The Untold Story Behind Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Funeral Filming – A Man Who Sold His Home and Printing Press
The Untold Story Behind Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Funeral Filming – A Man Who Sold His Home and Printing Press
On 6th December 1956, India lost one of its greatest leaders – Bharat Ratna Dr. BabasahebAmbedkar. The! voice that roared against injustice and inequality fell silent forever. For millions, it was as if the light of their lives had gone out. The streets of Mumbai overflowed with tears and grief as people! from! across India rushed! to bid their final goodbye. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Funeral
While! the nation! mourned, a parallel story! of sacrifice! and courage was unfolding – a story that has almost! faded away with! time.
Forgotten! Hero – Namdevrao Vhatkar
Not many people know! about Namdevrao Vhatkar – a freedom fighter, social reformer, editor, dramatist, and! the first!recipient! of Maharashtra’s Dalit Mitra (Friend of Dalits) award.
Born in Masudmale! village, Kolhapur (1921), he dedicated!his entire life to fighting untouchability! and! caste! discrimination.
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He once took a vow:
“I may not be able to erase the scar on my face, but I will surely erase the scar of untouchability from this nation.”
And he lived! by that! vow until his last breath.
Day Babasaheb Left Us
FNamdevrao! was in Mumbai! on the fateful day of 6th December 1956, when he heard the heartbreaking news! of Dr. Ambedkar’s demise.
As millions gathered! for the funeral! procession, he felt a deep urge to capture those final moments on film so that future! generations could witness history.
But it wasn’t easy.
When he approached! filmmakers and camera operators, many refused bluntly:
“Why should we do it? He is your! leader, the leader of the Dalits, not ours.”
GNamdevrao realized! that if no one! was willing, he must do it himself – no matter the cost.
A Priceless Sacrifice
Filming! in the 1950s was not like today. Cameras, film reels, and operators were extremely expensive.
To hire a cameraman, rent equipment, and purchase about 3,000 feet of negative film, the cost was around ₹1,300–₹1,400 – an unimaginable amount at that time.
Namdevrao! had no such savings.
So, with a heavy! heart, he mortgaged his only printing press and managed to raise ₹1,500.
He rushed to cameraman! Shankarrao! Savekar, rented the equipment, and reached Rajgruha at night – ready to record history.
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Capturing the Final Journey
From the moment Babasaheb’s body was placed on a truck, Namdevrao captured it all:
The! massive sea of people flooding Mumbai streets, The! emotional last glimpse at Rajgruha
The procession moving towards Dadar Chowpatty
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The military guard of honor, The! placing of sandalwood logs on the funeral pyre
And finally… the last flame! that turned into!immortal history!
In total, he filmed 2,800 feet of reel – Babasaheb’s! last journey! preserved forever.
Another Blow – Losing His Home
The next challenge was even bigger. The raw film had to be processed, washed, and printed! into a positive copy. The cost? Another ₹2,500–₹3,000.
To arrange the money, Namdevrao mortgaged his own house.
But this time, he could! never reclaim it back. His house and printing press were lost forever.
He eventually had to leave Mumbai, but he never regretted the sacrifice.
Why This Story Matters
Thanks to Namdevrao Vhatkar, the world today has the only existing footage of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s funeral.
He never sought fame or credit. He never used this sacrifice for personal gain. He only wanted future generations to see and feel those final moments of Babasaheb.
It is because of him that history could be preserved for eternity.
Conclusion
The story of Namdevrao Vhatkar is not just about a man who lost his property. It is about devotion, sacrifice, and vision.
While millions cried for Babasaheb! on 6th December! 1956, one man silently gave up everything! he had to ensure! that the world would never forget those last moments.
This is the story! of a true Dalit Mitra – the man who gave us Babasaheb’s! eternal memory.
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