Ambedkar Statues in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: A Political Analysis

In this article, we will analyse the political significance of the statues of Dr B R Ambedkar, the Dalit icon and chief architect of the Indian Constitution, in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. We will also look at the recent developments and initiatives taken by the governments of these states to woo the Dalit voters ahead of the upcoming elections. We will also present some data and quotes from various sources to support our analysis.

The Tallest Statue of Ambedkar in Andhra Pradesh

On January 19, 2024, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled a 206-feet tall statue of Ambedkar at the Swaraj Maidan in Vijayawada, which is claimed to be the tallest of Ambedkar in the country and the world . The statue, which cost Rs 404.35 crore, is part of the Ambedkar Smruthi Vanam, a sprawling complex that includes a musical fountain, a convention centre, a food court, a walking track, a children’s area and an Ambedkar Experience section that depicts his life and achievements . The statue has been christened by the government as the ‘Statue of Social Justice’, reflecting its aim to project itself as a champion of Dalit rights and empowerment.

The unveiling of the statue comes ahead of the Assembly and Parliament elections, which will be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh later this year. The SC community makes up 19% of Andhra Pradesh’s population and was crucial to the YSRCP’s victory in the 2019 elections . However, with the opposition TDP-Jana Sena alliance accusing the YSRCP of failing to protect Dalits from attacks by forward caste supporters , and Jagan’s sister Y S Sharmila taking charge of the Congress in the state, the YSRCP is leaving nothing to chance. The statue is seen as a symbolic gesture to woo the Dalit voters and showcase Jagan’s commitment to their welfare.

According to D Merugu Nagarjuna, the state Social Welfare Minister, “Jagan is the torch-bearer of Dalit rights. No leader or CM has done so much for the welfare of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities as has Jagan. The Ambedkar statue is a beacon of empowerment of Dalits and other minorities. The TDP and (former CM) Chandrababu Naidu only used Dalits for votes and never respected the Dalits. Naidu’s criticism of the statue, because it cost Rs 404 crore, proves he is anti-Dalit. Jagan is empowering the Dalits with many welfare schemes and helping them realise their dreams” .

Some of the welfare schemes launched by the YSRCP government for Dalits include:

• Jagananna Vidya Deevena: A scheme that provides full fee reimbursement for higher education for students belonging to SC, ST, BC, EBC, Kapu and minority communities.
• Jagananna Vasathi Deevena: A scheme that provides Rs 10,000 per year for hostel and mess expenses for students belonging to SC, ST, BC, EBC, Kapu and minority communities.
• YSR Cheyutha: A scheme that provides Rs 75,000 over four years to women belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities aged between 45 and 60 years.
• YSR Asara: A scheme that provides Rs 27,168 crore to clear all pending loans taken by women self-help groups belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.
• YSR Aasara Plus: A scheme that provides an additional Rs 6,792 crore to women self-help groups belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities as interest subsidy on loans taken after April 2019.
• YSR Law Nestham: A scheme that provides Rs 5 lakh financial assistance over five years to young lawyers belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.

The Politics of Ambedkar Statues in Telangana

Andhra Pradesh is not the only state that has erected a giant statue of Ambedkar. In April 2019, the then Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government had inaugurated a 125-foot tall statue in Hyderabad, which was then touted as the tallest of Ambedkar in India . The statue was installed at NTR Gardens near Hussain Sagar Lake at a cost of Rs 70 crore. The BRS government had also named several buildings and districts after Ambedkar and launched targeted schemes for Dalits .

However, these measures did not translate into electoral gains for the BRS, which lost power to the Congress in the Assembly elections held in December 2019. The Congress had promised to implement a quota for Dalits in government contracts and nominated posts, among other things . The BRS also faced criticism from Dalit groups for delaying the installation of the statue by two years and for not consulting them on its design and location .

The Congress government, which came to power with the support of Dalits, has been trying to consolidate its base among them by implementing various welfare schemes and programmes. It has also announced plans to build another statue of Ambedkar near Tank Bund Road in Hyderabad, which will be taller than the one at NTR Gardens . The government has also decided to conduct a caste census in Telangana to ascertain the exact population and socio-economic status of different castes .

According to the 2011 census, the total population of Scheduled Castes in Telangana is 5,435,689 individuals, comprising 2,704,641 males and 2,731,048 females. Out of this population, 3,476,811 people live in rural areas. This represents approximately 2.7% of India’s total Scheduled Caste population . The largest Scheduled Caste sub-group in Telangana is Madiga, which accounts for around 3.3 million people .

Some of the welfare schemes launched by the Congress government for Dalits include:

• Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak: A scheme that provides Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to brides belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities at the time of marriage.
• Aasara Pensions: A scheme that provides monthly pensions of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 to elderly people, widows, single women, persons with disabilities and weavers belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.
• Rythu Bandhu: A scheme that provides Rs 10,000 per acre per year as investment support to farmers belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.
• Rythu Bima: A scheme that provides Rs 5 lakh life insurance cover to farmers belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.
• KCR Kits: A scheme that provides Rs 13,000 financial assistance and a kit containing essential items to pregnant women belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities.

Conclusion

The statues of Ambedkar in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are not just monuments of respect and admiration for his legacy, but also symbols of political competition and mobilisation among different parties and groups. They reflect the importance of Dalit votes in these states and the attempts by various governments to appease them with symbolic gestures and material benefits. However, whether these statues will have any impact on the electoral outcomes or on the actual empowerment of Dalits remains to be seen.