The Thiruvalluvar Statue: A Monument of Virtue
The Thiruvalluvar Statue, also known as the Valluvar Statue, stands 41 meters tall in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. This grand sculpture honors the Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the author of the Thirukkural. It is situated on a small island where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean meet. Sculpted by Indian artist V. Ganapati Sthapati, it was unveiled on January 1, 2000, by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The Thiruvalluvar Statue ranks as the 25th tallest in India.
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A Symbolic Structure
The combined height of the statue and pedestal is 133 feet, representing the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural. The pedestal, standing at 38 feet, symbolizes the 38 chapters of Virtue, the first book of the Kural. The 95-foot statue itself signifies Wealth and Love, the second and third books of the Kural. The statue’s design emphasizes that wealth and love should rest on the foundation of solid virtue. Thiruvalluvar’s right hand, with three fingers pointing skywards, represents the Kural’s three cantos: Aram (Virtue), Porul (Wealth), and Inbam (Love).
Design and Construction
The statue’s slight bend at the waist evokes the dancing pose of Hindu deities like Nataraja. Weighing 7,000 tonnes, the monument stands 61 meters above sea level. Its construction began on September 6, 1990, led by Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapathy, and involved extensive planning and coordination. The stonework was distributed among workshops in Kanniyakumari, Ambasamudram, and Sholinganallur. The statue was assembled using 3,681 stones, with some weighing over 15 tonnes.
Inauguration and Cultural Impact
The statue was inaugurated on January 1, 2000, with a grand ceremony attended by Indian and foreign dignitaries. More than 50,000 people gathered for the event. Chief Minister Karunanidhi described the statue as a “beacon of light to guide human life for all time to come.”
Resilience and Maintenance
The monument withstood the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004, and is designed to survive earthquakes up to a magnitude of 6. To prevent corrosion from sea breeze, the statue undergoes chemical treatment every four years. This involves removing salty deposits, applying a cement mixture, and using paper pulp to absorb remaining salts.
Visiting the Statue
Located 400 meters from Kanniyakumari’s coastline, the statue is accessible by ferry. The ferry service also stops at the nearby Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Plans are underway to connect the two sites with a bridge, enhancing visitor access.
The Thiruvalluvar Statue stands as a testament to Thiruvalluvar’s enduring legacy, embodying the timeless values of virtue, wealth, and love.
Sources: Wikipedia
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