On Sunday, December 6, several people gathered outside Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, Mumbai, in view of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s 64th death anniversary, observed as as "Mahaparinirvana Diwas”.
However, the crowds gathered outside Chaityabhoomi were seen wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing in lieu of the pandemic. Moreover, police personnel as well as barricades were seen in the area to help with the overcrowding.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier held a meeting with the Mahaparinirvana Diwas coordination committee and the senior government officials. The committee appealed to Ambedkarites to not travel to Mumbai on December 6 like every year and instead pay their respects from home.
However, the BMC asserted that an online broadcast would be arranged for the same. Every year on December 6, lakhs of people across the country visit Chaityabhoomi to pay their respects on his death anniversary. The day is observed as ‘Mahaparinirvana Diwas’. In view of the pandemic this year, the BMC had appealed to the citizens to pay respects to the stalwart differently. Moreover, earlier on Friday, November 20, BMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal visited Chaityabhoomi to take stock of arrangements for December 6.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was not just a jurist or an economist, he was a social reformer who spearheaded the Dalit Buddhist movement further campaigning against the social evil of untouchability. Ambedkar was independent India's first Minister of Law and Justice and was considered as the chief architect of the Constitution of India. He died in his sleep on December 6, 1956, at his home in Delhi.
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