Hyderabad: At a time when the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) are slugging it out over the looks of Telangana thalli (a symbolic mother goddess for the people of the state), chief minister Revanth Reddy has laid the foundation stone for former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statue in front of the state secretariat — a spot which BRS leaders say was earmarked by former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for an imposing statue of Telangana thalli.
BRS MLC K. Kavitha Thursday objected to the move by the Congress government.
“Telangana thalli statue, representing our unique cultural identity and a reminder of our struggles-aspirations, is incredibly important to us. Replacing it with a statue of a national figure, no matter how important, would erase what makes Telangana special,” KCR’s daughter said, writing to Telangana Legislative Council chairman Gutha Sukender Reddy regarding the matter.
Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 after a prolonged statehood agitation.
CM Reddy, while laying the foundation stone for the statue of the assassinated Congress leader, said the absence of Rajiv’s statue was conspicuous in the secretariat and tourist zone, which has sculptures of stalwarts like Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, and P.V. Narasimha Rao.
“Rajiv Gandhi brought in revolutionary changes in the telecom sector. The former prime minister sacrificed his life for the integrity of the country. His statue is meant for not just garlanding on his birthdays and anniversaries but to give us constant inspiration to serve the public,” the CM said Wednesday.
Asserting that his plan was acceptable to all, Reddy announced that All India Congress Committee senior leader Sonia Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi’s widow, would unveil the statue once complete.
However, Kavitha, a former Lok Sabha MP from Nizamabad, said the previous BRS government had planned to install a Telangana Thalli statue at the new secretariat, inaugurated last April, and that the “decision had widespread support because it was seen as a way to honour our state’s rich cultural heritage and make us proud of our Telangana roots”.
“But I was troubled to learn that the present government has changed the plan. While I respect Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions to our nation, I believe that putting his statue ahead of Telangana thalli is not the right decision. It goes against the wishes of the people of Telangana and disrespects our cultural identity,” said Kavitha, who founded Telangana Jagruthi, an NGO formed to lend support to the Telangana statehood movement and rejuvenate the region’s distinct culture and traditions.
Kavitha urged the Congress government to reconsider its decision and prioritise the erection of the Telangana thalli statue in front of the secretariat.
‘Feudal vs blue-collared’ Mother Telangana
The Telangana thalli versus Rajiv Gandhi statue debate follows the controversy around BRS’ versus Congress’ concept of Telangana thalli’s appearance.
In one of the moves seen as the CM’s attempt to erase his predecessor KCR’s imprint, his cabinet had earlier this month decided to alter the features of the Telangana thalli statue, and the state emblem.
Revealing the approvals to the media, ministers Sridhar Babu and Srinivas Reddy reportedly said the “designs reflect aristocracy and dictatorial mentality of one individual”.
Reddy sustained the tirade during a debate in the state assembly last week.
“Our Telangana society mainly comprises the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes, minorities, etc., common people. Our Telangana mothers, sisters don’t appear bedecked with gold, diamond jewellery, a crown or gold waist band. It might be the custom in the palaces of some feudal lords. For us, Telangana thalli should be the representation of a working-class woman, a spirited fighter who also symbolises affection,” the CM said in an apparent reference to KCR’s Velama (landlord) caste and the dorasani (lady) culture identified with oppression in olden times.
Reddy’s remarks prompted pro-BRS social media pages to circulate photos reportedly from his daughter’s marriage years ago, where his family members including wife were seen festooned in gold jewellery.
The CM’s demand for a blue-collared version of Telangana thalli is not new.
In September 2022, days ahead of Telangana “liberation day”, Revanth Reddy as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief had unveiled the Congress model to replace the statue once the party came to power.
Whereas the BRS’ Telangana thalli is adorned with a gold crown, waist band and neck jewellery, and wears a glowing saree, the Congress’ Telangana thalli is bereft of all the splendour, wearing a humble saree and a simple silver ornament around the neck.
“Every society and community prefers a prosperous image of itself; not a deprived depiction especially when it comes to women. It is disheartening that the CM wants to go for such an unnecessary change,” Deshapati Srinivas, a BRS MLC, lyricist and an exponent of Telangana statehood, told ThePrint.
‘Rajiv’s statue to appease Sonia’
Deshapati said that though KCR wanted a grand Telangana thalli statue erected at the secretariat, the process was deferred as the BRS chief was later occupied with schemes delivery and preparation for the state elections.
Deshapati accused Reddy of coming out with the Rajiv statue plan “with the sole purpose of pleasing the Congress high command to remain in the CM’s seat”.
On Thursday, Deshapati in a discussion in the council also faulted the Congress government for its plan to change the state emblem which has the famous 12-13th century Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (archway). “They were the sons of the soil, the greatest rulers of this land which prospered with abundance of water, farm output and wealth,” he said.
The BRS’ version of Telangana thalli statues are spread across Telangana, with most statues coming up during the statehood agitation as a symbol of the region’s aspirations. The statue is also present at the BRS headquarters in Banjara Hills and at the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University campus near the assembly.
A gold-colour coated Telangana thalli statue is also installed inside the imposing Telangana (statehood agitation) Martyrs’ Memorial, located opposite the secretariat. Inaugurated by KCR in June amid fanfare, the complex shaped like a jyothi (flicker) is, however, yet to be opened for the public.
Political analysts say that “Revanth in his enthusiasm to erase KCR’s legacy is weakening the Telangana individuality”.
“Rajiv Gandhi statues are there in the city and one more could be installed somewhere else. The CM must be aware that the public won’t appreciate the Telangana thalli statue space being given for Rajiv’s. This is a clear case of Revanth’s bid to appease Sonia to continue in his post,” said Papa Rao, a Hyderabad-based political commentator.
Meanwhile, the statue of Telugu thalli — a symbol of united Andhra Pradesh’s language, cultural unity and identity, which adorned the landscape in front of the old secretariat and was removed during the new secretariat’s construction — is kept safely wrapped aside for possible installation somewhere else, according to Telangana officials.
The landmark overpass in capital Hyderabad’s heart, running parallel to the secretariat, is still popularly referred to as the Telugu thalli flyover.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)