UN Observes Birth Anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar

India's Ambassador or Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Syed Akbaruddin, has been tweeting about how for the first time Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's birth anniversary is being celebrated in the UN.

Getting ready to celebrate with fanfare Babasaheb's anniversary for 1st time at UN. pic.twitter.com/BMqdP5Lw1E

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 13, 2016

Enormous enthusiasm as Babasaheb's birth anniversary observed @un for 1st time. pic.twitter.com/ThI67UieOP

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 14, 2016

It was a full house for Babasaheb's birth anniversary observance at the UN. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar or Babasaheb as he was fondly called is was a jurist, economist, politician and social reformer.

He inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Dalits who were called untouchables.

Full house for Babasaheb's birth anniversary observance at UN for 1st time pic.twitter.com/Bnwy9rvIP2

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 13, 2016

Babasaheb was also an activist who supported the rights of women and labour. He is called the architect of India's Constitution and he was the first law minister of independent India.

Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator UNDP was the keynote speaker at an event organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar.

Some quotes from Ms. Helen Clark's speech:

"Dr. Ambedkar understood that rising and persistent inequalities pose fundamental challenges to the economic and social well-being of nations and people."

"His work on the empowerment and inclusion of excluded groups, reform of labour laws, and promotion of education for all, made him an icon for marginalised people in India and in other countries."

"The ideals for which he worked so hard are as relevant today as they were sixty years ago."

"Dr. Ambedkar also had a deep understanding of the far-reaching measures which are needed to address inequalities. Today, just as sixty years ago, all countries have work to do to ensure that marginalised people are fully included in society."

Some quotes from Mr. Syed Akbaruddin's speech:

"Observing the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is now somewhat of a tradition in modern India. He was the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and independent India's first law minister, a social reformer, jurist, economist, author and a scholar of comparative religions. A multi-faceted personality, he braved the walls of prejudice and discrimination in early 20th century India to emerge as an exemplar and an unflinching crusader against the social inequities and economic deprivation that afflicted millions of Indians."

Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Remembering Babasaheb @UN https://t.co/Kbvt8hVLRk

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 14, 2016

"Dr. Ambedkar fashioned a pluralistic and inclusive Indian Constitution guaranteeing equal opportunity and freedom of expression and faith for all citizens in a secular democracy. The Constitution, drafted under Dr. Ambedkar's leadership, abolished untouchability, and outlawed all forms of discrimination. Yet Dr. Ambedkar also recognised that the quest for substantive equality and justice would remain a work in progress."

"Dr. Ambedkar's political vocabulary was one of gender empowerment and is best summarised in his statement, "'I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved". Pursuing this Dr. Ambedkar provided for special provisions for women's equality both in formal and sustainable senses in India's constitution. While all other general provisions of India's constitution are applicable to women as to men there are also provisions that enable affirmative action in favour of women to ensure that no one is left behind."