Ambedkar Bhavan razed, family upset

The historic Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, located behind Chitra Cinema, Dadar (east) was demolished. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

Demolition of the iconic Dr Ambedkar Bhavan near Dadar station in the early hours on Saturday has sparked a controversy, as family members of Babasaheb Ambedkar objected and filed an FIR against ‘The People’s Improvement Trust,’ which runs the institute. Dr Ambedkar’s family alleged the demolition had been carried out early in the morning to avoid protests from them.

The family also dismissed the trust’s plans for building a 17-storey building with various amenities in the place where Dr Ambedkar Bhavan stood.

Gokuldas Pasta Road at Dadar (east) houses the Ambedkar Bhavan that had an old printing press started by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1944.

As the building was found to be in a dilapidated condition, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had, on June 1, sent a notice to the trust indicating the status of the building. Following the notice, the trust decided to demolish the building.

The demolition was conducted at 3 am on Saturday. Objecting to the demolition, members of the Ambedkar family, including Dr Ambedkar’s grandsons, Prakash Ambedkar and Anandraj Ambedkar, reached the spot to register their protest.

“We have just followed the BMC’s orders. The family members are not part of the trust set up by Dr Ambedkar then. In fact, it was written by him that his family members will not be part of the trust,” said Vijay Ranpise, one of the trustees.

“One of its walls also collapsed during this monsoon and hence we decided to demolish the building. The demolition started in the early hours to avoid inconvenience to the people, as Dadar is a very crowded place. We plan to build a 17-storey structure with library, vipassana centre, conference halls and modern amenities within a year. We have collected fund for that and the chief minister has also sanctioned `10 crore for us,” Mr Ranpise added. He also added that Ambedkar family members were given offices at the building.

However, Anandraj Ambedkar has lodged an FIR in the Bhoiwada police station against the demolition. “There were many offices, library, printing press, computer room which are demolished completely. The demolition was conducted in the wee hours to avoid protest from us. We have lodged an FIR and want immediate action from the police. One of the former trustees and present Information Commissioner of the state, Ratnakar Gaikwad, is behind the demolition,” Mr Ambedkar alleged.

However, Mr Gaikwad did not answer to phone calls and text message regarding the allegations against him.