation trailer equipped with 36 tires for its journey to Delhi. Skilled artisans from Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district meticulously crafted this masterpiece, skillfully blending traditional and contemporary elements while drawing inspiration from ancient Nataraja idols.
In a momentous event that pays homage to the father of the nation, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates a 12-foot statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a ‘Gandhi Vatika’ near Rajghat on September 4.
This initiative, organized by the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, carries immense significance as it coincides with India’s celebration of 75 years of independence and its tenure as the G20 presidency. Let’s explore the details of this event and its symbolic importance. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, towering at 12 feet, will be unveiled at the entrance of the 45-acre Gandhi Darshan complex.
In an event organized by the South Indian Panchayat Association in Coimbatore, Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Textiles, inaugurated the statue of RK Shanmugam Chetty, who served as the first Finance Minister of independent India.
Commencing the event, a statue paying homage to RK Shanmugam Chetty, a pivotal figure in India’s historical narrative and a significant administrator within the South Indian Panchayat Association, was unveiled.
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis revealed a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mauritius. He highlighted Maharashtra’s potential as a leading industrial and investment destination in India at the Indo-Mauritius Business Forum and signed an MoU to promote trade between Mauritius and Maharashtra.
The Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of BR Ambedkar in Hyderabad to commemorate the 132nd birth anniversary of the renowned Indian Constitution architect. The unveiling ceremony was a grand affair, with provisions made to accommodate over 35,000 individuals from all 119 constituencies. Additionally, approximately 750 state-owned Road Transport Corporation buses were deployed to facilitate public transportation to the event. This statue in Hyderabad is now the tallest statue of Ambedkar in India.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has unveiled a 54-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman at a temple in Gujarat, India. The statue was installed, made of bronze, at Sarangpur temple in Botad district, Gujarat. The statue, which stands on a 48-feet-tall pedestal, has been built at a cost of around Rs 30 crore ($4 million USD) by the Hanuman Seva Samiti, a trust associated with the temple. It is said to be one of the tallest statues of Lord Hanuman in the world.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah unveiled the statues of Lord Basaveshwara ji and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda ji at the State Assembly premises in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Lord Basaveshwara and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda are two prominent historical figures from Karnataka, a state in southern India. These statues will continue to give Basavanna ji and Kempegowda ji’s message of social justice, democracy, good governance and development to those who get elected in the assembly.
On April 13, a 70-feet tall statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar will be unveiled in Latur city, Maharashtra. The unveiling ceremony will take place in the presence of Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ramdas Athawale, along with other dignitaries such as former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and state minister Sanjay Bansode.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a 120-foot-tall statue of a polo player riding a polo at Marjing Polo Complex in Imphal, Manipur. Manipur is known as the birthplace of the game polo. Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh was also present during the inauguration ceremony and gave a polo mallet and a painting of the game to Home Minister Amit Shah.
Australia’s Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to have a statue cast in her honour, a bronze sculpture of the trailblazing former captain unveiled outside Sydney Cricket Ground. Clark played 15 tests and over 100 limited overs matches between 1991-2005, and became the first cricketer to score a double-hundred in one-day internationals when she made an unbeaten 229 against Denmark in 1997.
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