Washington: The ‘Statue of Equality,’ one of the largest statues commemorating the Indian constitutional architect Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, unveiled in Maryland, USA. The inauguration of this 19-foot-tall statue drew attendees from various parts of America.
Ram Kumar, the President of the Ambedkar International Center (AIC), stated during the unveiling ceremony, “We are calling it the Statue of Equality… Inequality is not only a problem in India; it exists in different forms worldwide.”
According to Deelip Mhaske, based in New York and the leader of the Ambedkar movement in the US, the ‘Statue of Equality’ represents not only the 1.4 billion Indians but also the 4.5 million Indian Americans. Mhaske added, “This statue will inspire not only the millions of Indians living in the US but all communities, including blacks, Hispanics, and others. This is a historic step to unify the Indian-American diaspora and bolster India’s standing in technology and social justice.”
Spanning across 13 acres, the AIC in Accokeek township, situated approximately 22 miles to the south of the White House, is designed to include a library, convention center, and a Buddha Garden, among other facilities. Notably, the Statue of Equality is crafted by the renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, known for creating the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat, famously referred to as the Statue of Unity.
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956, a few months after his conversion to Buddhism on October 14 of the same year. Interestingly, this date aligns with the unveiling of the statue in Maryland, making October 14 a significant occasion celebrated by Ambedkarites as ‘Dhamma Chakra Parivartan Din.
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