'Ambedkar's London residence's purchase date to be announced'

Mumbai, Apr 22: After returning from his week long trip to London, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole said here today that he would announce the formal date of purchase of a 2,050 square feet bungalow in London, where Dr B R Ambedkar once resided.

"We have initiated the process to purchase Dr Ambedkar's house by sending a letter of intent to the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom. We will go there to meet our High Commissioner along with a solicitor whom we have appointed," Badole.

Badole said that Principal Secretary Ujjwal Uke and Minister Of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble would accompany him on a trip which would last until April 29. "During 1920-1921, Dr Ambedkar had stayed in the London bungalow while studying at the London School of Economics.

Thus, it has become imperative for us to build an international memorial there. We will try all possible means to push the British government to complete all technicalities before we return and announce the final buyback date after we return," he said.

The bungalow, which is located at 10, King Henry's Road, NW3, London, was up for sale a few months ago and it is expected to cost around Rs 40 crore, he said.

The Maharashtra government has already sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the appointment of a solicitor and a surveyor, he said. Badole said that the delegation would solicit help of leaders and organisations of the London Buddhist community and the Indian High Commission would be involved in the process.

Badole said that the proposed memorial to Dr Ambedkar at Indu Mills premises in Mumbai would be opened by the year end, most probably on 'Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din' (Mass Conversion Ceremony Day).

PTI