A giant statue of Bhimrao Ramji “B.R.” Ambedkar was unveiled in Accokeek, MD, just outside of Washington, DC, on October 14.
According to the Ambedkar International Center, a nonprofit that was behind the initiative, the 19-foot “Statue of Equality” is the first-ever statue of Ambedkar in the United States.
“The statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a symbol of the shared values of democracy, justice, and human rights that bind India and the United States,” Ram Kumar, president of the Ambedkar International Center, said in a news release. “It serves as a reminder of the importance of championing the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their background.”
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The statue was designed by Indian sculptor Ram Sutar, who also designed the 597-foot Statue of Unity on the banks of Narmada in Gujarat that honors Sardar Patel, another architect of modern India.
The Statue of Equality is situated on a 13-acre property housing the Ambedkar International Center’s headquarters. Established in 2012, the center’s mission is to champion the principles of Ambedkar and further the goals of social justice, equality, and human rights.
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The statue is part of a broader initiative that includes a library, a convention center, and a Buddha Garden, among various other facilities.
Accokeek, a small town with approximately 14,000 residents in Prince George’s County, MD, is located about 17 miles to the south of Washington, DC, along the banks of the Potomac River.
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Ambedkar, a U.S.-educated jurist, economist, social reformer, was born in 1891 into a marginalized community. As the chairman of the committee that drafted the Constitution of India, he played a pivotal role in shaping the constitution, ensuring fundamental rights, social justice, and the abolition of untouchability.