Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Statues, Busts and Portraits around the world:

1)Statue at Wolverhampton

The first open-air statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in United Kingdom was installed outside the Buddha Vihara in Wolverhampton by Dr Ambedkar Memorial committee of Great Britain in the year 2003.

2) Statue at Ambedkar House London.

The Second open air statue in UK was at Ambedkar House 10 King Henry's Road London NW3. The installation was managed by Shekhar Bodhakar, a London based Ambedkarite on the occasion of 127th Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti on 14th April. The erecting of this statue was the least published event due to a planned inauguration, five days after installation being cancelled. The statue was due to be inaugurated by Mr. Modi but was cancelled at the last minute due to a small group of Ambedkarite protesters outside Ambedkar House. (Ambedkarites Raise Black Flag as Narendra Modi Visits London’s Ambedkar House)

Installation of Babasaheb statue at Ambedkar House, London

3) Gray’s Inn, London.

Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, officially recognised as one of the greatest lawyers in history, has his portraits amongst the finest in the world at the prestigious Grays Inn in London.

Furthermore, he is the only person honoured with two portraits here and the only non-White. What an achievement Babasaheb!

Thanks to "Dr Ambedkar Memorial Committee of Great Britain" for taking the initiative to donate the first portrait, which served as an inspiration to young Indian lawyers passing through Grays inn.

4)Gray’s Inn in London

The second portrait (above), sponsored by the Indian government is painted by world renowned artist, Hazel Morgan.

"The fact that Babasaheb is the only personality with TWO portraits, makes him the “most popular lawyer amongst the greatest” and the ONLY non-white /non-English", was highlighted by Shekhar Bodhakar, an Ambedkarite thinker from London, at the unveiling ceremony.

"This is a great honour for all Indians and lovers of justice across the world. Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar truly is one of the greatest intellectuals and human rights advocates the modern world has witnessed," said Shekhar.

5) A bust of Dr. Ambedkar inside Ambedkar House, London

6) London School of Economics, London.

Portrait of Dr. Ambedkar during the inauguration

In the half-length portrait, Dr. Ambedkar is depicted wearing a white suit and holding a copy of the Indian constitution in a book lined interior. The portrait was presented to the School on 25 September 1973 by the Dr Ambedkar Memorial Committee of Great Britain. The event in the Old Theatre was attended by the Venerable Dr. H Saddatissa, Head of London Buddhist Vihara. The portrait was accepted by the School’s Director, Sir Walter Adams who said that “by his work as a scholar and as a man of action, he [Ambedkar] helped decisively to shape the development of India in this century”.(A scholar, a lawyer and an educator – portraits of Dr B R Ambedkar at LSE)

At present the portrait is hanged high, inside a closed room.

7) London School of Economics, London.

A bust of Dr. Ambedkar unveiled in 1994 in the Atrium, Old Building.

8) Columbia University, USA.

A bronze bust of Dr. Ambedkar was placed in the Lehman Library in 1995. Dr. Ambedkar bust at Columbia University is one of the most popular sites in enclosed spaces on campus (Dr. Ambedkar and Columbia University: A Legacy to Celebrate)

9) Bust at the Indian High Commission, India House, London.

10) Brandeis University, Boston, USA.

Dr. Ambedkar’s bust was unveiled at the prestigious Brandeis University, Boston, in USA on 29th April 2017. It is the second Dr. Ambedkar bust in USA. (Dr Ambedkar Bust Inaugurated at Brandeis University, Boston, USA in Conference on Caste)

11)University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.

A brass bust of Dr. Ambedkar weighing at 40 pounds, was inaugurated at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on May 5, 2018.(Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s bust unveiled at University of Massachusetts-Amherst)

12) York University, Canada

A bust was donated by Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) Canada, Toronto. The bronze bust was installed in the Scott Library. The event took place Dec. 2 (2015) at the University’s Keele campus. (York University honours B. R. Ambedkar, India’s iconic champion of social justice)

13) Hungary.

On April 14 (2016), an Ambedkar bust, said to be first in the heart of Europe, was installed at the Ambedkar Institute in Sajokaza, where a half of the 3,300 population are Romas. It is gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) (Romas look up to Ambedkar)

14) Koyasan University, Japan.

"This statue installed in Japan is a gift from people of Maharashtra and India to the people of Koyasan and Japan (Dr. Ambedkar's statue unveiled at Koyasan University in Japan)

15) Sydney University , Australia.

The bust of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, donated by ICCR was unveiled at the Law School of Western Sydney University. (Dr. B. R. Ambedkar bust unveiled at Western Sydney university)

16) Statues in South Africa.

Two statues installed at Nirox Sculpture Park, in an area known as Cradle of Humankind, outside Johannesburg, South Africa. The installation consists of four concrete plinths of differing heights facing the four cardinal points. On two of the plinths facing east and west are the first statues of Dr. Ambedkar – the legal luminary, historian and indefatigable crusader for the rights of all Indians – on the African continent, while the other two plinths are vacant.(Ambedkar in South Africa: With a new installation, Riyas Komu creates an archive of resistance, hope)

And this is how the Father of Modern India is (dis)respected by some Indians at home (broken, neglected statues) .

Plus thousands more in not so prominent places around the world and countless millions in people’s homes and hearts

WAIT FOR MORE IN THE COMING YEARS

JAI BHIM

Author: Pavel