Wolverhampton temple gets go-ahead for Buddhist leader statue
A statue of an Buddhist leader will be erected outside a Wolverhampton temple after planners gave the go-ahead.
The model of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar – an Indian social reformer born in 1891 – will be installed at the entrance to the Buddha Vihara in upper Zoar Street, Graiseley.
Dr Ambedkar, who studied law at Grays Inn in London from 1916-21, was this week hailed as a “great and inspirational leader” by a local councillor.
Councillor Jacqui Sweetman said: “I am delighted this new statue of Dr Ambedkar has received planning permission.
“He is one of those great leaders who inspires – even now – people like myself in public life.
“Dr Ambedkar once said ‘a great man is different from an eminent one in that he puts service to society first’. A hard act to follow but so necessary in these times.”
A long-term campaigner for people’s rights, he also worked as an economist and fought for India’s independence, converting to Buddhism shortly before his death in 1956.
The statue, which shows Dr Ambedkar with his right arm extended and holding a copy of his book Buddha and his Dhamma, will replace an earlier model of the activist that was unveiled in 2000.
