Dec 9 Landmark Day For Telangana's Identity: CM

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today described December 9 as a day of immense significance for Telangana.

Speaking in the Assembly, he said that it was on this day in 2009 that the announcement for the formation of a separate Telangana State was made.

"The people of Telangana spearheaded the statehood movement with unwavering zeal, embodying the spirit of Daasarathi's words, 'Naa Telangana... Koti Ratanala Veena' (my Telangana, a veena of a crore gems). Recognition for any community stems from its identity, and the essence of identity lies in culture, which is symbolized by Mother Telangana Thalli," he said.

The Chief Minister also said that the role of Telangana Thalli was instrumental in uniting people during the statehood movement.

"Telangana Thalli gave life to the concept of the Telangana identity, constantly inspiring people to achieve their goals. However, she lacked official recognition. To honour this maternal figure, who has been the soul of our public struggles, our government has decided to unveil a statue of Telangana Thalli on the Secretariat premises," he said.

The Chief Minister elaborated on the design of the statue, saying that it represented the ethos, traditions and history of Telangana.

"The statue has been crafted with intricate details, including a serene face adorned with traditional attire such as a green sari, and jewelry like bangles, necklaces and nose pins. It also embodies the fighting spirit of historical icons like Chakali Ailamma, Sammakka and Sarakka. Telangana's traditional crops - paddy, jowar, millet and maize - are depicted in the hands of the Telangana Thalli. The pedestal features raised fists symbolizing sacrifices and struggles, making the statue a reflection of the State's historical and cultural journey," Reddy explained.

He concluded by saying that the statue reflected the collective emotions of the four crore Telangana residents, and stood as a beacon of their cultural pride and identity.