For those who ask whether the statues are meant for social and political leaders, a rag picker from Tamil Nadu had proved that the statues can be erected to a common man after he has put up his own statue by spending most of his savings he made in his lifetime. 

In what has become an eye-catcher, the statue had drawn major attention and with many stating it as an extremely unrealistic, the ragpicker has seemingly given no ears to the larger views as according to him, erecting his statue was a lifelong dream and he has also been planning to host the event of formally unveiling his statue. 

Ragpicker Nallathambi is a native of Atthanurpatty village in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. He has been making income for his own after he had left and cut off his ties with his family two decades ago. Initially, he was working as a mason, and later, he became a ragpicker. With the dream of erecting a statue of his own, he had spent about eleven lakh, which he had saved, and got a new statue, which resembles an ancient medieval statue. 

The reports say that he had bought a piece of land, specifically for the purpose of erecting his statue. He had spent Rs 10 lakh for the plot near the Salem-Belur highway and another one lakh for the sculptor for sculpting his statue. He has now erected a five feet stone statue of himself and hopes to organize an event to officially unveil his statue. 

Nallathambi, who is at his 60, was working as a mason initially and he quitted from the job after he got older. Later, he started as a ragpicker during which he used to collect plastic bottles and other recyclable waste which he would sell to the scrap dealers and earn about Rs 200 a day. As he was along, he thought that it would be sufficient for him and he later kept a portion of his income as his savings. 

He says he had a dream of having his own statue and he swung to the action to fulfill his dream of creating a new precedent for a common man, who had never used to think about erecting own statue by pumping in the entire savings. Nallathambi said that he is happy with the end product and he would continue as a ragpicker to make his living. 

While Nallathambi has been filled with joy after achieving his dream of erecting the statue, many had questioned his quixotic approach, being pushed to face more challenges in raising income during his difficult time. Many had echoed the message that Nallathambi could have started a business or a small restaurant with his savings. Should he had started the business, he would be out as a ragpicker.  His investment to expand his income could have generated more employments and he should have started a small entity rather erecting his own statue.