Africa-Press – Mauritius. The bust of Dr Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution and a crusader for the rights of the untouchables, was unveiled last evening during a ceremony organised at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI).
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun; the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo; the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India, Mr Ramdas Athawale; the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mrs Nandini Singla; the President of the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation (MMMF), Mr Asant Govind; and other personalities were present.
The event is an initiative of the MMMF in collaboration with the MGI and the Phule Shahu Ambedkar Vichar Prasarak Mandal Pune, Maharashtra. In his address, President Roopun underlined the power of education as propounded by Dr Ambedkar, adding that for the latter, education was the gateway to progress in life and the way out of poverty and humiliation.
He underscored that social mobility is not possible without education and that Dr Ambedkar is proof of that. “We will continue to further pursue the legacy of Dr Ambedkar and uphold the values and principles his philosophy “, said the President.
He further observed that today, due to education empowerment, women are occupying top most positions around the globe. President Roopun appealed to all socio-cultural organisations, the elderly and parents to collaborate with Government in promoting education for all as well as provide support to children in difficulties to access education.
He also spoke of unity and consolidation of family structure to build a better society for the future. As for Minister Athawale, he spoke of the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Mauritius.
He recalled that many indentured labourers came from India to Mauritius some 200 years back and lauded the Mauritians for preserving the Indian culture and values so far.
Dr. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Dr. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in a Dalit family in India and died on 16 December 1956 in Delhi.
He was an eminent Indian polymath, a prominent jurist, an economist and a Dalit leader. He was also a politician and India’s first Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of Pandit Jawaharlall Nehru.
He headed the Committee that drafted the new Constitution of Independent India in 1947. Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar earned unprecedented educational degrees from the Universities of Bombay, Columbia (US) and the London School of Economics.
He also earned two PhDs as well as a law degree from Gray’s Inn of London. Dr. Ambedkar was a beacon for the downtrodden, fought for the dignity and rights of Dalits as humans in the greater society and shook the whole hated caste system by virtue of his exceptional intellectual abilities and talents.
He suffered terrible humiliations, however, with his strong and undaunted character, he never gave in because of his low birth status. He would take the insults and humiliations in stride and ever stand his ground and forcibly pursue his fight for justice, freedom and equal privileges for the downtrodden.
He, understandably, became a champion of freedom, of equal opportunities and free education for all. Dr. Ambedkar’s believed that we become who we are by our deeds, thus inspiring others to fight injustices and always strive to get ahead in life.
Our greatness lies not in what we inherit but in whatever we achieve through our own ceaseless effort. Today, in India, Dr. Ambedkar’s name is honoured and venerated.
There are life-size statues of him all over the country and dozens of cultural and social institutions named after him. His birth date 14 April is now a national holiday and, he is celebrated at public events every year on Constitution day on November 26.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
