Have you heard about the Statue of Equality? It is also known as the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial. This monument is under construction and dedicated to B. R. Ambedkar. He was a 20th-century Indian intellectual. The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue is located at Indu Mills Compound in Mumbai.
Let me tell you more about the history of the Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue. The land where it stands once belonged to the National Textile Corporation. It was known as Indu Mills. Now, the Government of Maharashtra owns the land. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on October 11, 2015.
The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue is an impressive structure. Its main entrance is from Cadell Road. There is also a secondary access point from SKS Marg. The memorial connects to Chaitya Bhoomi. This makes it easy for crowds to move around. The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue will feature a stupa. It will be around a pond and have a dome-like structure. An Ashoka Chakra will cover the memorial structure.
Imagine walking through the Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue. You see a proposed interactive museum. It displays aspects of Ambedkar’s life. The memorial also has parking for around 400 vehicles. The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue is set to become a prominent part of Mumbai’s skyline.
The stupa is a key part of the Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue. It will be 140 feet tall. The stupa will have a ribbed ceiling. This resembles Buddhist Chaityas. At the top, there is an eight-tier bronze canopy. It represents the Buddha’s eight-fold path. At the foot of the dome, you will find a lotus pond.
A Vipassana Hall is also planned. It will be a meditation space. This hall can seat 13000 people. There is a Gallery of Struggle too. It will depict events from Ambedkar’s life. Next to it, there will be a 50000 square feet library.
There was some controversy after the foundation stone was laid. Some of Ambedkar’s family members were not happy with the design. They felt it did not properly represent Ambedkar’s stature. Prakash Ambedkar wanted a “think tank institution”. Anandraj Ambedkar suggested a 360-feet tall statue. He envisioned a Statue of Equality facing the ocean.
The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue, once finished in May 2026, will stand 137.3 meters tall. That includes a 30.5-meter pedestal. It will be the third tallest statue in the world. It follows the Statue of Unity and the Spring Temple Buddha. The Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar memorial Statue is more than just a monument. It is a tribute to a great leader.