Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will release a 21-foot-tall bronze statue of B. R. Ambedkar in Raipur on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14. The statue has been erected in the city on Ambedkar Chowk, in front of Ghadi Chowk and is likely to be a key tourist attraction in the city of the designer of the Indian Constitution.
The statue, which weighs around 4,300 kilograms, has been made at an estimated cost of ₹35 lakh. According to the officials, the installation is expected to disseminate the ideals and teachings of Dr. Ambedkar among the masses and motivate people towards equality, justice and social harmony. The monument is a remembrance of his legacy and role in nation-building.
The Sai government emphasized that the project is a part of a larger campaign to raise awareness regarding the vision of Ambedkar and to make sure that his ideas will remain relevant to the new generations. The ceremony of unveiling is likely to be attended by a number of dignitaries and citizens.
Besides this project, there are plans to erect another grand statue of Dr. Ambedkar, over 25 feet high, at the Vidhan Sabha complex in Naya Raipur. This is also an indication of the state government to celebrate the contributions of Ambedkar on a bigger scale.
The following step, which will be the unveiling, will probably be a huge occasion, mixing memory with a new emphasis on the principles of equality and social justice.