Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, unveiled the world's tallest statue of BR Ambedkar in Vijayawada on January 19. At 206 feet tall, the "Statue of Social Justice" is among the world's top 50 tallest statues.
"The 206 feet Mahashilpam of Ambedkar erected by our government in Vijayawada is a symbol not only for the state but also for the country," Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Situated in a green area spanning 18.81 acres, the statue was made with around 400 tonnes of steel. The space around the monument has been redeveloped, with water bodies in the courtyard. You will also find LED screens with information on Ambedkar's life, a convention centre with 2,000 seats, an 8,000-square-foot food court, a music fountain, and a children's play area.
In October 2023, the tallest statue of Dr BR Ambedkar outside India was inaugurated in the US state of Maryland on October 14. Referred to as the "Statue of Equality," over 500 Indian Americans from various parts of the United States and some attendees from India and other countries were present at the unveiling ceremony of the 19-foot tall statue amidst chants of "Jai Bhim."
The Statue of Unity, located on the Sadhu Bet River island near Rajpipla in Gujarat, tops the list. Sardar Vallabhai Patel's statue stands 597 feet tall, about 100 feet higher than China's Spring Temple Buddha, the previous tallest statue (503 feet). Other largest sculptures in the world are Laykyun Setkyar Standing Buddha in Myanmar (427 feet) and Ushiku Daibutsu in Japan (394 feet), to mention a few.
