Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has on Wednesday- April 13 announced that the state will be marking Dr Ambedkar's birthday as 'Equality Day'. India will celebrate Dr Ambedkar's birthday on April 14 and Tamil Nadu has turned heads by remembering the social reformer by what he fought for. Ambedkar is the father of the Indian constitution and the first law minister of independent India. He is known for his staunch campaign for social justice and annihilating the caste system in the country. 

Thousands of Indians, who work for equality, follow and admire Ambedkar and he is known for renouncing Hinduism and pioneering the Dalit Buddhist movement. The country will be celebrating 'Ambedkar Jayanti' on his 140th birthday on April 14. Giving more recognition to his impeccable service to the country in framing the constitution and in inspiring a sea of people, the Tamil Nadu government has now announced that it will celebrate Ambedkar's birthday as Equality Day. 

On Wednesday, MK Stalin made the announcement in the Tamil Nadu assembly under Rule 110. During addressing the assembly, the Chief Minister said that Ambedkar existed as the light of many lives and was a fighter who levelled the ups and downs caused by society through education. MK Stalin further said, "His birthday will be celebrated as Equality Day during which a pledge will be taken. His full-size statue will be set up in the memorial and selected books of Ambedkar will also be translated into Tamil and published." 

Several leaders in Tamil Nadu had welcomed MK Stalin's announcement at a high time when multiple events indicate that Ambedkar's legacy and principles are getting eroded across the nation. Thol Thirumavalavan, the leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) which follows the footsteps of Ambedkar, has expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister MK Stalin for announcing that Ambedkar's birthday will be celebrated as Equality Day. 

Taking to Twitter, Thirumavalavan wrote, "I convey my heartfelt gratitude, on behalf of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, to Chief Minister MK Stalin for announcing revolutionary Ambedkar's birthday as Equality Day and initiating to take a pledge on that day." It must be noted that to celebrate the birthday of social reformer Thanthai Periyar, the Tamil Nadu government had last September announced that his birthday will be celebrated as Social Justice Day.