7 January 1956. Mumbai came to a standstill that day. After his death a day earlier, his mortal remains were brought from Delhi to Mumbai. When his mortal remains moved from his residence Rajgrih towards Shivaji Park on December 7, people were seen on both sides of the road all the way. A crowd had arrived. About 5 lakh people came to Shivaji Park to pay tribute to their leader. The whole country was immersed in mourning on that day of Mahaparinirvan. Everyone’s eyes were moist at the last journey of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, warrior of social justice and messiah of Dalits.
He died in his sleep on 6 December 1956 at his residence in Delhi. He had completed his last composition “The Buddha and His Dhamma” only three days ago. His mortal remains reached Santa Cruz Airport at around 2 pm on 6 December 1956. Along with him were people like his wife Savita Ambedkar, Shantaram Shastri, Sohanlal Shastri, Bhosale Engineer, Buddha Mahabali Shastri and Shankar Anand.
50 thousand people at the airport
About 50,000 people had gathered at the airport to pay their last respects. Prominent persons offered floral tributes to his mortal remains. After that the body was kept in an ambulance van. It was taken in a procession towards his residence Rajgriha in Hindu Colony, Dadar. On reaching Rajgriha, more than one lakh people were already waiting there. The crowd soon reached four lakhs. The entire city was immersed in mourning. Government institutions, schools, colleges, factories and industries were closed.
Last journey left home in the afternoon
Preparations for the funeral were done by the Indian Buddhist Society. The last journey took place on 7 December 1956. People started gathering around Rajgriha since morning. At around 1:40 pm, the body was placed on a lorry for public viewing. The lorry was decorated with flowers, candles, incense sticks and a small Buddha statue near the head. The procession proceeded towards Chandan Wadi cremation ground and Shivaji Park via Khargate Road, Vincent Road, Dadar Road, Poibawdi Road, Elphinstone Road, Sayani Road, Gokhale Road (South and North), Ranade Road.
The last journey was 3 km long
This procession was about 3 kilometers long. It took more than four hours. People kept throwing petals and garlands all along the way, which had to be removed continuously. So that the body remains visible. People were also having darshan by climbing on rooftops or trees. Traffic came to a complete standstill in North Bombay.
The number of participants in the last journey was around 5 lakh, which was the largest in the history of Mumbai after the last journey of Sardar Patel. It included leaders of various political parties, Buddhist monks and the general public. Prominent people included his son Yashwant Ambedkar, Dadasaheb Gaekwad, Buddhist monk Bhadant Anand Koslayan etc.
On that day also many people adopted Buddhism
The last procession reached Shivaji Park at 6 pm. The pyre was ready there. Four Buddhist monks led by Bhadant Anand Kosalyayan paid homage. Many followers also adopted Buddhism at that time. Bhadant Kosalyayan recited the mantras. The crowd repeated them. In this way he accepted Buddhism. On this occasion P.K. In the speech, Atre mentioned Ambedkar’s life, his fight with the government and the conservative Hindu community, and his role in the Hindu Code Bill. Called to fulfill their wishes.
Son lit the funeral pyre
Yashwant Ambedkar lit the pyre at 7:30 pm. Then 5 lakh people were present there. There is a crowd all around. Mumbai Police saluted. “Last Post” played. This happened for the first time in Bombay for a non-government person.
There was definitely tension in the city during the last journey. However, no untoward incident occurred. Eight minor stone pelting incidents and two soda water bottle throwing incidents took place in the northern city. Many mills, factories, docks, schools and colleges were closed. Railway workshops were affected.
How was the filming done?
The last journey was filmed by Namdev Laxman Vatkar, a filmmaker. He borrowed Rs 3000 by mortgaging his printing press and house. Due to which the equipment was rented and Mahaparinirvan Day was shot. It is now a historical documentary, available in all languages. Ambedkar’s last journey was not only a symbol of mourning but also the beginning of a social revolution.
Dr. Ambedkar’s mortal remains were taken to Mumbai, where he was cremated as per Buddhist rituals.
What did Dalit writer Daya Pawar write?
How deeply the news of Dr. Ambedkar’s demise had an impact on the hearts and minds of the people. How was it expressed? Famous Marathi Dalit writer Daya Pawar wrote this in his autobiography ‘Achhut’, ‘In the morning I left for my work as usual. The news was published on the front page of the newspapers. It felt like the earth was bursting. I felt so sad as if a family member had died. He started crying holding the door frame of the house. Mother and wife could not understand why I started crying like this as soon as I read the paper. As soon as I told the family members, everyone started crying.
How Savita Ambedkar remembered her last journey
Dr. Ambedkar’s wife Savita Ambedkar wrote in her autobiography “Babasaheb Mere Sehwasat” (10 years with Dr. Ambedkar, pages 235-238), “When the lorry left Rajgrih, I was sitting on his pillow. Lakhs of people were crying. There were so many flower garlands that they had to be removed again and again, yet Babasaheb’s face could not be seen.
The lorry stopped at one place on the way because there were so many people that it was difficult to move forward. I saw an old mother carrying her small child on her shoulder and crying, saying, “Son, look, this is your father.” I had never seen such a big ocean of people. When the pyre burned, I felt that everything of mine was burning.
It felt like even the sky cried
Ambedkar’s personal secretary Nanakchand Rattu wrote about this occasion in his book Dr. Ambedkar’s Last Years (Hindi edition, pages 147-149), “There were lakhs of people outside Rajgrih since 10 am on 7th December. When the lorry came out, I was standing near its feet. There were so many people that even the police was not able to do anything. At one place, the lorry stopped for 40 minutes because people were waiting to touch the body.” Had broken down.
By the time we reached Shivaji Park it was seven in the evening. When Bhaiyasaheb (Yashwant) lit the pyre, four lakh people together shouted “Jai Bhim… Jai Bhim…” At that time even the sky cried.”
