Arising Light: Making a Documentary Life History Motion Picture on Dr Ambedkar in India

Abstract

This paper introduces a documentary feature film project on Dr B. R. Ambedkar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his embracing Buddhism in Nagpur, India, (October 14th 1956) along with 500,000 others. This ushered in a new path for social welfare in India. On December 6th 1956 he passed away in New Delhi.\r\n\r\nDr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) rose from the dalit “undercaste” community (untouchables) in India. He educated himself in India and the West and became a national leader in India’s struggle for equality and justice. Ambedkar framed the Indian constitution making it a secular state and provided the national emblems of state, in particular the Asoka lions, and the dharma wheel on the national flag. Dr Ambedkar was India’s first Minister of Law.