State plans students’ hostel at ‘Ambedkar’s house’ in London

Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar had earlier this month written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking Prime Minister’s intervention to acquire the house.

The Maharashtra government, which is in the final stages of purchasing a house in London where Dr BR Ambedkar had lived as a student, is considering opening it up for visitors or students to stay.

Minister for Social Justice and Special Assistance Rajkumar Badole led a three-member delegation, including Minister of State Dilip Kamble and Principal Secretary Ujjwal Uke, to finalise the purchase of the house on King Henry’s Road in North London. Ambedkar had lived here when he was studying at the London School of Economics (LSE) between 1921 and 1923.

The minister also initiated talks for a chair in Ambedkar’s name at LSE, linking it with two new scholarships for Indian students. The Indian High Commission in London is facilitating the purchase for the Maharashtra government. The house is approximately estimated to cost Rs 35-40 crore.