CM Revanth Reddy Unveils Phule Couple Statues at Necklace Road
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled statues of social reformers Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule at Necklace Road, Hyderabad, on 14 August 2026, the eve of Independence Day, in a ceremony attended by ministers and elected representatives.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy unveiled statues of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule at Necklace Road, Hyderabad, on 14 August 2026 .
The statues are installed opposite the HMDA Grounds , one of Hyderabad's most prominent public locations.
Jyotirao Phule was a 19th-century social reformer who campaigned against caste discrimination and championed education for marginalised communities.
Savitribai Phule is recognised as India's first female teacher, who opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848 .
The ceremony was attended by ministers, government advisors, and elected representatives 'in large numbers', per the CMO's post.
The unveiling on Independence Day eve frames the Phule couple's social reform legacy alongside India's freedom movement.
Two towering figures of Indian social reform now stand at one of Hyderabad's most prominent public stretches. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled statues of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule at Necklace Road, opposite the HMDA Grounds, on Friday, 14 August 2026 — the eve of Independence Day — in a ceremony attended by ministers, government advisors, and elected representatives in large numbers.
The Chief Minister's Office of Telangana confirmed that Revanth Reddy paid floral tributes to the reformers after the unveiling, honouring their legacy in a public setting that draws thousands of citizens daily.
Who the statues honour — and why it matters
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, born in 1827 in Maharashtra, was among the 19th century's most consequential voices against caste discrimination. He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seekers' Society) and championed access to education for communities excluded by the prevailing social order. His wife, Savitribai Phule, is widely recognised as India's first female teacher — she opened one of the country's earliest schools for girls in Pune in 1848, defying fierce social resistance. Together, the Phule couple built the intellectual and moral foundation for what would become India's modern social justice movement. Placing their statues at Necklace Road — a high-visibility, high-footfall public promenade — is a deliberate act of civic memory. The choice of location ensures their images become part of everyday Hyderabad, not tucked away in an institutional courtyard.The Independence Day eve timing
The timing is not incidental. Unveiling the statues on 14 August — the night before Independence Day — frames the Phule couple's fight against social inequality as inseparable from the broader freedom struggle. State governments across India have increasingly used the Independence Day window to make symbolic statements on equality and education access, and Telangana's ceremony fits squarely within that pattern. The large turnout of ministers and public representatives signals the Telangana government's intent to associate itself visibly with the Phule legacy and its themes of backward-class empowerment and women's education. Whether the ceremony will be followed by concrete programme announcements — new scholarships, school infrastructure, or welfare initiatives tied to the Phule name — remains the question to watch in the days ahead. Savitribai Phule taught girls when teaching girls was an act of rebellion. Installing her statue at the heart of Hyderabad is the state's way of saying that rebellion was always the right side of history.Point of View
Who leads a Congress government navigating a diverse coalition of social constituencies, associating visibly with the Phule legacy reinforces outreach to OBC and Dalit communities. Across Indian states, such statue unveilings rarely stand alone — they typically precede or accompany welfare programme announcements, making the Telangana government's next policy move worth watching closely. The Phule legacy is also non-partisan enough to carry broad public legitimacy, giving the gesture cross-community resonance beyond any single vote bloc.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the Phule couple statues unveiled in Hyderabad?
The statues of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule were unveiled at Necklace Road, opposite the HMDA Grounds, in Hyderabad.
Who unveiled the Phule statues in Hyderabad in 2026?
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled the statues on 14 August 2026, the eve of Independence Day.
Who was Savitribai Phule?
Savitribai Phule was the wife of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and is widely recognised as India's first female teacher, who opened one of the country's earliest schools for girls in Pune in 1848.
Why are Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule important in Indian history?
Jyotirao Phule was a 19th-century social reformer who fought caste discrimination and advocated for education for marginalised communities; Savitribai Phule pioneered girls' education at a time when it was socially forbidden, making them foundational figures in India's social justice movement.
Why were the statues unveiled on 14 August?
The unveiling on 14 August — Independence Day eve — symbolically links the Phule couple's fight against social inequality with India's broader freedom struggle, a framing commonly used by state governments during the Independence Day period.
