America To Host Largest Ambedkar Statue Outside India
The largest statue of Indian social reformer and politician, B R Ambedkar, outside India is all set to unveil in America”s Maryland on October 14. Dr Ambedkar was the principal architect of India”s strong built Constitution.
The statue, 19-foot tall and named as ‘Statue of Equality’, is part of the Ambedkar International Centre (AIC). AIC is a US-based civil rights organisation that was formed in 2012 to fight against cast discrimination, and to teach the ideas and thoughts of Dr Ambedkar.
The statue is constructed in a 13-acre land in Accokeek city of Maryland, which is approximately 35 kms south of Washington. It was made by renowned architect and sculptor Ram Sutar, who also constructed the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the world’s largest statue, that commemorates Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
The statue, as Hindustan Times quotes AIC, was installed as part of the Ambedkar Memorial which is being constructed at the AIC premises.
Representatives of various countries are expected to attend the unveiling ceremony on October 14. The statue according to AIC will be a memorial to stretch out the messages and teachings of BR Ambedkar to the world on equality and human rights.
The programmes of the day are already scheduled and will begin by a breakfast and social hour session by 10 am in the morning on October 14. This will be followed by ‘Bhante Talk’’, a discussion on global Ambedkarite movement and will honour its heroes. After having lunch by 1 pm, the statue unveiling ceremony will be held, followed by speeches of respected personalities who are invited to attend the event from various parts of the world.
Please join the unveiling of the largest statue of Dr B R Ambedkar in the US.
Date: Oct 14, 2023
Venue: 15755 Livingston Road
Accokeek, MD 20607https://t.co/soti7iZ1Gz pic.twitter.com/JnoOdVnzVB— Ambedkar International Center (AIC) (@ambedkar_center) September 22, 2023
The tallest statue of BR Ambedkar – 125-foot-tall – was unveiled in India”s Telangana earlier this year, and was also designed by Ram Sutar along with his son Anil Sutar. It is located in the banks of Hyderabad”s famous Hussain Sagar Lake.
Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who headed the drafting committee for the Constitution of India, was born in 1891. He was a jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader, and served as Law and Justice minister in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He inspired and encouraged Dalit Buddhist movement after completely rejecting Hinduism.
Mr Ambedkar played a pivotal role in the Indian social movement spectrum, demanding rights and opportunities for Dalits and untouchables. He embraced Buddhism, months before his death on December 6, 1956.
