The Progressive Journey of

Memorials Dedicated to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Sudhir Hilsayan

Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the universal champion of human rights, himself faced various forms of social stigmatisation from his early childhood days and hitherto even in his death. This year, we commemorate the 68th Mahaparinirvan Diwas of a towering intellect and a true son of the soil. From an early age, he was one of the few individuals who participated in the school curriculum, considering the social barriers that were in place. He often contemplated to work as a daily labourer at textile mills, but his conscience debarred him from running away from his family. These experiences shaped Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's worldview in becoming a "Vishwamanav" and the maker and conscience-keeper of Modern India.

In an era where individuals used to write B.A. (F) in their visiting cards, which translated to B.A. (Failed), Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar pursued higher education in the USA and the UK. In the 1920s, he resided at 10, King Henry Road, London, which was revamped into the "Shiksha Bhoomi" in 2015. Despite being an erudite scholar, he was socially stigmatised for his "Mahar" background and the rigid implementation of the then-prevailing so-called untouchability.

The distressing narrative unfolded as he returned from completing his studies in the United States and the United Kingdom. Due to the terms of his scholarship, he was compelled to join the Baroda State Service, securing a position in Maharaja's defence office, the very institution that sponsored his international education. Despite his foreign academic credentials, the burden of his low-caste origins subjected him to mistreatment at workplace. He suffered bias and scorn from colleagues, enduring the humiliation of clerks throwing files at him. At official events, he had to face the indignity of being denied water, and at the officer's club, he was segregated, compelled to sit separately and avert his gaze from higher-caste members. In this context, securing suitable housing proved to be challenging, as he was not granted a government bungalow, prompting him to reside in a Parsi owned hotel.

After returning from studying abroad, Dr. Ambedkar had hoped that things would change, and people would view him differently, but nothing had socially transformed in terms of the annihilation of casteism at the grassroot level.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's "Mahasankalp"

On September 23, 1917, Dr. Ambedkar had just returned from work when a group of Parsis barged into his room with sticks, accusing him of tarnishing the hotel. They insisted on his immediate departure. Despite his plea for an additional week, hoping to secure his official bungalow, they remained unyielding. The lack of assistance from Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his tenure exacerbated the situation. Had action been taken by the Maharaja of Baroda at that very moment, Dr. Ambedkar might have been spared such a distressing experience at the hands of the belligerent group who feared marginalisation from the mainstream population.

Frustrated and disheartened by their hostility, Dr. Ambedkar spent most of the time in a public garden before taking an evening train to Bombay (now Mumbai). This day is now revered as "Mahasankalp Diwas" by the Ambedkarites across India and abroad. And Sayaji Baug, which is now present in Vadodara, is known as "Mahasankalp Sthal" - the site where Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar achieved spiritual liberation, reminiscent of Tathagata Lord Gautam Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. On that pivotal night, Dr. Ambedkar sought help from friends, but all his efforts were futile because they were unable to aid him. With no alternative, he resolutely decided to return to Bombay that very day, never to return. He was unable to sleep, and in the midst of a restless night, he made a profound "Mahasankalp"-a solemn vow-to transform the fate of all marginalised people in Indian society through comprehensive reforms, envisioning a new India where the principles of social justice would apply to all strata of society. This year marks the 106th commemoration of that solemn vow which was taken by Dr. Ambedkar.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and His Leap of Faith

In the year 1935, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's wife Ramabai passed away. He was broken down to the very core because of the bond that he shared with his wife. Moreover, his favourite dog Tobby also passed away during the same time, adding to his mourning. In terms of reformation, for years, Dr. Ambedkar tried to socially change Hinduism from within. But he failed to do so time and again. The accumulated frustration stemmed from the desire to reclaim human dignity in response to the persistent elitist attitudes towards the so-called untouchables, coupled with the adherence to hegemonic social practices.

In 1956, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar formally asserted that the teachings of Tathagata Lord Buddha provided a pathway to liberation and equality, contending that the caste system and various forms of discrimination had distorted Buddhism's original principles in India. In this context, Dr. Ambedkar observed that Buddhism is a unifying force for the marginalised and under-privileged communities; he envisioned it as a catalyst for social justice for all. Herein embracing Buddhism, Dr. Ambedkar authored "The Buddha and His Dhamma" in 1956, offering an interpretation of Lord Buddha's teachings in the then context of India and advocating for their pertinence to social and political issues. In due course of time, Dr. Ambedkar's Navayana Buddhism evolved into a social movement in India, inspiring numerous marginalised communities to convert to Buddhism as a rejection of the prevailing caste system and a pursuit of a more just society. At present, Navayana Buddhism remains a consequential social and political force in India, championing equality, human rights, and social justice through the application of Buddhist teachings and practices in real-life events to achieve a modern India free from all kinds of prejudices.

Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Last Abode

On April 15, 1948, Dr. Ambedkar married Dr. Sharda Kabir (later known as Dr. (Mrs.) Savita Ambedkar or Maisaheb) from Mumbai. A registered wedding took place in New Delhi. On February 05, 1951, Dr. Ambedkar presented the Hindu Code Bill in the Indian Parliament. On September 27, 1951, after a prolonged debate on the Hindu Code Bill and exemption from official duties, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar spent most of his time at his residence on 26 Alipur Road, Delhi. He was essentially the very first individual to advocate for the human rights associated with human resources to inoculate and enable social empowerment for all. In terms of the house ownership, it was originally owned by the former Raja of Sirohi and it became Dr. Ambedkar's abode after vacating his official residence on Prithviraj Road in Delhi upon leaving the then Jawaharlal Nehru-led government. Dr. Ambedkar shifted to the new place only after discussing a proper rent agreement with the Maharaja of Sirohi, so as to maintain his clear conscience. Accompanied by his wife Dr. (Mrs.) Savita Ambedkar and cook Sudama, he opted to be a tenant at this location, avoiding government accommodation.

This residence became significant as it was where Dr. Ambedkar wrote several works, including one of his last significant works, "The Buddha and His Dhamma," a treatise on Buddha's life and philosophy. Due to declining health caused by diabetes and poor eyesight, Shri Nanak Chand Rattu provided assistance to Dr. Ambedkar in his writing endeavours. In September 1956, a month before embracing Buddhism with eight lakh followers in Nagpur, now known as "Deekshabhoomi", Dr. Ambedkar wrote a poignant letter to the then Prime Minister Pt. Nehru from this residence, seeking help in publishing the aforesaid book. Pt. Nehru responded the next day, indicating that the allocated funds for Buddha Jayanti publications had been exhausted and suggesting Dr. Ambedkar approach Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the Committee Chairman for help. The latter declined to provide aid due to financial constraints.

Despite being excluded from the committee observing the 2500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, Dr. Ambedkar continued to host gatherings and meetings at his residence, attended by intellectuals, activists, students, and teachers from Delhi University. Dr. Ambedkar was invited to their homes, but instead, he used to ask them to bring the food to 26 Alipur Road, so as to enable social change subconsciously among everyone. On December 6, 1956, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar breathed his last at midnight, marking his "Mahaparinirvan" which was attended by millions of followers. In due course, after Dr. Ambedkar attained "Mahaparinirvan", the property at 26 Alipur Road was sold to a local businessman Shri Madan Lal Jain.

Mrs. Savita Ambedkar (Maisaheb) was allowed to retain two rooms, but later the Jain family allegedly sought to evict her. The Additional Rent Controller served her a notice on January 17, 1967. On January 20, Dr. (Mrs.) Savita Ambedkar left for Alwar (Rajasthan), perhaps in the hope that nothing would happen in her absence. With Dr. (Mrs.) Ambedkar (Maisaheb) away, the property was allegedly forcibly opened by the Jain family to vacate the rooms and remove all other papers, documents, and manuscripts handwritten by Dr. Ambedkar. Regrettably, due to rain that night, several of Dr. Ambedkar's papers and writings were irreparably damaged. Following her return from Alwar (Rajasthan), Dr. (Mrs.) Savita Ambedkar sought the help of the then-Home Minister, Shri Y.B. Chavan, and the then Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri A.N. Jha, to enter the premises and take away all her belongings. Later, it was acquired by the Jindal family under the banner of M/s Jindal Aluminium Ltd. and M/s Jindal Pipes Ltd. Apart from these, Maisaheb had donated a sizeable number of artifacts used by Dr. Ambedkar, including the Bharat Ratna, an urn of ashes, and so on to the Symbiosis Society, Pune, which constructed a Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and Memorial in 1990, a year before the centenary celebrations of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. In due course, the 26 Alipur Road property was acquired by the government of India in 2003 and transformed into the Dr. Ambedkar Mahaparinirvana Sthal and Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial and Museum (hereinafter "Memorial"). These premises were dedicated to the Nation by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India, in December 2003.

Meanwhile, despite its decla-ration as a place of national significance, the "Mahapari-nirvan Bhoomi" initially received limited attention from both the government and the public due to marginalisation induced by the mainstream media, but things were to change soon due to the efforts of the then government of the day. At present, the Shantivan at Chincoli, Nagpur, has been completed. This project to create a research facility cum museum was initiated by Shri Wamanrao Godbole with the help of several Ambedkarites, including Shri Nanak Chand Rattu, who also donated around 1008 artifacts of 188 types used by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during his lifetime to the museum. The idea stemmed from Dr. Ambedkar's interview given to the BBC on May 12, 1956, with the speech titled "Why do I like Buddhism as a Religion" and on the need to study Buddhist philosophies.

Overhauling of Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi

After Dr. Ambedkar's Mahaparinirvan on December 6, 1956, the ownership of the residence at 26 Alipur Road passed on from the Raja of Sirohi (with Dr. Ambedkar as a tenant) to the Jindal family. The demand to acquire the house from the Jindals gained momentum on Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birth centenary in 1991. The constitution of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) on March 24, 1992, created momentum in this endeavour. A decade later, during the NDA government, the bungalow was purchased by the government from the Jindal family. In 2003, the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, laid the foundation of the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM) on the site.

On April 13, 2016, on the eve of Dr. Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM) at 26 Alipur Road, Delhi. As a project of the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), the memorial was constructed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) at a cost of Rs. 95 crores. The architectural design, shaped like an open book representing the Constitution, includes vast landscaped gardens. The memorial serves to immortalise Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, allowing the new generation to remember his social, political, and economic contributions.

At the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM), the overall ambience of the place seamlessly blends modern science with traditional Buddhist architecture. The main entrance gate, inspired by the historical Ajanta gate, takes the form of a Chaitya door. The open book design symbolises the Constitution of India and empowerment through edu-cation and knowledge. The interior design depicts Dr. Ambedkar's life, vision, and ideology through static/dynamic displays, LED walls, and interactive tables. Ancient Buddhist architectural elements such as the Stupa, Canopy, Toran Dwars, Meditation Hall, and Bodhi Tree adorn the place, reflecting Dr. Ambedkar's life and thoughts.

The first floor emphasises Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a nationalist icon and the architect of India's constitution, while the lower floor showcases pages of the Constitution with drawings by Shri Nandalal Bose. The meditation hall and the room displaying Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's personal artifacts are tastefully done. A life-size robotic statue/animatronic of Dr. Ambedkar that narrates his speeches (in his original voice) he delivered before the Constituent Assembly is also present on the first floor of the DANM premises.

A true citizen of India should definitely visit the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM) to understand the significant role played by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar in the conception of Nation Building for Modern India. Dr. Ambedkar had once observed that, "the aim of human society must be to enable every person to lead a life of culture which means the cultivation of the mind as distinguished from the satisfaction of mere physical wants". In this spirit, it can be hoped that this space will truly inspire Yuva Shakti to closely trail the visions and thoughts of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and build a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the near future.

Dr. Ambedkar International Center (DAIC)

In essence, Dr. Ambedkar loved books. This can be seen from his private collection of 50,000 books at Rajgruha, Mumbai, Maharashtra. In this context, the foundation of the Dr. Ambedkar National Library was laid on 15 Janpath, New Delhi. After the demolition of the earlier buildings on 15 Janpath, the foundation stone for the construction of the Dr. Ambedkar International Center (DAIC) building on 15 Janpath was laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 20 April, 2015, and the building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on December 07, 2017, to conduct research on socio-economic transformation at the grassroot level and also act as a repository of Dr. Ambedkar's message and ideology to promote his visions and thoughts across India and abroad.

Chaitya Bhoomi at Dadar, Mumbai

On December 7, 1956, a mammoth and bereaved crowd wept at Dr. Ambedkar's funeral procession in Chaitya Bhoomi, Dadar, Mumbai. At present, Chaitya Bhoomi stands as a sacred site for followers of Dr. Ambedkar, featuring a memorial dedicated to the leader. The two-story structure, resembling a Stupa, was constructed over Dr. Ambedkar's cremation site, drawing inspiration from his religious and philosophical pursuits. The Stupa design is influenced by Vedic "smasana", representing a burial structure for relics. Dr. Ambedkar's ashes, the primary relic, are housed in a small ground-floor room adorned with sculptures and portraits of Dr. Ambedkar and the Buddha. Bright flower garlands enhance the memorial's decor. The second floor, a white marble cupola, serves as a rest hall for bhikkhus, surrounded by a square railing and topped with a chatra carrying three umbrella-like structures. Like Buddhist shrines, the Stupa boasts a simple and unpretentious design. Torana gateways to the North and South feature reliefs depicting people, animals, and flowers, topped with the dharmachakra symbolising Buddha's teaching. Meerabai Yashwantrao Ambedkar, Dr. Ambedkar's daughter-in-law, inaugurated the memorial on December 5, 1971. Annually on December 6, millions and millions of followers visit Chaitya Bhoomi to pay homage to Dr. Ambedkar.

In addition to Chaitya Bhoomi, the Government of Maharashtra has assigned Mumbai Metropolitan Region Develop-ment Authority (MMRDA) as a Special Planning Authority for developing a grand memorial for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in Indu Mill Campus, Mumbai. A highlight of this new memorial is the magnificent 350-foot bronze statue of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, with an additional 100 feet for the pedestal. The pedestal building includes a Chaitya Hall with 24 copper-cladded rib domes, an internal spiral ramp with museum and exhibition gallery spaces, and five lifts transporting visitors from the Chaitya Hall to the Pedestal. This memorial serves as a significant tribute, continually reminding citizens of the enduring values and principles upheld by Dr. Ambedkar, inspiring all Indians to carry forward his noble work and strive for social justice.

Conclusion

This year as we commemorate the 68th Mahaparinirvan Diwas, it's evident that Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stands as a stalwart and a doyen in praxis, and as such, his life and works should be recognised as unique, and incomparable to other freedom fighters of his time. He had once observed that, "men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise both will wither and die." Following such spirit, it can be noted that a visit to the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM) is not only an exploration of modernity but also a tribute to Dr. Ambedkar's pivotal role as India's first Law Minister and as the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution. It symbolises 'New India's' homage to one of her founding fathers.

Also noteworthy is the recently launched the "Panchteerth Yojana" also known as the Ambedkar Circuit, that aims to ensure widespread disse-mination of the message and ideology of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar among the Indian society and beyond. Nonetheless, the Mahasankalp Bhoomi in Vadodara carries significant importance and should undoubtedly be integrated into the Ambedkar Circuit programme. It might be opportune to contemplate a Mahateerth scheme, recognising it as a key landmark in the life and journey of Dr. Ambedkar. Additionally, other crucial locations such as Sphoortibhoomi (Dr. Ambedkar's ancestral place), Shantivan in Chincholi, Rajgruha (housing Dr. Ambedkar's personal book collection), and several more should be seamlessly incorporated into this initiative. All in all, such concerted efforts of the government will play a crucial role in disseminating the true message and ideology of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar among the Indian masses and beyond.

The author is an Editor at Dr. Ambedkar Foundation (DAF), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@gmail.com

Views expressed are personal.