A museum for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is awaiting its due for recognition from the state government for last 13 years. In it are the personal artifacts of the father of the Indian Constitution dentures, a black suit he wore, a range of caps he was fond of, his walking stick, a transistor and also several vinyl records. An eye-catching piece of art amongst the collection is a painting of Lord Buddha, with his eyes wide open. It is a painting done by Dr Ambedkar himself, in a version of the Buddha he'd imagined.
But hardly 10-20 people visit this museum daily and its caretaker says that it isn't getting its due as the government hasn't promoted it properly.
The museum, Shantivan Dr Babasaheb Ambedakar Vastu Shangralay, is located in village Chicholi, around 18 kilometres from Nagpur. His personal belongings were procured by Nanak Chand Rattu, who knew Dr Ambedkar for 17 years and worked as his personal secretary for six years until Babasaheb's death.
It was Rattu's idea to construct an 'Ambedkar museum'. He even collected generous donations from the followers of Dr Ambedkar hailing from Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts of Punjab and also those settled in England.
Says Rattu's Delhi-based daughter-in-law Sashi, "All items belong to Dr Ambedkar and it was preserved by my father-in-law Nanak Chand Rattu who donated them to the Nagpur museum in 1995. The chair is the same on which Dr Ambedkar sat and wrote the Constitution of India."
Cost Rs 8 lakh
Sanjay Patil (40), a businessman, is presently the caretaker of the museum. Speaking to Sunday MiD DAY, he says, "The museum was designed and constructed for Rs 7 to 8 lakh under the supervision of Waman Rao Godbole, who worked closely with Dr Ambedkar and Rattu. Eighty six-year-old Godbole died in 2006. Godbole was instrumental in bringing Dr Ambedkar to Nagpur on October 14, 1956 for Darmantar."
In an interview given to PTI on New Year's Day in 1955, Dr Ambedkar had said he would soon convert to Buddhism. Towards that end, he said, he would start a Dharma Pracharak Prashishan Vidyalaya, a centre for Buddhist teachings, Patil recalls. Patil says on July 31, 1956 Dr Ambedkar had said to Rattu at his official residence, 26 Alipur Road, New Delhi at 5:50 pm: "Whatever I have done, I have been able to do after passing through crushing miseries and endless troubles all my life fighting with my opponents. With great difficulty, I have brought this caravan where it is seen today. Let the caravan march further despite the hurdles, pitfalls and difficulties that may come in its way. If my people, my lieutenants are not able to take the caravan ahead, they should leave it where it is seen today, but in no circumstances should they allow the caravan to go back."
After the demise of Dr Ambedkar on December 6, 1956, Godbole was made the general secretary of Bhartiya Buddha Parishad, an organisation preaching Babasaheb's tenets. In 1957, Gopika Bajiraoji Thackeray (80) then gifted 11.50 acres of her farmland to the organisation where the museum stands today, he added.
Not getting its due
Instead of being sponsored by the government, Patil spends Rs 15,000 a month on an average to maintain the museum and also towards the salary of four security guards. Security was intensified after a 500 gm silver kalash, that once bore Dr Amdbedkar's ashes, was stolen in March 2008 from the museum. The local police are yet to nab the culprit.
Patil has now written to the central government, informing them about the plight of the museum and its importance. In response, Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, instructed the Archeological Department to visit the museum and do the needful to preserve the valuables.
According to Patil, only about 10 to 20 people visit the museum and many are from the neighbouring areas. The museum isn't getting its due and desperately needs government intervention, says Patil.
>>Flickering light
He used this lantern whenever the power went off and carried it when he went out for a walk
>>Reading aid
Dr Ambedkar's spectacles preserved in a case
>>Painting his faith
He was fond of Buddha and wanted to have a picture of Buddha with his eyes open as it was rare. Just for this, he learnt painting at the age of 65 and made this portrait of Lord Buddha in 1956 and gave it the title 'Lord Buddha: Light of the World'
>>Truth of the tooth
Dr Ambedkar had his dentures made when he removed his teeth in 1952 and was fond of eating non-vegetarian food.
>>Houseful of memories
The Shantivan Dr Babasaheb Ambedakar Vastu Shangralay, in village Chicholi, around 18 kilometres from Nagpur, barely gets 10 to 20 visitors every day. It's awaiting government recognition
>>A few good men
Nanak Chand Rattu, who knew Dr Ambedakar for 17 years and worked as his personal secretary for six years till the leader's demise
>>The museum was designed and constructed under the supervision of Waman Rao Godbole, who worked closely with Dr Ambedakar and Rattu.
>>Businessman Sanjay Patil takes care of the museum in Nagpur
>>Keyed in
A typewriter was used by Ambedkar to key in the Constitution of India. It took two years, 11 months and 18 days for him to complete it. He started writing the Constitution in 1947 and completed it by 1950. Dr Ambedkar used to type himself or was sometimes helped by his assistant Nanak Chand Rattu
>>Cataloguing thoughts
Dr Ambedkar's manuscript of 'Buddha and his Dhamma'. It was earlier titled 'Buddha and his Gospel'
>>Note worthy
A handwritten note left by Dr Ambedkar
