Ambedkar in frames draws huge crowd

Exhibition of rare photos of Dr B R Ambedkar was the highlight on Thursday as a part of Ambedkar Mahaparinirvana (56th death anniversary) Day organised by Dr B R Ambedkar Research and Extension Centre, University of Mysore in the city.

The images included that of his family- wife, son, mother-in-law, nephews and his pet dog Tobby. Pictures of Ambedkar’s father Subedar Ramji Maloji Ambedkar and his elder son Yaswant Rao Ambedkar were even on display.

The other exhibits consisted of his days as a lawyer, swearing-in as minister of law in 1950, with Dalit women activists (1942), visit to Madras to attend labour convention, Round Table Conference at London with Mahatma Gandhi, Muslim leader Maula Hasrat Mohani, Periyar Ramaswami, associates of Labour Party founded by him and with members of Samaj Samata Sangh and others. Many facsimile letters written by him also constituted the expo.

State secretary of People’s Union for Civic Liberties (PUCL) V Lakshminarayana,  said, politics has not spared even Dalit campaigns in present days. Ambedkar’s policies are not discussed, but more on he embracing Buddhism and drafting the Constitution. 

He said ‘Ambedkar who emerged as the Dalit leader in 1923 itself, fought for their rights all through his life’.

Social activist Mangalore Vijay, director of the centre J Somashekar and others were present.