The birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and Dalit rights activist, would be observed at the United Nations for the first time with focus on combating inequalities to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. He died in 1956 and was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1990.

UN to commemorate his birth anniversary a day in advance

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN in association with the Kalpana Saroj Foundation and Foundation For Human Horizon will commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar on April 13 at the UN headquarters, a day before his birthday.

A note circulated by the Indian mission said that as India celebrates the 125th birth anniversary of the "national icon", Babasaheb remains an inspiration for millions of Indians and proponents of equality and social justice across the globe.

"Fittingly, although it's a matter of coincidence, one can see the trace of Babasaheb's radiant vision in the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly to eliminate poverty, hunger and socio-economic inequality by 2030," it said. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891.