'We wait for this day all year'
Neha Ghatpande, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, December 07, 2010First Published: 00:53 IST(7/12/2010)
'Jai Bhim' was the slogan of the day as a sea of people gathered in an
annual pilgrimage to Shivaji Park and nearby Chaityabhoomi, to pay
homage to their leader, Dalit icon and framer of the Indian
Constitution, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Monday was Ambedkar's 54th death
anniversary — he was cremated at Chaityabhoomi, near Dadar Chowpatty —
and devotees dressed in white, waving the blue flag of the Dalit
community — braved sweltering heat and serpentine queues for a glimpse
of his shrine.
"We wait for this day all year," said Santosh Londhe, 37, who
travelled from Pune and waited in line for four hours. "Ambedkar gave
a reason and a meaning to our lives."
Uttam Nikhale, 54, travelled to Mumbai all the way from Nanded — an
annual ritual.
"In 21 years, I have never missed the Mahaparinirvan Din [death
anniversary]. It's a pilgrimage," he said. At Shivaji Park, a
community fair of bookstands, poster stalls and refreshment kiosks
drew lakhs of visitors.
"I visited the shrine last Wednesday so I could concentrate on the
business," said Manoj Badawe, his stall surrounded by customers.
Badawe has been selling books on Ambedkar for the past week. "December
6 is always a huge day for sales," he said.
Across the 28-acre park, volunteers, non-governmental organisations
and municipal workers distributed free food and conducted free health
checks.
For some, it was a chance to create awareness on issues like the ills
of smoking and alcoholism, via street plays and folk songs. Surekha
Chaugule, secretary of the Riddhi Siddhi Mahila Mandal, a women's
organisation from Lower Parel, organised a street play on the ills of
alcoholism.
"This is our first Mahaparinirvan Din performance," Chaugule said.
"It's one of those rare occasions when you can reach out to people
from across the country and we wanted to send out a social message on
how alcoholism can ruin a family."
Back in the queue for the shrine, Gaikwad (who did not wish to give
his first name) from Satara seemed elated, despite the heat, the
crowds — and the effort of balancing his son on his shoulders. "At
least my boy will get a glimpse of our God," he said. "I will keep
waiting till we get there."
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