As sentiments are the core of our democracy, leaders always enjoy public affection irrespective of their performance. So, memorials of popular figures fall on the same lines, as compassion ranks higher than public audit.u00a0In the past, Mumbai has witnessed mammoth public gatherings at the funerals of Lokmanya Tilak and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The then administration allowed Tilak’s last rites to be performed at Girgaum Chowpatty. Today, the place close to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road has a statue and a small garden. In the case of Dr Ambedkar, the funeral took place at Dadar Chowpatty and the place is now known as Chaityabhoomi.

There is hardly anything in Mumbai that can be called a fitting memorial to stalwarts from the social and political arena. A demand for Dr Ambedkar’s memorial is yet to be fulfilled as the proposal for allocation of Indu Mills land awaits formal approval.