Dr B R Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956.
To the chants of 'Jai Bheem' and 'Babasaheb Amar rahe', rich tributes were paid in Mumbai to BR Ambedkar, fondly called Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution of India, on his 61st death anniversary today. The day is also observed as Ambedkar 'Maha Parinirvana Diwas'. Thousands of followers converged at his memorial in Chaitya Bhoomi where Maharashtra Chief Minister and Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao were also present. Mr Fadnavis said the work on Ambedkar's memorial at the Indu Mill land will begin in a month. Last month, the state government announced that November 7 will be observed as Student's Day in Maharashtra to mark Dalit icon Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's entry into school education.
BR Ambedkar, fondly called Baba Saheb, was born in a Dalit family during the colonial era of India. He grew up seeing the atrocities meted out to the Dalits, who were treated as untouchables and were ostracised. He later campaigned against the social discrimination against the Dalits and became the force behind the Dalit Buddhist Movement in India. Nearly half a million Dalits joined him in this movement and got converted to Navayana Buddhism or Neo-Buddhism, a re-interpreteation of Buddhism by Dr Ambedkar. His book, The Buddha and His Dhamma is the holy book of Navayana and Dalit Buddhists. He died on December 6, 1956.
On BR Ambedkar death anniversary, leaders and netizens poured their heartfelt tributes on Twitter:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted pictures of him along with President Ram Nath Kovind and other BJP leaders paying tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar.
Rahul Gandhi, who is set to become Congress President, tweeted, ""Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die." My tributes to #BabasahebAmbedkar on #MahaParinirvana Diwas.Human rights activist Harsh Mander tweeted, "Remembering #BabasahebAmbedkar today with utmost gratitude. He reminded us that fraternity- love, solidarity, sisterhood & brotherhood - is at the heart of our nationhood & republic. Justice, liberty, equality can never become the natural order of things unless there's fraternity"Actor Riteish Deshmukh also tweeted his respects for the Dalit icon. "Remembering the Father Of Indian Constitution Dr. #BabasahebAmbedkar ji on his death anniversary today. #Salute #Respect," he tweeted.One Twitter user said that he remembers Dr Ambedkar every day and tweeted a picture of his last journey.Another Twitter user tweeted a famous quote from him, "Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be a matter of rules. The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be a religion, as it kills responsibility which is an essence of the true religious act." #BabasahebAmbedkar"