Statue of Social Justice

{{Short description|Colossal statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Vijayawada, India}}

{{Infobox monument

|name = Statue of Social Justice

|image = The Statue of Social Justice at Vijayawada.jpeg

|caption = The Statue of Social Justice of B. R. Ambedkar

|location = Swarajya Maidanam, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

|designer =

|type = Statue

|material = Steel, brass, bronze, and concrete

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Statue: {{Convert|206|ft|m}}
Including Base: {{Convert|206|ft|m}}

}}

|begin = 9 July 2020

|complete = 18 January 2024

|open = 19 January 2024

|dedicated_to = B. R. Ambedkar

|map_image =

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The Statue of Social Justice {{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-01-17 |title=CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to unveil statue of social justice on January 19 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/cm-jagan-mohan-reddy-to-unveil-statue-of-social-justice-on-january-19/article67749316.ece |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |date=2024-01-18 |title=World's tallest Ambedkar statue to be unveiled on January 19 in Vijayawada |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/worlds-tallest-ambedkar-statue-to-be-unveiled-on-january-19-in-vijayawada/articleshow/106943916.cms |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last=Sudhir |first=S. N. V. |title=Jagan Mohan Reddy to unveil tallest Ambedkar statue of justice in Vijayawada |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/jagan-mohan-reddy-to-unveil-tallest-ambedkar-statue-of-justice-in-vijayawada-2853856 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2024-01-18 |title=Ambedkar statue is sculpture of social justice: CM Jagan |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2024/Jan/18/ambedkar-statue-is-sculpture-of-social-justice-cm-jagan |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}} also known as the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Smriti Vanam (English: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Memorial), is a 206-ft tall statue located in Vijayawada in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The memorial dedicated to B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian polymath, statesman, social reformer and the father of the Indian Constitution. This Ambedkar's statue is {{convert|206|ft|m}} tall and stands on an {{convert|81|ft|m}} tall base building, making its total height {{convert|206|ft|m}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2023/jan/01/206-ft-ambedkar-statue-to-come-up-in-vijayawada-2533652.html|title=206-ft Ambedkar statue to come up in Vijayawada|website=The New Indian Express}} It is the fourth tallest statues in India.{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Tallest Statues in India (January 2024) |url=https://www.dhammabharat.com/eng/tallest-statues-in-india/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Dhamma Bharat |language=en-gb}}

History

File:Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.jpg (1891–1956) was one of the most prominent Indian leaders, a social reformer and the father of the Indian Constitution.]]

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a crusader for social justice and was the chief architect of India's Constitution which secured social and fundamental legal rights and equality for its citizens. A barrister, economist, politician and reformer, he was the first Law and Justice Minister of independent India. He was commonly known as the ‘Champion of the Untouchables.’{{Cite web | title=Dr B. R. Ambedkar - graysinn.org.uk | url=https://www.graysinn.org.uk/timeline/dr-b-r-ambedkar/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628123050/https://www.graysinn.org.uk/timeline/dr-b-r-ambedkar/ | access-date=2024-12-17 | archive-date=2022-06-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.graysinn.org.uk/news/ambedkar-room-and-portrait/|title=Ambedkar Room and portrait|first=Mairi|last=Wilson|date=1 July 2021}}

The Government of Andhra Pradesh decided that on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar i.e. 14 April 2016, an Ambedkar Memorial would be set up which would be 206 feet high. In April 2016, the then Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, has also decided to install a 206-feet tall statue of Ambedkar in Hyderabad city.

The foundation stone of the memorial was laid by N. Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on the 126th birth anniversary of Ambedkar in 2017. The project was to be implemented in Inavolu village of Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. In this project, there was a plan to build a grand memorial of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and his 206 feet tall statue. Later in 2019, the government of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy abandoned the "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Smriti Vanam" project, and decided to build a new project in Vijayawada city.{{Cite web |last=Hiwale |first=Sandesh |date=2023-08-25 |title=Know all about 206 ft tall Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.dhammabharat.com/dr-ambedkar-statue-in-vijayawada/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Dhamma Bharat |language=en-gb}}{{Cite news |last=Umashanker |first=K. |date=2024-01-14 |title=Andhra Pradesh CM to unveil 206-foot-tall Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada on Jan. 19 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-cm-to-unveil-125-foot-tall-ambedkar-statue-in-vijayawada-on-jan-19/article67740513.ece |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-01-17 |title=CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to unveil statue of social justice on January 19 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/cm-jagan-mohan-reddy-to-unveil-statue-of-social-justice-on-january-19/article67749316.ece |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

On July 9, 2020, then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone of the 206 feet tall statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at Swaraj Maidan in the heart of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/andhra-pradesh-news/andhra-pradesh-chief-minister-jagan-mohan-reddy-lays-foundation-stone-for-125-foot-br-ambedkar-statue-in-vijayawada-2259527|title=Jagan Reddy Lays Foundation Stone For 206-Foot BR Ambedkar Statue In Vijayawada|website=NDTV.com}} The government of Andhra Pradesh has renamed the ground known as 'PWD Maidan' as 'Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Swarajya Maidan'. On 19 January 2024, the Statue of Social Justice was unveiled by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-12-10 |title=Chief Minister to open Ambedkar Smriti Vanam in Vijayawada on January 20 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/chief-minister-to-open-ambedkar-smriti-vanam-in-vijayawada-on-january-20/article67624589.ece |access-date=2023-12-27 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-08-16 |title=CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to inaugurate 206-ft Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada on November 26 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/cm-jagan-mohan-reddy-to-inaugurate-125-ft-ambedkar-statue-in-vijayawada-on-november-26/article67202097.ece |access-date=2023-12-27 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |last=Brahmaji |first=Y. |date=2023-08-17 |title=CM Jagan to inaugurate 206 ft Ambedkar statue on Nov 26 |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/vijayawada/cm-jagan-to-inaugurate-125-ft-ambedkar-statue-on-nov-26-816191 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-01-18 |title=World's tallest Ambedkar statue to be unveiled on January 19 in Vijayawada |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/worlds-tallest-ambedkar-statue-to-be-unveiled-on-january-19-in-vijayawada/articleshow/106943916.cms |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2024-01-18 |title=Ambedkar statue is sculpture of social justice: CM Jagan |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2024/Jan/18/ambedkar-statue-is-sculpture-of-social-justice-cm-jagan |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}

Specifications

File:Statue of Social Justice, Vijayawada.jpgThe Statue of Social Justice is the tallest Ambedkar's statue in the world. The Statue of Social Justice is 206 feet tall and is built on an 81-foot plinth, giving a total height of 206 feet.{{Cite news |date=2024-01-18 |title=Ambedkar's statue will embolden oppressed to fight for justice: CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/ambedkars-statue-emboldening-the-oppressed-for-justice/articleshow/106942971.cms |access-date=2024-01-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} It is the fourth tallest, and the second tallest standing statue in India.{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Tallest Statues in India (January 2024) |url=https://www.dhammabharat.com/eng/tallest-statues-in-india/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Dhamma Bharat |language=en-gb}} The Statue of Social Justice is among the top 40 tallest statues in the world. The second-tallest Ambedkar statue, which is 175 feet, is situated in neighbouring Telangana, Hyderabad.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-19 |title=World's tallest Ambedkar statue to be unveiled in Andhra Pradesh today. 5 points |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/worlds-tallest-ambedkar-statue-to-be-unveiled-in-andhra-pradesh-today-5-points-101705630691895.html |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

The statue has been built in {{convert|18.81|acre|ha}} in the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Smriti Vanam in Vijayawada at a cost of ₹404.35 crore.{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2023-12-28 |title=CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to unveil Ambedkar statue on January 19 |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2023/Dec/28/cm-to-unveilambedkar-statue-on-january-19-2645639.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}

The dazzling 206-foot bronze statue was installed on an 81-foot pedestal made with Kala Chakra Maha Mandala Buddhist architecture to make it attractive in its sky-high posture.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-20 |title=Andhra Pradesh CM unveils 206-feet tall Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada |url=https://telanganatoday.com/andhra-pradesh-cm-unveils-206-feet-tall-ambedkar-statue-in-vijayawada |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Telangana Today |language=en}} The structure's foundation, reinforced by 539 piles, each extending 30 meters deep, provides a sturdy and resilient base. Incorporating design elements such as shear walls, inclined slabs, and beams with a 50-degree tilt not only enhances its structural integrity but also contributes to the distinctive aesthetic appeal of the building.{{Cite news |title=All about Andhra Pradesh's 'Statue of Social Justice': The tallest statue of BR Ambedkar in the world! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/all-about-andhra-pradeshs-statue-of-social-justice-the-tallest-statue-of-br-ambedkar-in-the-world/articleshow/107082082.cms |access-date=2024-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

The statue of Ambedkar represents the importance of equality and liberty along with social justice. The Ambedkar Smriti Vanam has many facilities such as Ambedkar's biographical museum, a mini theatre, a convention centre, sky lighting, fountains, a library among others. The Ambedkar memorial also has a multipurpose convention hall with 3,000 seats, an open theatre with 2,000 seats, and a library with 10,000 books. From sourcing the raw material to designing, the construction of the statue was completely done under a 'Made in India' project. About 400 tons of steel is used to make it.

The Ambedkat Smruthi Vanam also consists of a detailed Ambedkar Experience section that depicts the life and times of the visionary. The pedestal consists of ground plus two floors, with the ground floor having four halls, with one of them being a cinema hall and the rest having digital museums detailing Ambedkar's life. While one of the four halls on the first floor is dedicated to displaying BR Ambedkar's attachment to South India, two of them would be dedicated to museums, and the fourth one would be used as library. The four halls on the second floor are being proposed to be used as libraries. The entire premises were spruced up with beautiful flower plants and attractive marble-made pathways by designers.