Kannagi statue

[[File:Statue of Kannagi.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of Kannagi]]

'''Kannagi statue''' is a statue at the [[Marina Beach]], [[Chennai]], India. It is located at the intersection of Bharathi Salai and Kamarajar promenade. On 2 January 1968, it was erected as [[Kannagi (Tamil mythology)|Kannagi]] holding an anklet in her hand and demanding justice.<ref name="On Marina beach, Karunanidhi k..." />

==History== In 1967, the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) leader [[C. N. Annadurai]] became chief minister of [[Tamil Nadu]]. His government conducted second [[World Tamil Conference]] in January 1968, Chennai. As part of the conference, the statues of the ten Tamil icons who associated with the history of [[Tamil literature]] were erected on the marina beach. <ref name="1968 International Tamil Confe...">{{Cite news |date=2019-04-21 |title=1968 International Tamil Conference: A celebration of culture, language - and DMK |language=en |url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2019/04/21054415/1115066/1968-International-Tamil-Conference-A-celebration-.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822165357/https://www.dtnext.in/News/City/2019/04/21054415/1115066/1968-International-Tamil-Conference-A-celebration-.vpf |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2019 |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> This includes 10 foot bronze statue of Kannagi, a female protagonist character in the ''[[Silapathikaram]]'', one of the [[Five Great Epics]] of Tamil literature.<ref name="Controversy over a statue...">{{Cite news |last=S |first=VISWANATHAN |title=Controversy over a statue |language=en |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/article30243492.ece |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref>

In May 2001, [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) leader [[J. Jayalalithaa]] became chief minister of Tamil Nadu. On 21 September 2001, she resigned due to the corruption charges. In December 2001, the AIADMK government removed the Kannagi statue after a lorry damaged the pedestal of the statue and kept it in the [[Government Museum, Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jaya says she did not order removal of Kannagi statue |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/jaya-says-she-did-not-order-removal-of-kannagi-statue/385028 |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> While the opposition DMK alleged that the statue removed on the advice of the Jayalalithaa's astrologers as "the statue could bring misfortune to her".<ref name="On Marina beach, Karunanidhi k...">{{Cite news |title=On Marina beach, Karunanidhi keeps date with Kannagi - Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/on-marina-beach-karunanidhi-keeps-date-with-kannagi/4509/1 |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref> DMK leader [[M. Karunanidhi]], as a [[Tamil Nadu Public Works Department|PWD minister]] who oversaw the 1968 conference, considered the removal of statue as a "a challenge to Tamil pride".<ref name="Controversy over a statue..." /> After Karunanidhi come to power in 2006, he re-installed the statue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-06-03 |title=Kannagi statue reinstalled on Marina |language=en |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2006/06/03/kannagi-statue-reinstalled-on-marina-1149347282.html |access-date=2020-11-08}}</ref>

== In popular culture == The statue is featured in a scene from the film ''[[Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam]]'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiN3BAnusFo |title=Pasupathi co Rasakkapalayam Tamil Full Movie {{!}} Ranjith{{!}} Sindhu Tolani {{!}} Vivek |date=2017-07-05 |last=Star Movies |access-date=2026-03-14 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Triumph of Labour]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.arturbanstatue.com/blog/life-size-bronze-statues/ Bronze Statues]

[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Chennai]] [[Category:Monuments and memorials in Chennai]]