The Buddhist Society of India together with the Ogawa Society and Buddha Spiritual Park in Nagpur are planning a series of events in the city, which is located in Maharashtra State, to commemorate the life and work and conversion to Buddhism of the Indian scholar, social activist, and reformer Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–56). Having studied Buddhism for much of his life, Ambedkar formally accepted the Three Refuges and Five Precepts and converted to Buddhism shortly before his death, along with 500,000 supporters.

The planned events include an exhibition of a collection of sacred Buddhist relics made available by Sri Lanka’s Waskaduwe Sri Raja Guru Sributhi Maha Viharaya and Department of Archaeology. The chief incumbent of the temple Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Nayaka Thera, its chief custodian Bandula Weera Wardana, and a team from the Department of Archaeology will accompany the relics.

Separately, the state government of Maharashtra is planning a groundbreaking ceremony on 11 October for a memorial site in Mumbai to commemorate Dr. Ambedkar, to be attended by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. “The funds for the project have been approved and work on [the memorial] is expected to start in November,” said state social justice minister Rajkumar Badole. (Business Standard)

Badole said the memorial, designed by architect Shashi Prabhu, would include a 150-foot statue of Ambedkar, an auditorium, galleries, a library, and a public plaza. “The memorial will comprise a stupa which will be 140 feet in height and 110 meters in circumference. There will be a Ashoka Chakra covering the memorial structure. Besides, there will be a Vipassana (meditation) hall with a seating capacity of 13,000 people,” he said, adding, “A gallery, aptly named Gallery of Struggle and depicting various events and struggles in the life of Ambedkar, will be part of the project.” (Business Standard)