14th April Ambedkar Jayanti: Why These Two Delhi Govt Bungalows at Hardinge Ave & Prithviraj Rd Linked to Baba Sahab Are Making Headlines

New Delhi- As the nation prepares to observe the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on April 14, a significant proposal has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Culture regarding the preservation of two Delhi residences intrinsically linked to the life of India's principal Constitution-maker.

The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE), through its representative B.L. Bhati, has formally advocated for converting these government bungalows into national memorials, marking them as permanent testaments to Ambedkar's monumental contributions.

The first residence at 1, Hardinge Avenue (presently designated as Dr. Ambedkar Marg) served as the official dwelling during Ambedkar's tenure as the nation's inaugural Law Minister in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet (1947-1951). This hallowed space witnessed the meticulous drafting of independent India's foundational document - the Constitution. The proposed memorial here would house an exhaustive collection of constitutional drafts, ministerial correspondence, and establish an audio-visual archive of Ambedkar's seminal addresses, complemented by a specialized research library and visitor amenities.

The second residence at 22, Prithviraj Road accommodated Ambedkar during his parliamentary tenure in the Rajya Sabha. The transformation blueprint envisions this property as a Social Justice Memorial, exhibiting personal manuscripts, artifacts documenting the Dalit emancipation movement, and creating meditative spaces reflecting Ambedkar's philosophical transition to Buddhism. The proposal emphasize free public access and sustainable maintenance through dedicated budgetary allocations.

This initiative gains contextual significance when examined alongside Ambedkar's subsequent residence at 26, Alipur Road, where he relocated following his principled resignation from the cabinet over the Hindu Code Bill controversy in September 1951. This unassuming bungalow, where he spent his final years until his passing on 6 December 1956, has been memorialized as the Mahaparinirvan Sthal - a magnificent national monument inaugurated in 2018 as part of the Panchteerth pilgrimage circuit.

The current proposal seeks to complete this commemorative trilogy by according similar recognition to the preceding residences that shaped Ambedkar's public life. As articulated in the submission, these properties represent more than architectural structures - they are living chronicles of constitutional history and social transformation. The envisioned memorials would serve as dynamic centers of learning, bridging historical legacy with contemporary discourse on equality and justice.

Panchteerth Connection

The proposal references PM Modi's Panchteerth project developing five key Ambedkar sites:

1. Birthplace (Mhow)

2. Education hub (London)

3. Diksha land (Nagpur)

4. Mahaparinirvan site (Delhi)

5. Cremation ground (Mumbai)

The Mahaparinirvan Sthal: The Final Abode of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

Following his resignation as India's Law Minister in 1951, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar vacated his official residence at 1, Hardinge Avenue in Delhi and moved to 26, Alipur Road - a leased property belonging to the Maharaja of Sirohi. This unassuming bungalow became his home from 1951 until his passing on December 6, 1956, subsequently earning its sacred designation as 'Mahaparinirvan Sthal' (the Final Resting Place).

The transformation of this residence into a national memorial followed a twelve-year grassroots campaign. The watershed moment came during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's administration when the property was acquired from its original owners. On December 2, 2003, the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee formally declared the site a National Memorial.

A visionary redevelopment plan culminated on March 21, 2016, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the current grand memorial. The completed structure was inaugurated on April 13, 2018, coinciding with the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations.

Spanning 7,374 square meters with an investment exceeding ₹200 crore, the Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial presents a striking architectural tableau. The complex is dominated by verdant hues, with an imposing 11-meter Ashoka Pillar marking its entrance, behind which lies a contemplative meditation center.

"These residences are living testimonies to Babasaheb's struggle for social justice. Converting them into memorials will inspire future generations," stated B.L. Bhati of BANAE.