Telangana Talli represents all: Sculptors

Hyderabad: “She isn’t a goddess,” says architect Ramana Reddy, speaking on the recently unveiled 20-foot bronze Telangana Thalli statue at the Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu celebrations. “She represents every woman — a mother, sister, daughter, — and every struggle, and every hope that made Telangana what it is today.”

The new statue which replaced its more divine predecessor is supposed to be a storyteller, according to its creators.

Designed by Prof T. Gangadhar, the first fine arts scholar, who was recently appointed as the vice-chancellor in-charge of Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNFAU), and sculpted by Ramana Reddy, this rural mother figure brings the grit and grace of Telangana to life.

Dressed in a green saree with a red blouse, her pallu tucked at her waist, she isn’t standing still.

She’s working, moving, fighting — a middle-aged woman shaped by years of toil in the fields and protests in the streets. Her jewellery, rooted in Karimnagar’s traditional designs, and her grip on harvested crops — millets, rice, barley, and corn — turn her into a storyteller of Telangana’s agricultural and revolutionary spirit.

“We didn’t want a goddess with ornate features,” says Prof Gangadhar. “We wanted someone real, someone who represents the land. Her tucked pallu isn’t just about practicality, it’s about readiness. Readiness to work, fight, and lead.”

The statue stands on a three-foot pedestal, with hands painted blue rising to support her symbolises the bahujan. “This isn’t just about one section or one story,” says Reddy, who has been part of the Telangana movement since 2008. “It’s a collective tribute to everyone. From farmers, workers, NGOs, students, who raised their voices together. Those hands lifting her up? They’re lifting Telangana.”

This statue replaces the earlier Telangana Thalli, which depicted a goddess holding a Bathukamma. That design, though appreciated, never received formal recognition. “Telangana has way too many festivals to represent,” Reddy explains. “We also have Bonalu, Sadar, Bathukamma and other traditions. This statue isn’t about just one festival or idea. It’s about unity.”

However, no change is without critics. Various questions have been raised about the new statue. The previous statue didn’t just represent a goddess with crowns and jewels, it also had a toe ring which represented her status as married. So, concerns were raised as to why the new statue lacks a mangalsutra. Reddy dismisses these with a smile. “Why confine her to a married woman? Telangana Thalli represents all women. Married, unmarried, young, old. She’s every mother and every sister who shaped this land.”

The statue weighs around eight tonnes and costs Rs 90 lakh, with the total project, including landscaping, costing Rs 5.3 crore. Further, it was painted using imported finishes typically reserved for luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz. “Durability was the goal,” adds Reddy.

Gangadhar, who designed the Indira Gandhi statue at Necklace Road in 2009, shares that this project was particularly special. “When the CM chose this design — a mother with crops — it felt like a nod to everything Telangana stands for, like agriculture, prosperity, and community.”

Indeed, Telangana has much to celebrate. As the top rice-producing state in India, with over 168 lakh metric tonnes of rice harvested this year, the crops in the statue’s hands are more than a decorative element. It represents the land’s progress since the days when water scarcity left its people struggling to grow basic grains. “In my childhood, there was no rice. Mostly ragi and lentils,” notes Reddy.

But the statue’s true power lies in its ability to connect. “This isn’t just a figure; it’s a mirror,” Gangadhar says. “Whether you’re a farmer who carried the state on your back or a student who raised slogans in the streets, you’ll see yourself in her.”

As Chief Minister Revanth Reddy felicitated Gangadhar and Reddy during the unveiling on Monday, the moment represented decades of struggle and sacrifice. Reddy, who designed posters for the Telangana Joint Action Committee during the 2008 agitation and was also the main architect behind the Telangana Martyrs Memorial, sums it up simply: “This statue is for everyone who believed in Telangana. It’s a tribute to the everyday fighters.”