Indian President lays the foundation of Ambedkar Centre at Lucknow's Aishbagh on Tuesday

The city of Lucknow is known across for its hybrid culture and homogenous love and now, it is set to materialise this abstract quality in the form of a cultural centre here. The President of India, during his Lucknow visit on Tuesday, laid the foundation stone for the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Centre at Aishbagh. A virtual ceremony was conducted in honour of the same, from the Lok Bhawan here.

Visualising the dream of Dr Ambedkar

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Lucknow's Aishbagh area is soon set to house a cultural centre to represent equal treatment for people of all strata. The President too, highlighted this point in his keynote address of the foundation ceremony. He said that this centre will embody the dream of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who wanted a society and an administration, that would treat everyone equally and work for the welfare of all.

Further, UP's CM was quoted saying, "It is a pleasant coincident that we are laying the foundation of the Ambedkar Cultural Centre on a day when Ambedkar had launched 'Samta', a publication 93 years ago that aimed at ensuring equality for all. He knew that unless everyone was treated equally, a country could not progress."

This centre at Aishbagh is set to expand over 1.34 acres in Aishabagh, Lucknow. A 25-feet-tall statue of Dr. Ambedkar will be placed on a 20-feet-high pedestal here, in honour of the great leader. Reportedly, an urn of his ashes will also be placed in the memorial house, which will be open for public viewing.

The centre of cultural activity in Lucknow

"The project is expected to cost around Rs 50 crores and, at least, a part of it, specifically the area where the statue will come up, should be ready by Ambedkar's death anniversary on December 6," said a government spokesperson. The cultural centre will feature a library, a museum and a 750-seater auditorium. The aim is to develop and promote this new base as the hub of cultural activities, seminars and even theatre.

The place will hold immense research potential for students, who can visit the library to dwell into a dedicated dimension pertaining to the country's culture, history and literature. The library is likely to have a vast stock of digitised manuscripts, including a book on Ambedkar and even his own writings.

During the ceremony, the President acknowledged the efforts and principles of the UP Government in ensuring equal treatment for all. Earlier, UP's Chief Minister welcomed the president with an angavastram and a memento.