People in Mhow celebrate Dr BR Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary
The celebration of Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary has become even bigger at his hometown, Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, with the government deciding to celebrate the day as Constitution Day from this year. It was on this day in 1949 that the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution.
Mohan Rao Wakode, secretary of the Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Memorial society says, "The followers of Baba Saheb love him so much that they want the government to give him the respect he deserves before they demand anything for themselves. We are very happy today." The memorial, which has been built over the place where Dr Ambedkar was born, draws a steady stream of visitors through the year.
The central government's decision comes 65 years after the Constitution came into force. Many see the move of declaring November 26 as Constitution day as a political move by the BJP, but not Dr Ambedkar's followers.
Payal Pardesi, a teacher, told NDTV, "We see it as a positive move. Our vote goes to the right party. Nowadays all are aware and educated and we know who to vote (for). If the government works for us, we will vote for them."
With over a dozen events lined up in school and colleges including an international seminar on the constitution, here today, students feel the constitution shouldn't just be confined to text books. Aakash Maheshram, a PhD student says, "We are not taught much about the Indian constitution in school. There is no awareness about our fundamental rights."