“The Telangana government wants the 125-foot Ambedkar statue to be modeled after the Babasaheb statue in Parliament. A 125-foot mini model statue was unveiled in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Telangana Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar along with experts and officials have suggested some corrections, ”Ram Vanji’s son Anil Sutar told TOI by phone from Delhi.
A recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Ram Vanji and his son visited the 12-acre project site next to the new secretariat complex under construction. The Ambedkar statue will be installed on the 12-acre lot.
The state government asked the contract agency and the Sutar family to try to complete the statue and the entire project, initially called Smruti Vanam, before Dasara in October 2022. The 96-year-old expert with Anil Sutar has already started the work and sculpted a 12 foot model statue of Ambedkar.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had previously finalized the name of Ram Sutar for the project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 140 crore.
The Smruti Vanam will have a museum, a photo gallery and a library illustrating the life and achievements of Ambedkar, meeting and rest rooms, a canteen and gardens.
The idea is to develop it as a tourist place: Eshwar
The idea is to develop it as one of the best tourist spots, ”said Koppula Eshwar. Jawaharlal Nehru College of Fine Arts and Architecture Director Bolla B Srinivas Reddy, who is a distinguished sculptor himself, said he was happy to learn that Ram Sutar had secured the post.
