History of Thiruvallur statue (kanyakumari)

The history of the Thiruvalluvar Statue dates back to December 1975 when the project was conceived by then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The foundation stone was laid on April 15, 1979, by then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, with the presence of the Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. However, actual work on sculpting the statue started much later, on September 6, 1990, when funds were allocated for the project. The sculpting work was led by Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, a renowned Indian sculptor and former principal of the Government College of Architecture at Mahabalipuram. Dr. Ganapati Sthapati was chosen from over 300 master builders because of his suggestion for an all-stone monument, citing the durability of stone over metal. The project saw a temporary halt likely due to political changes but resumed vigorously in 1997 when Karunanidhi returned to power. About 150 workers, including sculptors and assistants, worked up to 16 hours a day to complete the statue, which was placed on its pedestal on October 19, 1999. Key Highlights The statue weighs about 7,000 tonnes. The right hand's three fingers symbolize the three divisions of the "Thirukkural." The statue slightly bends at the waist, reminiscent of a dancing pose similar to the Hindu deity Nataraja. It is architecturally robust, having survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami unharmed. The statue is hollow inside, but visitors can climb only up to the foot.