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Chaitya Bhoomi: India’s most visited death memorial

The funeral witnessed the second largest turnout in the history of Mumbai after Sardar Patel’s in 1950. The place is now known as Chaitya Bhoomi

When Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar died on 6 December 1956 in Delhi, Dadar Chowpati of Bombay (now Mumbai) was picked as the venue for his cremation. The funeral witnessed the second largest turnout in the history of Mumbai after Sardar Patel’s in 1950. The place is now known as Chaitya Bhoomi. Every year on the Mahaparinirva Diwas lakhs of people visit Chaitya Bhoomi to pay their respects to Babasaheb. The Chaitya Bhoomi memorial was inaugurated by his daughter-in-law, Meera Ambedkar, on 5 December 1971.

6 December 1956: Mourners at 26 Alipur Road, Dr Ambedkar’s Delhi residence, pay their final respects

 

7 December 1956: A crowd of around 5 lakhs accompanied the funeral procession of Dr Ambedkar’s body (in a hearse)

 

6 December 2013: RPI (A) leader Ramdas Athawale pays homage to
Dr Ambedkar at Chaitya Bhoomi

 

A glimpse of the crowd that gathers at Chaitya Bhoomi on 6 December every year

Published in the December 2014 issue of the Forward Press magazine


Forward Press also publishes books on Bahujan issues. Forward Press Books sheds light on the widespread problems as well as the finer aspects of Bahujan (Dalit, OBC, Adivasi, Nomadic, Pasmanda) society, literature, culture and politics. Contact us for a list of FP Books’ titles and to order. Mobile: +919968527911, Email: info@forwardmagazine.in

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