PM Modi inaugurates Statue of Equality, kickstarts ICRISAT's 50th anniversary celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 216-feet tall 'Statue of Equality' commemorating the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya in Shamshabad, Hyderabad on February 5, 2022. The statue is made up of a combination of five metals. 

Telangana | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the 216-feet tall 'Statue of Equality' commemorating the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya in Shamshabad pic.twitter.com/dxTvhQEagz

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru and inaugurated two ICRISAT research facilities on February 5, 2022. 

PM Modi inaugurated ICRISAT’s Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility. The Prime Minister also launched a commemorative stamp issued on the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the ICRISAT in Hyderabad

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates ICRISAT’s Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility. PM also launches a commemorative stamp issued on the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the ICRISAT in Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/dKEqK6LqyH

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2022

Statue of Equality 

•  The 216-feet tall Statue of Equality commemorates 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who promoted the idea of equality in all aspects including faith, caste and creed. 

•  The Statue of Equality is made up of panchaloha, a combination of five metals including gold, silver, brass, copper and zync.

•  The statue will be one of the tallest metallic statues in sitting position, in the world. 

•  The statue is mounted on a 54-ft high base building called ‘Bhadra Vedi’. The building has floors devoted for a Vedic digital library with ancient Indian texts and research centre, a theatre and an educational gallery detailing many works of Sri Ramanujacharya.

•  The statue has been conceptualised by Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram's Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami.

Other Details 

PM Modi also visited identical recreations of 108 Divya Desams (ornately carved temples) that surround the Statue of Equality. A 3D Presentation Mapping programme was showcased during the event on the life journey and teaching of Sri Ramanujacharya. 

Sri Ramanujacharya worked tirelessly for the upliftment of people with the spirit of every human being equal regardless of nationality, gender, race, caste or creed. The inauguration of the Statue of Equality is a part of the 12-day Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Samaroham, the ongoing 1000th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Ramanujacharya.