Statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Japan facts for kids
The Statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in Wakayama, Japan, is a special monument honoring Babasaheb Ambedkar. He was a very important leader from India (1891-1956). Dr. Ambedkar was a brilliant thinker, a champion for human rights, and he helped create India's constitution. He is often called a founding father of modern India. This statue was officially revealed on September 10, 2015. It was the first time a statue of someone from another country was placed in Wakayama. The statue is quite tall, standing at 10.5 feet (3.2 meters). It was put up to celebrate two big events: the 1,200th anniversary of Koyasan University and Dr. Ambedkar's 125th birthday.
Why Was the Statue Built?
This statue was created because the government of Maharashtra in India and the Wakayama region in Japan wanted to work together, especially in tourism. In October 2013, they signed an agreement to cooperate.
Japan is a country where Buddhism is very important. People in Japan wanted to put a statue of Dr. Ambedkar on Koyasan hill. This hill is a sacred place for Buddhists. Because of this, it was decided that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue would be placed there. Koyasan (also known as Mount Kōya) is also a World Heritage Site, recognized for its special cultural or natural importance.
Making the Statue
The statue was built by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and was finished in March 2015. The artist who created the statue was Balkrishna (Daji) Panchal. He worked on it in Kudal, a town in India. The work started in December 2014 and was completed by the end of March 2015.
The statue was officially revealed by Devendra Fadnavis, who was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the time. This special event happened on September 10, 2015. Important people from both Japan and India attended the ceremony.
University Cooperation
During the unveiling, a special agreement was also signed between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in India and Koyasan University in Japan. This agreement helps the two universities work together. The leaders of both universities were present for this important moment.
