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The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar bust is located inside the Lehman Social Sciences Library, on the 3rd floor of 420 West 118th Street (the School of International and Public Affairs building), New York, NY 10027 (map of Morningside campus). The bronze bust, sculpted by Vinay Brahmesh Wagh of Bombay, was presented by the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organizations, UK to the Southern Asian Institute of Columbia University on October 24, 1995.

Active Columbia affiliates with a Columbia ID can visit the bust at any time Lehman Library is open. For outside visitors and non-Columbia affiliates, access to the Lehman Library (as to all buildings on campus) is currently governed by the University campus access policies. (Please see campus access updates here: https://publicsafety.columbia.edu/content/morningside-campus-access-updates). These policies are subject to continuous change, so it is important to check the website before planning your visit to the Ambedkar bust.

Please note that if the access code to campus is set to R (Restricted), then no visitors are allowed on campus.  

For non-Columbia affiliates, if access level to campus is set to O (Open) or I (ID Only), then outside visitors may visit provided they obtain a guest pass. Please note that due to current access restrictions to campus, we regret that same day visits, with no advance notice, cannot be accommodated.

To obtain a guest pass, visitors need to contact us by email at AmbedkarBust@columbia.edu at least 2 business days (Monday - Friday) in advance of their proposed visit. Please email us the following information: date and time of intended visit, name of each visitor, individual email addresses for each visitor, and purpose of visit.

Once a request for a visit has been submitted at AmbedkarBust@columbia.edu, we will provide additional instructions for visiting campus. Please email us with any questions regarding the planning of your visit at AmbedkarBust@columbia.edu