Our Political Desk
The political landscape in Telangana has descended into a symbolic battlefield over “Telangana Thalli,” the mother figure of the state. This controversy highlights the underlying tensions between the ruling Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), with both parties leveraging cultural icons to assert their political narratives.
The Telangana Thalli statue, introduced soon after Telangana achieved statehood following a prolonged agitation, holds deep cultural and political significance. Designed by B. Venkataramana in 2003, the statue embodied the region’s aspirations and identity during its struggle for autonomy. Draped in a pink silk saree with a crown, it held maize and a Bathukamma pot, symbolizing the region’s agrarian economy and cultural heritage. These elements strongly resonated with the people during the agitation spearheaded by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (now BRS).
Fast-forward to 2024, the newly elected Congress government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, unveiled a redesigned Telangana Thalli statue at the state secretariat. The changes—removal of the crown, Bathukamma pot, and gold ornaments, along with a switch from pink to green for the saree—have sparked accusations of erasing the legacy of the Telangana movement.
The redesign has angered the BRS, with KCR’s son and senior party leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) accusing Congress of disrespecting Telangana’s identity. KTR vowed to restore the original statue if his party returned to power, escalating tensions further.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also criticized the Congress, accusing it of tampering with Telangana’s cultural symbols for political gain. BJP spokespersons allege that replacing the Bathukamma pot and altering the saree color undermines the state’s traditions while adding an “Abhaya Hastam” (symbolizing Congress’s hand logo) politicizes a revered symbol.
Critics argue that the focus on symbolic politics distracts from pressing issues like unemployment, agrarian distress, and infrastructure development, besides serious financial constraints that the Revanth Reddy government entangled. Observers see the tussle as a reflection of the BRS’s struggle to retain its regional identity amid a faltering attempt to expand nationally, juxtaposed against the Congress’s attempts to consolidate power after a decade in the wilderness.
Telangana Thalli was pivotal in uniting diverse groups during the statehood struggle, transcending political affiliations. For the BRS, which built its identity around Telangana pride, any alteration to the statue challenges its historical role. For Congress, the redesign represents an assertion of its newfound political control but risks alienating voters who revere the statue’s original form.
The Telangana Thalli controversy underscores the deep interlinking of culture and politics in Telangana. While statues and symbols hold emotional power, the discourse surrounding them should aim to unite rather than polarize. As Telangana approaches another election cycle, political parties must decide whether to prioritize symbolic victories or address the pressing needs of the people.
