Statue of Prosperity
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{{Short description|World's tallest bronze statue of a city founder}}
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The Statue of Prosperity is the statue of the founder and architect of the city of Bangalore, termed widely as 'Nadaprabhu' Kempe Gowda (1510 - 1569), constructed at the Kempegowda International Airport, in Devanahalli of Bengaluru.
It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, in the presence of Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of the state, and other delegates on the occasion of Kanakadas Jayanti. The statue was recorded in the "World Book of Records" as the tallest bronze statue constructed for a founder of a city. It also stated that it is 108 feet long with the sword weighing 4 tons.{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2022-11-10 |title=108-feet tall Kempegowda ‘Statue of Prosperity’ sets world record |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/108-feet-kempegowda-statue-of-prosperity-enters-into-the-world-book-of-records/article66119252.ece |access-date=2022-11-11 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=PM Modi to unveil 108 ft Kempegowda statue at Bangalore airport |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/pm-modi-kempegowda-statue-bangalore-airport-8218000/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Description
Kempe Gowda is depicted in a standing position holding a sword in his right hand, above a 20 feet high reinforced concrete slabbing. The overall height of the statue is 108 feet, weighing about 218 tonnes, sculpted using majorly steel and bronze which includes 120 tonnes of iron and 98 tonnes of bronze.
It is constructed in a theme park of 23 acres around the area. With an overall construction cost of 84 crores, the statue is a main attraction in the newly launched Terminal 2 (T2) of the Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=108-ft Kempegowda statue in Bengaluru airport sets Guinness World Record |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/108-ft-kempegowda-statue-bengaluru-airport-sets-guinness-world-record-169816 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-10 |title=108 ft statue of Kempegowda in Bengaluru finds place in 'World Book of Records' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/108-ft-statue-of-kempegowda-in-bengaluru-finds-place-in-world-book-of-records-101668055771622.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}
Construction
The statue has been installed at the International airport of Bangalore. It is sculpted by the Padma shri awardee Ram.V Sutar who also holds credit for the construction of Statue of Unity in Gujarat and Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Vidhana Soudha of Bangalore. The statue has entered the World Book of Records as the "first and tallest bronze statue of a founder of a city”.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-04 |title=Kempegowda Statue: 4,000 kg sword arrives at Bengaluru Airport |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/kempegowda-statue-4-000-kg-sword-arrives-at-bengaluru-airport-101651576309257.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}