On 6 February 2026, a life-size statue of Karl Marx was unveiled in Chennai, at the Connemara Public Library–State Museum complex, by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The inauguration, organised by the state government, was accompanied by an exhibition on Marx’s life and ideas, underlining the explicitly ideological character of the event.
The erection of Marx’s statue in a major Indian metropolis is more than a ceremonial gesture.
The erection of Marx’s statue in a major Indian metropolis is more than a ceremonial gesture.
It is a public affirmation that Marxist ideas—class struggle, opposition to exploitation, and collective emancipation—remain relevant in the heart of India, where workers, peasants, and oppressed communities continue to confront neoliberal policies, inequality, and authoritarianism.
For the Indian left and progressive forces internationally, the monument stands as a militant symbol: a reminder that socialism is not a relic of the past but a living current, rooted in real struggles. In a period when capital tightens its grip and reactionary forces grow bolder, the presence of Marx in public space in Chennai signals continuity, resistance, and the enduring necessity of international working-class solidarity.
For the Indian left and progressive forces internationally, the monument stands as a militant symbol: a reminder that socialism is not a relic of the past but a living current, rooted in real struggles. In a period when capital tightens its grip and reactionary forces grow bolder, the presence of Marx in public space in Chennai signals continuity, resistance, and the enduring necessity of international working-class solidarity.
