Mon Aug 18 04:01:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
This article from The Hindu discusses the history of the Kannagi statue on the Marina beach in Chennai. First installed in 1968, the statue, representing a symbol of justice, was removed in 2001 after being damaged. Its disappearance sparked political controversy as the ruling party hesitated to reinstall it. Following public agitation and court involvement, the statue was moved to the Government Museum. It wasn’t until 2006, with a change in government, that the statue was finally returned to its original location on the Marina.
**News Article:**
**Kannagi Statue Returns to Marina After Tumultuous History**
**CHENNAI, August 18, 2025** – The iconic Kannagi statue, a symbol of justice from the Tamil epic Silappadhikaram, has had a troubled past on Chennai’s Marina beach. Originally installed in 1968, the statue vanished in 2001 after an accident damaged its pedestal. This disappearance ignited a political firestorm, with the then-ruling party initially reluctant to reinstate the statue.
Following public outcry and legal intervention, the statue was relegated to the Government Museum. For years, it remained out of public view, a stark reminder of the political sensitivities surrounding Tamil cultural symbols.
However, in 2006, the Kannagi statue finally made its triumphant return to the Marina, marking a significant moment in the city’s cultural landscape. The statue’s presence once again serves as a powerful reminder of Kannagi’s unwavering pursuit of justice and the importance of fair trial.
First Piper 