The Maharashtra government has showed interest to acquire a residential property in London where Dr. B R Ambedkar lived while studying at the London School of Economics in 1921-22. The government is waiting for the centre to give permission to buy out the 2050 square feet property on King Henry’s Road, London. It is expected to cost an estimate of Rs 40 crore. The state government stepped in with its proposal to buy the property after it came to know earlier this month that it has been put up for auction.
However, Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash Ambedkar expressed his reservations at the state government's proposal to buy out the London property. “Since we are his legal heirs, the government should first consult us in the matter," the Dalit leader and chief of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) told media persons.
The Maharashtra government decided to buy the house after it learned of the sale proposal and initiated the matter with the central government and the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai as it involves buying out property in a foreign country."
A rare and timely opportunity has arisen to purchase the former London residence of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as the landlord has published an advertisement for the sale of the house. It is a historic place where Dr. B. R. Ambedkar lived in 1921-22," Water Conservation Minister Nitin Raut said in his letter to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Sep 3.
A prominent Dalit leader, Raut said that the Federation of Ambedkarites and Buddhist Organisation (FBO) in Britain and other prominent individuals also wrote to the Indian governmentand Maharashtra informing them about the upcoming auction of the property. "Various Ambedkarite organizations, with whom I associated, also approached me and request for help to acquire the property with the intervention of the Indian authorities," Raut told IANS.
Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and other state leaders also endorsed the idea since Maharashtra is considered the "karmabhoomi" of Ambedkar.
Raut said it was not a question of owning the property, but a symbolic gesture to salvage the historic house and retain its significance for future generations and strengthening India-Britain ties. He pointed out that finances would not be a constraint as it would require spending only around 40 crore for a noble cause.
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