Humans of Nirvan Divas: BR Ambedkar’s 60th Death Anniversary

Glimpses & stories from amongst the lakhs of people who have flocked to Chaitya Bhoomi, Babasaheb’s memorial spot.

A boy sits idly by a shop selling idols of BR Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha on 6 December, Babasaheb’s 60th death anniversary. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

(Left to right) Pushpa Majhgavdi and Leela Chikate, relatives at Shivaji Park on Nirvan Divas. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

My entire family are followers of Babasaheb. For us, it’s only him and Gautam Buddha. My mother and father never even broke a coconut in front of any god. But when I got married, my in-laws were Hindu. They asked me to do this ritual and that ritual, especially on Mahashivratri. I didn’t listen to them. They said your children will face the consequences. I said, “So be it!” Nothing has happened, has it? One son has a business, and my younger son wants to be a police officer. My daughter has finished her 12th standard, and I want to make her a professor. 

Leela Chikate, Chandrapur Zila 

Kamal, a street vendor sells necklaces in the Buddhist flag colours (Blue, White, Yellow) for Babasaheb’s followers near Chaitya Bhoomi. (Photo: The Quint/Mumbai)

If you think this is a lot of people, you should have come last year. This is hardly any crowd. Babasaheb’s followers are mostly poor people and this year they didn’t have any cash in hand to travel all the way to Mumbai. Ask me– my neighbours couldn’t come this year. But it’s fine. Babasaheb led us to Buddha who told us that money should never come in the way of anything. We live out Babasaheb’s teachings every day in our actions. 

Kamal 

Kamal estimates that only half the usual number of people have shown up this year in Mumbai. (Photo: The Quint/Mumbai)

(Right to left) Bharti Pagare of the Kalyan Mahila Mandal and her daughter have come to Mumbai for the first time to host an event for Babasaheb’s followers. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

I’ve grown up with Babasaheb’s teachings seeing my mother and father, but I didn’t pay much attention. It was only after marriage that I realised even I should read and practice his and Buddha’s teachings for the sake of my children. But first comes Babasaheb, because he was the one who led us to Gautam Buddha. 

Bharti Pagare, Kalyan 

Roshni, a newly wed from Juinanagar, is here with her husband. Earlier she used to come every year with her family. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

My favourite teaching of Babasaheb which I try to live everyday is that everyone should come together and live. I don’t believe in any God; I’ve never celebrated Diwali or any festival. But I have no problems with Hindus having a God. We should all just come together to make our country better. We can even cure poverty! 

Roshni, wearing a new dress she bought for Nirvan Divas this year 

Arun Pagare organises his shop of idols of BR Ambedkar & Gautam Buddha for Mahaparinirvan Day while his daughter plays nearby. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

I’ve been coming here for nine years. Every year, after I pay my respects, I set up this shop. This year my business is down by 70 percent at least because no one has any notes to buy any of my things. I’m sad but this day is also very close to my heart. 

Arun Pagare

(Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

(Left) Bhim Mevada and his family also set up shop near Shivaji Park with affordable posters of Babasaheb and Gautam Buddha priced from Rs 50 to Rs 200. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

This note ban has taken away from the sense of people coming together and celebrating Babasaheb’s legacy. People come and look, I can see they want to buy a poster and take it home, but they have no cash to spare. Most people come from very far where you don’t get things like this. 

Bhim Mevada 

(Left to Right) Harsh Bansode and wife come and beg for alms every Nirman Divas for the last 12 years. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

My father met Babasaheb on 14 October 1956 in Nagpur when he led us all to drink water. My father always believed in his teachings, but since that day every year he took us to Mahad or here. I lost my sight so now I come and sing his teachings with my wife, begging for alms here. This time is special because we heard they’re making a smarak at Chaitya Bhoomi for him. 

Harsh Bansode, Juinanagar, Navi Mumbai 

Bhimrao Gadiji Rawat, a Buddhist monk, engages with passers-by on the teachings of Babasaheb and tenets of Buddhism. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

I have done my MA in Pali language and my M Phil in Buddhist studies. I’ve been to Nagpur, Mumbai, Nalanda and even Tibet– I lived there for 6 months. And I can tell you this with certainty: There is no God. Man can become God through his deeds, like Babasaheb and even Buddha, but even they are not Gods. Your deeds will decide what you become in your next life after death. You tell me what sense does it make to say someone comes from the shoulders of Brahma and someone else comes from the feet? 

Bhimrao Gadiji Rawat

At this point, a crowd gathered around him, visibly angry at him for preaching about reincarnation. He had his degrees to defend himself with, while others accused him of being an RSS member deliberately sent to bring Babasaheb’s dharma closer to Hinduism – till the police arrived and dismissed everyone. 

(Center) Kamla Dhani (in orange) with family at the camping area at Shivaji Park on Nirvan Divas. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad)

Babasaheb is in our blood. He is ours, we are his children. We go to Nagpur and Chandrapur every year where Babasaheb gave deeksha. Mumbai is a little far and it takes over 36 hours by bus to come, so this is only our second time. We came because we heard about the new smarak at Chaitya Bhoomi. More people of our family wanted to come but you must be knowing about the note ban, so we didn’t have enough money. 

Kamla Dhani 

Shalini Singh, sets up a roadside stall with Babasaheb’s and Buddha’s teachings for followers to pick up. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad) 

Who’s a Dalit? Babasaheb taught us to not use that word for people. Even Harijan is wrong. If you want to call someone Dalit, call yourself a Dalit. I read a speech by a professor recently and he suggested we use the word “Bauddha Vicharaks”. I read that and I liked the idea, so now I use it in my life and teach my kids also. 

Shalini Singh 

Jaya Raji, selling a photo of Babasaheb and Savita Ambedkar near Chaitya Bhoomi. (Photo: The Quint/Pallavi Prasad) 

I was here last night when I found out about Amma. I almost don’t want to be here right now but it is Babasaheb’s memory that is keeping me here. Above that, Gautam Buddha told us that life doesn’t end after death. Amma’s good deeds will sustain her spirit for us all, just like Babasaheb’s. 

Jaya Raji, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu