Since ancient times, our great country Bharat has been practising ‘Deshatan’, ‘Tirthatan’ and ‘Paryantan’. Our Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) and age-old concept of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (Guest is God) mentioned in the Taittiriya Upanishad reflects the roots of hospitality in Indian tradition which has made India a cultural tourism destination, since ancient times we have cultural and pilgrimage tourism as witnessed by the Kumbh Mela and the pilgrimage to the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, 51 Shaktipeethas, char dhamas and other religious places of Hinduism.
Similarly, the Buddhists undertake the “Dhamma Yatra” as mentioned in the “Mahaparinirvan Sutta”, i.e. the pilgrimage to the sacred places associated with the life of the Buddha; other religions also undertake the pilgrimage.
In modern times the concept of tourism is considered an activity for leisure and pleasure, but in recent times new forms of tourism have been emerging; the United Nations World Tourism Organisation defines Tourism as “a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes”, further the forms of tourism are cultural tourism, religious tourism, historical tourism, adventure tourism, beach tourism, sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, farm tourism, rural tourism and many more. A new form of personality-based tourism has emerged, known as “Ambedkar Tourism.”
Dr Rajesh Ragde, an eminent expert in tourism, introduced the novel concept of “Ambedkar Tourism”, which can be defined as visiting the places associated with the life of Dr B R. Ambedkar and the sites depicting the historical events. The concept was an outcome of Dr Ragde’s research work in 2012, which got national and international recognition.
Personality of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar is regarded as the Symbol of Knowledge; the greatest thinker of the 20th Century is the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution.
The name “Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar” has great significance and honour; in India, 14 Central & State Universities, 134 Colleges, 579 Schools, 312 registered Libraries, 01 Domestic & 01 International Airport, 04 Railway / Metro Station, 02 Districts, City, Towns, Villages, more than a thousand City Squares, Circles & roads, 05 movies in 12 languages, 04 TV Serials, 09 Mahanatya (mega stage play/drama), 06 government schemes, 37 biographies, 26 Awards (13 national & international & 13 state level) are named after Dr Ambedkar. Almost all universities have Chairs and a Centre for Ambedkar Studies.
The Birth Anniversary of Dr Ambedkar is a public Holiday in India and is observed as Equality Day, Knowledge Day, Water Day and Law Day; the city of Burnaby, Canada, also celebrates Dr B R Ambedkar Day of Equality and other significant days in his life are also celebrated as Constitution Day, Student Day.
In a speech, the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, “it’s very unfortunate that a person of such high calibre, world’s renowned person Dr Ambedkar, unfortunately he has been confined within his own community.”
Concept of Ambedkar Tourism
Personality-based tourism is a form of tourism which has developed since ancient times. It is associated with the life of eminent personalities like Prophets, Saints, Philosophers, Writers, and the founders of religion or religious philosophies, like Gautama Buddha, Mahavira or Gurus of Sikhism etc., personalities which their followers revere. Such places associated with their life are developed as religious tourism destinations.
After the course of the period, their views, ideas, thoughts, philosophies, inventions, and writings indirectly become an integral part of local culture and attributes (places, articles, houses, graveyards etc.) related to that personality become an attraction for visitors, similar to the product development cycle of literary tourism.
Dr Rajesh 2014 introduced this novel concept of “Ambedkar Tourism”, positioning an individual as a tourist attraction. “Ambedkar Tourism” is defined as visiting the places associated with the life of Dr B R Ambedkar and the sites depicting the historical events.
According to UNESCO, Intangible cultural heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices. The legacy of Dr B R Ambedkar has developed into a unique cultural heritage which is now part of intangible heritage in India and abroad which is classified as:
Festive and commemorative Events: Birth anniversaries, Days of Conversion to Buddhism (Dhammachakra Pravartan Din), and death anniversaries are observed as holy days. Peace March, Rallies, Processions, Public Lectures etc., are organised on these occasions.
Performing Arts: Inspired by Dr Ambedkar’s life is practised consists of Ambedkar Music, Bhimgeet, Jalsa and Palna (cradle) songs; Dance, Dramas and Dalit Theatre; Movies, Television Serials and Documentaries.
Knowledge and practices: Dr Ambedkar was an author of distinction whose writings and speeches are still being published in 22 volumes even after his death. Similarly, thousands of books and over a million articles have been written on his thoughts and life. Photographs, Paintings, Posters, Ambedkar Calmanacs and Calendars are also published.
Social practices: Followers pay homage to him in diverse ways, such as worshipping his statues and visiting places associated with his life on specific days. This is the non-physical manifestation of cultural expressions and traditions of a society.
Table 1 Ambedkar Tourism Attractions
Development of Ambedkar Tourism
On October 11, 2015, Prime Minister declared the sites associated with the life of Dr Ambedkar as ‘Panch Teerth’ (quintet pilgrimage places) Ambavade, the ancestral village, MHOW, his birthplace in Madhya Pradesh, the House in London (10 King Henry Road) where
He stayed for studies; World class memorials are being developed at Indu Mill besides Chaityabhoomi (Mumbai, Maharashtra) and at his 26 Alipore Road Residence in Delhi.
These sites are officially designated tourist sites.
A life-size statue of Dr Ambedkar was unveiled at Koyasan University in Japan in 2015. A special Ambedkar Tourism Train named Samanta Express (Equality Express) has been started on the Ambedkar Tourism Circuit.
Several initiatives were taken by the Department of Tourism Administration, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), to develop Ambedkar Tourism in an organised form. Dr Ragde and Dr Madhuri Sawant have been on the frontier in promoting Ambedkar Tourism, especially in Japan. Awareness has been achieved through popular lectures, the orientation of Travel Agents and tour operators, organising the first-ever Ambedkar Heritage Walk etc.
Since 2018 “Ambedkar Tourism” has been included in the national curriculum of the University Grants Commission- National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) Tourism Administration and Management.
In 2021 Dr Rajesh Ragde initiated the first of its kind Certificate course in “Ambedkar Tourism” at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
The term & concept of “Ambedkar Tourism” has got global recognition as it has been accepted & included in the Encyclopaedia of Tourism Management and Marketing (published by Elgar Publishers, London, in August 2022), which is the first encyclopaedia of Tourism, having 1250 entries, 2 million words, in 4 volumes contributed by 1500 authors from 80 countries around the world.
The Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken a keen interest and initiative in promoting and developing the Panch Teerthas and other sites/places related to the life of Dr B R Ambedkar; this initiative would help in understanding the life, philosophy and contribution of Dr Ambedkar in making of modern India.
(The writer is an Independent Researcher, his research articles on Tourism Destination Branding, Medical Tourism have been published in International Journals)
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