Coming soon: Ambedkar at India Gate

Prashun Bhaumik |

By Our Correspondent 

The canopy behind the India Gate with its graceful slender pillars has sheltered an empty space for many decades.  The canopy once housed the regal statue of King George V but soon after independence that statue  was removed from its original place and transferred to a now  nondescript park in a forgotten corner of Lutyen’s Delhi where it  shares the fate of other statues of British officials and viceroys.

For many years there has been a demand that the empty canopy should house the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The government has for one reason of the other turned down that request. One reason cited is that a typical statue of the Mahatma dressed in a dhoti will clash with the overall design and aesthetics of the India Gate area. However, now the father of the nation faces a former, suit-clad  challenger – Dr BR Ambedkar.

Shashi Bhushan, a former member of parliament and more famously known for being one of the ‘Young Turks’ of the Congress with Chandra Shekhar, is going to start a campaign to install a statue of Ambedkar under the canopy.

He has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson  Sonia Gandhi demanding that “in view of the historic and significant  contribution made by Dr B R Ambedkar in the cause of upliftment of  social status of Dalits in the country and also his consistent  campaign against discrimination on the basis of caste,” his statue should be installed under the canopy.

Bhushan says Ambedkar is acknowledged by all sections of people as the ‘Messiah of Dalits’ and his contribution was “no less important than any other national leader.”

While those supporting the installation of Gandhi’s statue could not succeed, it seems that the given the significance of the backward and lower caste vote it may be politically expedient for the UPA government to install Ambedkar’s statue and reap the benefits that accrue. Or will Delhi have to wait for a Dalit to occupy the prime minister’s chair for Ambedkar to take his place on Rajpath?