1.  High CommissionerVishnu Prakash unveiled the bust of Bharat RatnaDr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar at the York University in Toronto on 2nd December, 2015. He hailed Dr. Ambedakar as a great son of India and the architect of the Indian Constitution who devoted his entire life to the cause of social justice, gender equality and promotion of education. High Commissioner pointed out that India had the largest affirmative action (reservation) programme in the world, spanning over sixty years, to make available government jobs, as well as, educational and other benefits to the under-privileged sections of the society. The programme extended to political space too, which had resulted in empowerment of the disadvantaged segments of the populace. He dedicated the bust to the students of York University and, through them, the people of Canada.

2.  The third largest in Canada, York University has over 55,000 students on its rolls, of which more than 800 are from India. Earlier, a bust of Dr. Ambedkar was established at the Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. The bust at York, was arranged by the Ambedkar International Mission (AIM), Canada.

3.  Dr. SukhadeoThorat, Chairman of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), delivered a keynote speech on the occasion. He termed Dr. Ambedkar as one of the greatest Indians of the 21st century, likening him to Dr. Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. He highlighted the pioneering role played by Dr. Ambedkar inframing the Constitution of India, his contributions to social justice, as well as, rebuilding the Indian society. Dr. Ambedkar always maintained that social and economic democracies were fibres of political democracy, he said.

4.  A large number of faculty members, students and representatives of the Indian community were present on the occasion.

Ottawa
4 December 2015