The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations hosted a special event at the UN headquarters in New York to commemorate the 135th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. The gathering drew global diplomats and thought leaders, who came together to honour a man whose legacy transcends national boundaries.
The event, themed “The Timeless Appeal of Dr Ambedkar’s Vision Within the UN and Beyond,” reflected on how Ambedkar’s fight for social equity and his contributions as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution continue to resonate with global ideals of human rights and democracy.
India’s Ambassador to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, opened the ceremony by acknowledging Ambedkar’s towering role in shaping India’s modern identity. “He was not only a freedom fighter and legal reformer but also a philosopher who believed that the health of a nation depends on how it treats its most vulnerable,” Harish said.
He highlighted Ambedkar’s unique academic journey — from the slums of colonial India to the halls of Columbia University in the United States — which helped him develop a distinct worldview rooted in reason, social justice, and inclusivity. “Few leaders of his time possessed such a deep understanding of both Indian realities and global ideals,” Harish noted.
Dr Ambedkar, born into a Dalit family in Madhya Pradesh, rose against all odds to become a symbol of hope for millions. A tireless campaigner against caste discrimination and untouchability, he led pivotal movements that challenged India’s deeply entrenched social hierarchies. As Independent India’s first Law and Justice Minister, he shaped policies that empowered the marginalized and brought dignity to the oppressed.
What made Ambedkar’s vision revolutionary, the speakers emphasized, was his belief in fraternity — not just as a lofty ideal, but as a practical necessity for democratic living. He saw it as essential to building not only a cohesive nation but also a peaceful global order.
