CM announces 3rd Ambedkar memorial

To be built at the Dalit leader’s birthplace using hologram tech.

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced one more memorial for national leader Dr BR Ambedkar. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the memorial would be built at Ambedave village, the birthplace of Dr Ambedkar, using hologram technology.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, while speaking at a function at Shanmukhananda Hall in the wake of Dr Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary on April 14, said, “Dr Ambedkar created a system in which the last man in society would also get justice. India is united because of Dr Ambedkar’s philosophy. We are going to build a large monument at Ambedave so that his work continues to inspire the future generation.”

The chief minister further said that the draft of the monument, which will be built using hologram technology, is being worked on.

“Houseboats and a jetty will be made available for people to reach the village. Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari has given his approval for the village to be connected with the Mumbai-Goa highway,” Mr Fadnavis said.

This is the third Dr Ambedkar monument announced by the Maharashtra government. It has already acquired the house in London, where the Dalit icon lived during his student days. With the Union government’s help, the house will be converted into a monument. Besides, the state has also planned a memorial at Indu Mills compound in Mumbai.

Mr Fadnavis had earlier informed in the Legislative Assembly that the work on Indu Mill monument would begin after April 14 this year. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will initially be responsible for the memorial’s upkeep and an independent authority, working under the government, will be constituted for the maintenance of the memorial.

The BJP-led Central government has also decided to develop five places associated with Dr Ambedkar. The BJP is projecting the five places — his birthplace in Mhow, twin houses in Delhi and London, in Nagpur where he had converted to Buddhism and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai where he was cremated — as panchtirth (pilgrim centres).