AMBEDKAR MEMORIALS :

Interesting investigative story for the 1st Jan issue. This one is for the memorial of the mother of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar , Bhimabai in the village Ambe-Tembe in Murbad Tahsil of Thane district where the iconic leader was born. Dr. Amebkar and memorials are now part of our civil fabric. Every Dali village has small or big bust of him in typical republic party blue jacket put on a pedestal. Nothing is wrong with that if it is giving inspirations to countless dalit children except they are usually neglected and noticed only by act of vandalism. Many memorials are erected for him across the nation and many more are in demand that include an university or air port or railway station. Statues are too small to make a mention.

Now demand for this memorial dedicated for his mother is pending reportedly since 1994. Surprisingly no Dalit leader worth the name is worried about it. The Government is ready to hand over an entire plot of sick ( or rather dead ) mill for memorial worth Billions of rupees but not bothered about this one. Again nothing wrong in erecting memorial over the site of dead mill. It is probably the best use it can be put to. That is no excuse to neglect his mother’s memorial. Even his grandsons are not showing interest for their ancestors. It only goes to prove the charge that dalits don’t remember their clan once they are better off educationally and financially. They become and behave like sub-cast of Brahmin amongst Dalits.

The memorial is important not only for sake of iconism but also for all round development of the village. It is sad to note hints that it is so because the village happens to be dominated by Dalits. Other villages In surrounding areas are better because they are dominated by upper casts. If that is the case of the village of the birth of MahaManav then what must be fate of other villages populated by Dalits ? May be people will not throng the place like Chaityabhume at Dadar or Dikshabhumi at Nagpur. Still it is a place of birth of Dr. Ambedkar and must be revered as such not only by the Dalits but by all right thinking Indians. Such is not the fate of the birth places of other leaders as rightly pointed out.

Pray we stop thinking on this divisive lines and whole hearted support the cause.

Arvind Khare
1-1-2012