Born: 14 April, 1891
Passed Away: 6, December, 1956
Passed Away: 6, December, 1956
ContributionDr B R Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. He was a well-known politician and an eminent jurist. Ambedkar's efforts to eradicate the social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions were remarkable. The leader, throughout his life, fought for the rights of the dalits and other socially backward classes. Ambedkar was appointed as the nation's first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor in 1990.
His Life
Bhimrao
Ambedkar was born to Bhimabai Sakpal and Ramji on 14 April 1891 in Madhya
Pradesh. He was the fourteenth child of his parents. Ambedkar;s father was a
Subedar in the Indian Army and posted at Mhow cantonment, MP. After the
retirement of his father in 1894, the family moved to satara. Shortly after,
his mother passed away. Four years later, his father remarried and the family
shifted to Bombay, where he cleared his matriculation in 1908. His father
Bhimabai Sakpal died in Bombay, in 1912.
Ambedkar
was a victim of caste discrimination. His parents hailed from the Hindu Mahar
caste, which was viewed as "untouchable" by the upper class. Due to
this, Ambedkar had to face severe discriminations from every corners of the
society. a The discrimination and humiliation haunted Ambedkar even at the Army
school, run by British government. Fearing social outcry, the teachers would
segregate the students of lower class from that of Brahmins and other upper
classes. The untouchable students were often asked by the teacher to sit
outside the class. After shifting to Satara, he was admitted to a local school
but the change of school did not change the fate of young Bhimrao.
Discrimination
followed wherever he went. In 1908, Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at
the Elphinstone College. Besides clearing all the exams successfully Ambedkar
also obtained a scholarship of twenty five rupees a month from the Gayakwad
ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Political Science and Economics were the
subjects in which he graduated from the Bombay University in 1912. Ambedkar
decided to use the money for higher studies in the USA.
After
coming back from the US, Ambedkar was appointed as the Defence secretary to the
King of Baroda. Even, there also he had to face the humiliation for being an
'Untouchable'. With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham,
Ambedkar obtained the job as a professor of political economy at the Sydenham
College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. In order to continue his further
studies, in 1920 he went to England at his own expenses. There he was awarded
honor of D.Sc by the London University. Ambedkar also spent few months at the
University of Bonn, Germany, to study economics. On 8 June, 1927, he was
awarded a Doctorate by the University of Columbia.
Dalit Movement
After returning to India, Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to fight against the caste discrimination that almost fragmented the nation. Ambedkar opined that there should be separate electoral system for the Untouchables and lower caste people. He also favored the concept of providing reservations for Dalits and other religious communities.
After returning to India, Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to fight against the caste discrimination that almost fragmented the nation. Ambedkar opined that there should be separate electoral system for the Untouchables and lower caste people. He also favored the concept of providing reservations for Dalits and other religious communities.
Ambedkar
began to find ways to reach to the people and make them understand the
drawbacks of the prevailing social evils. He launched a newspaper called
"Mooknayaka" (leader of the silent). It was believed that, one day,
after hearing his speech at a rally, Shahu IV, an influential ruler of Kolhapur
dined with the leader. The incident also created a huge uproar in the
socio-political arena of the country.
Political career
In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly his party won 15 seats. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.
In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly his party won 15 seats. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.
Ambedkar
objected to the decision of Congress and Mahatma Gandhi to call the untouchable
community as Harijans. He would say that even the members of untouchable
community are same as the other members of the society. Ambedkar was appointed
on the Defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy's Executive Council as
Minister for Labor. His reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free
India's first, Law Minister and chairman of the committee responsible to draft
a constitution.
Framer of Constitution
Bhimrao Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee. He was also a noted scholar and eminent jurist. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a virtual bridge between the classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met.
Bhimrao Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee. He was also a noted scholar and eminent jurist. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a virtual bridge between the classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met.
Conversion to Buddhism
In 1950, Ambedkar traveled to Sri Lanka to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. After his return he decided to write a book on Buddhism and soon, converted himself to Buddhism. In his speeches, Ambedkar lambasted the Hindu rituals and caste division. Ambedkar founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha In 1955. His book "The Buddha and His Dhamma" was published posthumously.
In 1950, Ambedkar traveled to Sri Lanka to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. After his return he decided to write a book on Buddhism and soon, converted himself to Buddhism. In his speeches, Ambedkar lambasted the Hindu rituals and caste division. Ambedkar founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha In 1955. His book "The Buddha and His Dhamma" was published posthumously.
On
October 14, 1956 Ambedkar organized a public ceremony to convert around five
lakh of his supporters into Buddhism. Ambedkar traveled to Kathmandu to attend
the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. He completed his final manuscript,
"The Buddha or Karl Marx" on December 2, 1956.
Death
Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health problems including diabetes and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted the Buddhism as his religion, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.
Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health problems including diabetes and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted the Buddhism as his religion, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.