India’s Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment dwells on the philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar, urges creation of museum, library, in his memory  

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India’s Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, a leader of the Dalit community, came to the US as the Chief Guest at a United Nations celebration of the 134^th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar April 14, 2025.

During his visit, he gave an interview to ITV Gold, with Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh.

Minister Athawale called for the building of a memorial library and museum devoted to the work of Dr. Ambedkar. The idea was strongly supported by Dr. Parikh who assured Minister Athawale that he would work to rally the Indian American community in support of the idea. He promised the help of Parikh Worldwide Media in bringing the vision to reality.

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A Rajya Sabha member, Minister Athawale is a leading politician from Maharashtra, belonging to the Republican Party of India which is part of the National Democratic Alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Following are excerpts from the interview which took place in Hindi and English, with host Piya Jyoti Kachroo, on April 15. Edited for length and style, parts of the interview have been paraphrased for clarity:

Dr. Parikh introduced Athawale, welcoming him to the Edison, NJ studio, noting, “Minister Ramdas Athawale represents the feelings of people who need help. He is a big devotee of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and follows his philosophy, as we all should because we want to bring all human beings to equal status. I invite the honorable minister to speak on how we can help … Mother India.”

Athawale praised Dr. Parikh was being a physician and publisher and being awarded the Padma Shri civilian award from the Government of India.

Athawale: “I am very happy to meet you for the first time. I am a follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar. His philosophy for equality, fraternity and justice. … He wanted the Dalit and non-Dalit communities to come together because all Indians are the same. And therefore he wanted (society) to be free from the caste system. He had a very bad experience as a small boy studying in Satara in Maharashtra. He could not even enter the school. That time casteism was very strong. That’s why he fought for equality. He wanted India to be strong. And because of casteism problems, he became a Buddhist on 14^th October 1956 … because there was no justice in Hinduism at that time; because the scheduled caste community was facing (discrimination).

I am Buddhist. But also, I appreciate the Hindu community in India. It is a major community in India- 70 percent are Hindus. Muslims are there, Buddhists are there, Christians are there, Jains, Lingayats, Parsees are there. People of many religions are staying there.

But India is also ONE – because Babasaheb Ambedkar has given the Indian Constitution. And the Constitution finished casteism in Article 17. And therefore, as per law, there is no casteism in India. But in villages, some atrocity cases are also there. But Babasaheb’s philosophy was “Unite India.”

Therefore, I am very proud, because Babasaheb Ambedkar fought against inequality.

Question: You spoke at the United Nations and gave a powerful speech. And New York City declared 14^th April as Babasaheb Ambedkar Day.

Athawale: That is his birthday! All over India it is celebrated. And it is a matter of great pride that his birth anniversary was celebrated (at UN) and I was invited as Chief Guest. I spoke of the importance and meaning of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s message, his philosophy. And also, as Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, It serves scheduled castes, tribes, OBCs, senior citizens, the disabled community, transgender, community, orphans, cleaning workers. So, 80 percent of the population is connected to my Ministry. And Modiji has given me the chance to become MOS for Social Justice & Empowerment because this subject is good to work – for poor, marginalized, landless, Dalit communities. It means my Ministry is working for All.

Our Indian Consulate also invited me.

Our respected Prime Minister has a vision that is very big. By 2047, he wants our country to be at the top. And he brought our Indian economy from 10^th plce to 5^th place in last 10 years. It will go to 4^th, 3^rd, 2^nd, and by 2047, India will be very strong country in the world.

My party is part of the NDA and is supporting him for last 11 years, his leadership. Because he is also supporting the common man, the Dalit community. He is also supporting the common man, the Dalit community. He is also supporting the philosophy of Babasaheb Ambedkar. That’s why my part is supporting Narendra Modiji.

Question: How did you feel to be speaking at UN?

The United Nations did have the event. But I am proud of Babasaheb Ambedkar … He came to the United States in 1913 to study. He was admitted to Columbia, and did get the scholarship from Maharaja Gaekwad. He was here for 3 to 4 years.

Lakhs of students have studied at Columbia, and thousands have studied at the Lehman Library. But Babasaheb Ambedkar was 22 years old and he used to think about his country, about the society, and what could be done for the untouchable community. Every page he read, studying 18 hours a day, eating just half a loaf of bread – that Lehman Library has a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

More than twenty years ago, I came with wife of Babasaheb Ambedkar (Savita Ambedkar), in 2000, when the statue was inaugurated. Whenever I come to United States, I go to the Lehman Library and pay my respects and garland him. So, we have great pride regarding his accomplishments in America, and that America gave him his first education, and that’s why I like to visit again and again.

Question: Dr. Parikh, as a person deeply inspired by Babasaheb Ambedkar, what message do you think his philosophy holds for today’s global society?

Dr. Parikh: The most important message Babasaheb gav us is that all human beings are equal; all human beings have equal ability, equal intelligence, and if equal opportunities are givern to them, they can all excel. So we should respect each other as we expect others to respect us. If we do that, the whole country can progress and grow and become a very prosperous country.

Our Prime Minister Modiji has the same reason to get everyone together as an equal, and giver the opportunity to everyone. I must congratulate our Prime Minister, Minister Athawale, and whole government of India, and all of us NRIs must support the Government of India on this issue.

Q: April 14 is now recognized as Babasaheb Ambedkar Day here. What do you think it means for the community living here?

Minister Athawale described the achievements and contributions of Indian Americans to every aspect of society. “Today, more than 52 lakh Indians live here. … Wherever I go, I meet Indians …. From different regions of India.” He spoke of the hospitality he received in New Jersey where he met close to 40 people, Maharashtrians, Gujaratis etc., and enjoyed an Indian meal with them.

Q: Should we have a Babasaheb Ambedkar forum here?

Athawale: Our demand is that just as Babasaheb lived in England and attended London School of Economics, and lived there, his home has been bought there (Ambedkar House on King Henry’s Road was bought by Govt. of Maharashtra in 2015))  — people here want a museum in Babasaheb’s honor.

So when I return to India I will meet Prime Miniter Modi — so that there can be a museum, meditation center, library for students. We are hoping that in future, there can be these things.

Dr. Parikh: As Minister Athawale suggested, we all in the Indian community here, and through our media, will make the campaign  for a Babasaheb samara, which will give lessons to our next generation.

Q: The Republican Party of India, what future do you see for it in India.

Minister Athawale gave a account of how the party came into being after Babasaheb had a bad experience, and went on to move to Mumbai. He gained importance and became the main architect of the Indian Constitution. He wanted the Republican Party to be the opposition to the then Congress Party. It came into being after his death in 1956, when followers formed the Republican Party Oct. 3, 1957.

The Republican Party means not only Dalit party, it means all people’s party, all religions’ party, all castes’ party. That is the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Today, Athawale is the chair of The Republican Party and works with NDA. The Minister sits in the Raj Sabha. He spoke about the reservations policy and the problems in that policy that have emerged with many communities asking for reservation. Which is why the Modi government has taken the position that there should be 10 percent reservation for those below a certain income. That goes to all communities. He also spoke about the bank accounts opening policy, loans for poor people, etc.

All our yojana’s are supporting all communities including Muslim community.

“The future of The Republican Party is good,” Athawale noted. It is in Nagaland, Andaman Nicobar, other islands, in north and south India. “But the party is not strong. My effort is to Republican Party not remain a Dalit party but include various sections of society,” the Minister said.

“We need to fulfill the dream of Babasaheb Ambedkar.”

Dr. Parikh congratulated Minister Athawale for his effort and initiatives “for getting more justice for those who need the justice.

Q. Any message for the young generation?

Minister Athawale appealed to them to get an education, and do great things. And to remember that all humanity is one.

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