In News:

• The Central Government recently announced a special tourist circuit - Ambedkar Circuit, that includes five key sites or Panchatheerths associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• However, Dalit scholars and Ambedkarites argue that the five sites do not do justice to Ambedkar's "true legacy" and were chosen to fit into the government's narrative.

What’s in today’s article:

• About the Ambedkar Circuit
• News Summary

The Ambedkar Circuit:

Background:

• The Government of India had identified 15 tourist circuits (the Ramayana, Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Heritage, North East, Himalayan, Sufi, Krishna, Rural, Tribal and Tirthankar Circuits) under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme (launched in 2015 by the Tourism Ministry, Government of India) is based on theme-based tourism, where each theme is called a "circuit" and composed of various tourist destinations.
• The creation of special circuits allows better focus on the comprehensive development of all theme-based sites, including infrastructure, road and rail connectivity.
• However, from the perspective of a tourist, not everyone visits all of the sites associated with a circuit in one trip.
• Train collaborations have been devised to change this travel pattern, so that people can board and complete the entire journey in one trip.
• In terms of train collaboration, the Ramayana, Buddhist and North East Circuits are already active.
• The Union Tourism Ministry recently announced the creation of a special tourist train to travel the "Ambedkar Circuit."

About the Ambedkar Circuit:

• The government had first proposed the Ambedkar Circuit or Panchteerth in 2016.
• The Panchteerth would include -
  • Janma Bhoomi, Ambedkar’s birthplace in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow;
  • Shiksha Bhoomi, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK;
  • Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism;
  • Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi or the place of his demise in Delhi; and
  • Chaitya Bhoomi, the place of his cremation, in Mumbai.
• With a special AC train, the government is looking to trace the footsteps of Ambedkar in India by giving better connectivity to these spots.
• The idea is to attract tourists beyond the Dalit community, who mostly visit these places as a pilgrimage.
• 

News Summary:

• Since 2014, the government has celebrated Ambedkar - unveiling his portrait in Parliament’s Central Hall and developing Deeksha Bhoomi as an international tourist centre.
  • Last week, former President Ram Nath Kovind released a book - Ambedkar & Modi: Reformer’s Ideas, Performer’s Implementation.
• According to the government sources, the five cities in the tourist circuit as announced by the government are already visited by Dalits as pilgrimage spots and the idea is to attract members of the public from outside the Dalit community.
  • As per some Dalit scholars, the Ambedkar tourist circuit was a good first step and other places of significance in Ambedkar history would be added subsequently.
• According to some other Ambedkar scholars, there are a host of other sites like -
  • Raigarh district (Maharashtra) where Dr. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha (on March 20, 1927 to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank).
  • Pune where he held the first negotiations (in 1932) with Mahatma Gandhi in Yerwada jail on a separate electorate for depressed classes.
    • The result was the Poona Pact signed by Dr. Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes and Madan Mohan Malviya on behalf of upper caste Hindus.
  • Sri Lanka where he attended a Buddhist conclave that is said to have influenced him to convert to Buddhism.
  • In Kolhapur, another legendary social reformer, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, declared Dr. Ambedkar to be the true leader of India's oppressed classes in March 1920 (its centennial celebrated in March 2020).
• Hence, the Ambedkar Circuit is mere symbolism and a bid to subvert and distort Dalit historical landmarks.