Raipur, April 13 : The city of Raipur witnessed a grand celebration of Ambedkar Jayanti on Sunday with a spirited ‘Jai Bhim March’ that drew hundreds of participants, including prominent leaders and enthusiastic youth. The march, which began at Telibandha Lake and concluded at Ambedkar Chowk, was marked by slogans of “Jai Bhim” and floral tributes to Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Tankram Verma, and Raipur North MLA Purandar Mishra led the march, reflecting the state’s commitment to Ambedkar’s ideals. At Ambedkar Chowk, the leaders paid homage to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by garlanding his statue and addressing the gathered crowd.
In a light moment during his speech, Minister Verma mistakenly referred to MLA Purandar Mishra as Raipur South’s representative, drawing laughter from those present. He quickly corrected himself, and the event continued on a positive note.
Several youths excelling in various fields were honoured during the programme. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sai said, “India’s Constitution is our sacred text. It ensures every citizen’s dignity and forms the cornerstone of our democracy, envisioned by Baba Saheb.”
He recalled the life journey of Dr. Ambedkar—from his birth in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, to his relentless struggle for education and social justice. The Chief Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to develop five significant sites from Ambedkar’s life as ‘Panchteerth,’ and the observance of Constitution Day to spread awareness of constitutional values.
Highlighting India’s democratic resilience, Sai remarked that while many countries that gained independence around the same time as India faltered, “our democracy has grown stronger because of Baba Saheb’s vision.”
The event concluded with leaders and youth collectively reading the Preamble of the Constitution and pledging to uphold its principles by signing the symbolic ‘Preamble Wall.’
The celebration served as a reminder of Ambedkar’s legacy and the responsibility of every citizen, especially the youth, to preserve and strengthen the foundations of Indian democracy.
