PARIS (Diya TV) — A bust of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar now stands at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The unveiling took place on November 26, 2025, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Constitution of India. The moment honored the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a global symbol of equality, justice, and human rights.
The ceremony drew leaders, diplomats, and members of the global Ambedkarite community. They gathered to celebrate a figure whose work reshaped modern India. Dr. Ambedkar dedicated his life to ending caste discrimination. His ideas continue to inspire movements for dignity and equal rights around the world.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the unveiling. He called the moment “a fitting tribute to Dr. Ambedkar and his role in the making of our Constitution.” He said Dr. Ambedkar’s ideas “give strength and hope to innumerable people.” His message on X highlighted the national pride tied to the occasion.
The event was not a sudden achievement. It resulted from decades of advocacy by community leader Deelip Mhaske and thousands of Ambedkar followers worldwide. Their efforts kept Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy at the center of global human rights conversations.
Mhaske’s journey began years earlier. He helped organize the first celebration of Dr. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In 2016, with special permission from Prime Minister Modi, the UN formally observed Ambedkar Jayanti for the first time. This recognition placed Dr. Ambedkar’s message of equality and democracy on an international platform.
The new installation at UNESCO builds on that progress. It puts Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy in a permanent space dedicated to education, culture, and global cooperation.
For Deelip Mhaske, the unveiling carried deep emotional meaning. He described it as a dream realized after nearly two decades of effort.
“It is a matter of immense pride that today, on Constitution Day, a bust of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was unveiled at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris,” he said. “For me, this is not just an event—it is the fulfillment of a promise I made to myself in 2006. This is a tribute to Babasaheb, and to every person who ever felt unseen and still chose to keep fighting.”
His words reflected the spirit of Dr. Ambedkar’s lifelong commitment to justice. Mhaske framed the installation as a victory for marginalized people everywhere.
Mhaske also credited key supporters for turning the long campaign into reality. He offered a special tribute to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. During a recent meeting with Fadnavis, the Governor of New Jersey, and the First Lady, Mhaske secured the Chief Minister’s support for gifting the bust to UNESCO.
The gesture helped transform years of advocacy into a tangible achievement. It also strengthened the global effort to amplify Dr. Ambedkar’s teachings.
Visitors to UNESCO will now encounter his presence in an institution dedicated to learning and human rights. This placement reinforces his global impact and ensures that future generations understand his contributions to social reform.
The installation also helps expand the global conversation on caste discrimination. It brings visibility to Ambedkar’s mission to build a society based on dignity, justice, and equal opportunity.
