Munish Sood
SHIMLA/MANDI:
The Virbhadra Singh Foundation has announced that the statue of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader late Virbhadra Singh would be unveiled at Shimla’s historic Ridge ground on October 13, 2025 (Monday).
The decision marks the culmination of months of anticipation surrounding the tribute to the six-time Chief Minister, widely regarded as one of the most influential political figures in Himachal Pradesh’s history.
Rescheduled due to natural calamity
The unveiling ceremony was initially scheduled for June 23, 2025, to coincide with Virbhadra Singh’s birth anniversary. However, devastating rain, cloudbursts and landslides wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh before the event in June, claiming lives and causing extensive damage to infrastructure.
In light of the tragedy, the foundation postponed the programme, stating that holding a grand celebration amid widespread grief and loss would have been inappropriate. Instead, it redirected its efforts toward relief work, contributing Rs 11 lakh to support the education of children who lost their parents in the disaster.
Not the first postponement
This is not the first time commemorative events in Virbhadra Singh’s honour have been altered due to natural calamities. In 2023, memorial programmes marking his death anniversary were scaled down after heavy monsoon damage across the state. Similarly, in 2024, certain remembrance events were reorganised following severe weather disruptions.
These repeated postponements underscore both the frequency of natural disasters in the hill state and the sensitivity with which the foundation has sought to align commemorations with prevailing public sentiment.
The rescheduled event has received the endorsement of the Congress high command as well as the state leadership. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary and Member of Parliament, will lead the national-level participation. She will be joined by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, state Congress president Pratibha Singh, AICC in-charge Rajni Patil and several other senior leaders.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend, depending on her health condition. The event is anticipated to draw thousands of party workers, supporters and residents from across Himachal Pradesh.
Legacy cast in bronze
Virbhadra Singh, fondly known as “Raja Sahib”, dominated Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape for over five decades. Serving six terms as chief minister, he played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s development trajectory, particularly in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
The statue at the Ridge — the symbolic heart of Shimla — is being described as a fitting tribute to a leader who left an indelible mark on the state’s politics and public life.
The Virbhadra Singh Foundation has extended an invitation to the people of Himachal Pradesh and the wider public to attend the unveiling ceremony. “This is not just a political event but a historic moment for all who admired Raja Sahib’s vision and leadership,” the foundation said in its statement.
