Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the unveiling of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s bust at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris as “a matter of immense pride” and a fitting tribute to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “It is a matter of immense pride that today, on Constitution Day, a bust of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was unveiled at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This is a fitting tribute to Dr Ambedkar and his role in the making of our Constitution. His thoughts and ideals give strength and hope to innumerable people.”
The Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO unveiled the bust of ‘Bharat Ratna’ Dr. Ambedkar on the occasion of Samvidhan Diwas (Constitution Day) on November 26.
The bronze bust, sculpted by artist Naresh Kumawat, was unveiled by India’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and senior diplomats. With this installation, Dr. Ambedkar becomes the first Indian leader after Mahatma Gandhi to have his statue placed in UNESCO’s Garden of Peace, alongside global figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Sharma highlighted Dr. Ambedkar’s work against social discrimination and his advocacy of equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity. UNESCO noted that the installation aligns with its commitment to human rights and the fight against caste-based discrimination.
The unveiling is the latest in a series of international tributes to Dr. Ambedkar, following previous installations at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the British Parliament, and Columbia University.
Constitution Day has been observed annually on 26 November since 2015, when the Union government designated the date to highlight the importance of constitutional values. The Constitution of India, adopted in 1949 and in force since January 26, 1950, remains the world’s longest written constitution and outlines India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.
(With agency inputs)