Opp. Passport Office,
Pune
The foundation stone for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and Memorial was laid by Mr Sharad Pawar on April 14, 1990, which was the birth-centenary of Ambedkar. The architecture was conceptualised by Mr Dhananjay Datar, who modelled it on the structure of the Buddhist stupa, in memoriam of Ambedkar’s beliefs and propagations. It was finally inaugurated by Mr Manohar Joshi on November 26, 1996, also marking the date when Ambedkar presented the Constitution of Independent India to the President of India.
The museum houses several of Ambedkar’s personal belongings, including his Bharat Ratna Award and the urn containing his ashes. Most of these have been donated by Dr Maisaheb Ambedkar, Babasaheb’s wife. The museum, along with the garden and library, is managed and funded by the Symbiosis Society, run by Mr S.B. Mujumdar. His wife, Mrs Sanjeevani Mujumdar, is the director of the museum.
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The museum can be entered through a wide corridor with posters on either side. These posters follow a chronology, taking the visitor through prominent events in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's life, including his birth, his schooling, his education, his travels, writing of his books, drafting the Constitution, various awards he was given, and so on.
The atrium of the museum is under the stupa-like dome created in honour of Ambedkar's belief in Buddhism. It houses personal belongings of Ambedkar, donated by Maisaheb Ambedkar, and more photographs with information on Ambedkar, including the national awards conferred upon him. It is divided into two floors, with the personalia below in the glass casing, and the pictures above. It has a statue of Buddha in the middle and Ambedkar's Bharat Ratna Award, awarded posthumously in 1990, under the statue.
Ambedkar's study was recreated using his own belongings and a wax statue of him.
Ambedkar's dining area was recreated using his own utensils and furniture.
Pictures of Ambedkar including him at a cabinet meeting with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr Rajendra Prasad; and him with his wife, Maisaheb, and the Prime Minister of Brahmadesh at the 4th World Buddhist Conference in Kathmandu in 1956.
The other side of the atrium showcases Ambedkar's recreated bedroom, along with the bed he passed away on, with pictures and information on the top floor. It is accompanied by more personalia, such as his shaving kit, vases, watches, spectacles, and so on.
Smt. Shobhanatai Ranade, Mr Mohan Dhariya, Mr Ramvilas Paswan, H.E. Anerood Jugnauth G.C.S.K, K.C.M.G.Q.C, Mr Vayalar Ravi, Mr Veerappa Moily, etc., have visited the museum.
A picture of Ambedkar after his first wedding.
Directly opposite the Buddha statue is the entrance to the atrium, with Ambedkar's dining room and bedroom on either side and pictures and more personalia upstairs.