Wamanrao Godbole, close associate of Dr Ambedkar, passes away

Nagpur, May 3 (UNI) Dr Wamanrao Godbole, a close associate of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, died at village Chicholi near here early today morning. He was 84.

Dr Godbole had been ailing for some time and had undergone treatment at a private nursing home here. He had been discharged as his health had shown improvement. The end came at 0430 hrs today at 'Shantivan,' the memorial to Dr Ambedkar that he founded at village Chicholi in 1985 and where he had been living since. The funeral will be held tomorrow at 'Shantivan' at 1300 hrs.

Born on January 1, 1922, Dr Godbole had organised and managed the entire programme at which Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in Nagpur on October 14, 1956. He was the General Secretary of the Dhamma Deeksha Samiti formed for the historic occasion. He was also the President of Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha in 1977.

An employee of the Indian Railways, he continued his social work even after retirement. In 1985, Dr Godbole founded 'Shantivan,' which included a museum of Dr Ambedkar's belongings, a research foundation dedicated to the architect of the Indian constitution and a Buddhist Teacher Institute.

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