Thousands gather to pay respect to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas: A photo essay
December 6 marks the death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Like every year, thousands of people from across the nation gathered at Chaitanyabhoomi in Mumbai to pay their respects to the great leader. These photos were clicked by TwoCircles.net’s Mumbai correspondent Daisy Katta, who visited the place and took the opportunity to document and photograph the stories of some of the visitors.
The way leading to Dr.Ambedkar memorial reads – Here no priests are allowed to perform any ritual in this vicinityPeople outside Dr.Ambedkar Memorial at Chaityabhoomi in MumbaiYoungsters taking a photo with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s great grandsonMrs. Nagdeve, who has travelled all the way from Nagpur, is the wife of painter Hemant Nagdeve whose paintings are displayed at Columbia University, Dr. Ambedkar’s alma mater.Janubai from Parbhani district of Maharashtra travelled with her son to Chaityabhoomi. They lost their way by getting into a wrong local train as they reached Mumbai, finally making it at the last minute.Vishnu, from Ulhasnagar on the outskirts to Mumbai, has been selling frames since many years, he says he travels to Bhima Koregaon, Nagpur, Pune and many such places where programs related to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar are held. Seen here with the photo frame of Ramabai Ambedkar wife of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.Asmita Abhyankar is from Thane District. She has been working with Samta Sainik Dal ( Soldiers for equality) since last 21 years. SSD is a social organisation founded by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on 24th August 1924.Sachin Jagtap who is an Auto driver in Mumbai, shows off his newly-purchased flag. This symbolic blue flag with Ashok Chakra was first used during the meeting of Scheduled Castes Federation of India in 1942, and carried forwarded by Republican party of India which was formed in 1957Youngsters in the crowdSinger Vishnu Shinde who is famous throughout Maharashtra for his Bhimgeet, seen here with his CDsOn ground at Shivaji Park DadarGautamiputra Kamble from Sangli District of Maharashtra, leads The Secular Movement initiative which works towards bringing and exhibiting works by Dalit Bahujan artists.J V Pawar, one of the founding members of Dalit Panthers. He and Namdeo Dhasal established Dalit Panthers in 1972 in Mumbai to fight caste discrimination.Ashok Pandagale from Nagpur has been visiting Chaityabhoomi for the last 25 years. He is seen here with his grandson.People from all over India stay overnight at the grounds of Shivaji Park in MumbaiRegional and various independent anti-caste publishers from all over India set up bookstalls of Ambedkarite literature.Chaityabhoomi at night.
