Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s London House Bought By Maharashtra Government

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LONDON – After tense months of negotiations, the Government of Maharashtra made it official, signing the contract to buy the house that housed Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on 10 King Henry’s Road, NW3 on August 26.

This house, located near Primrose Hill in north London, was where Dr Ambedkar lodged in 1921-22.

In 1991 as part of his birth centenary celebrations organised under the auspices of the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK (FABO UK), English Heritage recognised the property’s historic significance and unveiled a ‘blue plaque’ outside.

It says, “DR BHIMRAO RAMJI AMBEDKAR 1891-1956 Indian Crusader for Social Justice lived here 1921-22”.

The Government of Maharashtra (GOM) expect to completethe purchase before the end of August.

“I am delighted that Mr Raj Kumar Badole, Minister for Social Justice and Special Assistance at Government of Maharashtra, via the High Commission of India in London, has exchanged contracts on 10 King Henry’s Road, NW3, said Santosh Dass, MBE, President of the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations (FABO) UK.

This follows my proposal to GOM in September 2014 that the house be bought by GOM and turned into an educational and cultural centre. Generations of Indians in the UK and visitors studying, interested or inspired by Dr Ambedkar’s key roles in furthering social justice, human rights and equal treatment issues will be able to visit.

He is a figure on par with William Wilberforce and Dr Martin Luther King. Additionally, its five bedrooms could be used as accommodation for Indian students from Dalit backgrounds while doing post-graduate studies in the UK.

Whilst in this house Dr Ambedkar enriched his academic studies and strengthened his resolve to challenge the impact of the Caste System and British Rule in India. It was also during this time that India’s Government was struggling with the falling value of the Indian Rupee – the backdrop to his thesis The Problem of the Rupee: Its origin and its solution.

There is a lot of work to do on the house before it can be opened to visitors.

We look forward to working with GOM and the High Commission in London in the months and years to come to ensure that this cultural and political heritage site is put to uses of which Dr Ambedkar would approve.