Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
He graduated from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay. B.R. Ambedkar studied economics at Columbia University and the London School of Economics. He received doctorate degrees in 1927 and 1923. In 1990, BHARAT RATNA, the highest civilian award in India was posthumously conferred to Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. His followers announced the salutation of Jai Bhim and called him BABASAHEB in his respect and honor.
“Freedom of mind is the real freedom.
A person whose mind is not free though he may not be in chains, is a slave, not a free man.
One whose mind is not free, though he may not be in prison, is a prisoner and not a free man.
One whose mind is not free though alive, is no better than dead.
Freedom of mind is the proof of one’s existence.”
―B.R. Ambedkar
समाज के वंचित और शोषित वर्ग के सशक्तिकरण के लिए अपना जीवन समर्पित करने वाले पूज्य बाबासाहेब को उनकी जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। जय भीम! pic.twitter.com/yssVzjMpnL
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2023
Early life and Untouchability
He was born on 14th April 1891 in a military cantonment in Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. his father was Ramji Maloji Sakpal. He was an army officer and held the rank of Subedar in the British Military. his mother was Bhimabai Sakpal. B.R. Ambedkar was the 14th child of his parents and belonged to a Marathi background.
he was born into the DALIT caste and was referred to as untouchable and subjected to both social and economical discrimination. The impact of being Dalit started in schools where he was not allowed to sin in the classrooms, teachers did not help him, he don’t even touch the pots of school for drinking water and sometimes he was mentally harassed. The latter mentioned No Peon, No Water in his writings as peon pore water from a certain height.
At a young age, B.R. Ambedkar realized that education was the key to breaking free from the chains of caste-based discrimination. He studied hard, even though he faced ridicule and prejudice from his classmates and teachers. But he never gave up, driven by a burning desire to achieve his dreams and prove to the world that he was capable of greatness.
Education
Despite facing ridicule and discrimination, B.R. Ambedkar was a brilliant student and excelled in his studies. He went on to earn multiple degrees, including a BA from Bombay University, an MA in economics from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London. he understood the transformative power of education, not just for himself, but for the entire Dalit community.
At the University of Bombay-1912, a degree in economics and political science.
At Columbia University- 1927, a Ph.D. degree in economics at Columbia, 1927.
At the London School of Economics-1923, D.Sc. in Economics.
Dr. Ambedkar wrote three books on economics:
- Administration and Finance of the East India Company.
- The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India.
- The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was based on the ideas that Ambedkar presented to the Hilton Young Commission.
Marriage
In 1918, B.R. Ambedkar married Ramabai, a fellow Dalit and a woman of great courage and strength. Their marriage was unconventional for the time, as it went against traditional Hindu practices that imposed strict rules and restrictions on inter-caste marriages. Ambedkar had to struggle hard to persuade Ramabai’s parents to accept the marriage. B.R. Ambedkar saw his marriage as a way to challenge the caste system and set an example for others. They had five children together and remained partners in both their personal and political lives until Ramabai’s untimely death on 27 May 1935.
He later married Dr. Savita Bhimrao Ambedkar ( Sharda Kabir) On 15 April 1948. she died on 29 May 2003 at the age of 94.
struggle against untouchability
B.R. Ambedkar firmly believed that untouchability was not just a social issue, but a moral one. He saw it as a violation of basic human rights and dignity and believed that it had to be eradicated if India was to truly become a free and democratic country. Ambedkar worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the evils of untouchability, both through his writings and his activism.
He spoke out against the practice in public forums, organized mass movements to protest it, and even burned copies of the Manusmriti, a Hindu religious text that he believed promoted caste-based discrimination. his role in drafting the Indian Constitution, which explicitly prohibited discrimination based on caste. He also played a key role in the formation of the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to reform Hindu personal laws and grant women and Dalits greater rights.
Conversion to Buddhism
B.R. Ambedkar had long been critical of Hinduism and its caste system, which he saw as a source of oppression and discrimination against Dalits. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Buddha, which emphasized equality, compassion, and non-violence. In 1956, Ambedkar announced his intention to convert to Buddhism along with hundreds of thousands of his followers. The conversion ceremony was held in Nagpur, and it was attended by thousands of people from across India.
Poona Pact
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in the negotiation and drafting of the Poona Pact in 1932. The Poona Pact was an agreement between the leaders of the Dalit community and the upper-caste Hindu leaders, which was aimed at providing political representation to the Dalits in the legislative bodies of British India.
Dr. Ambedkar led the Dalit delegation during the negotiations, and he insisted that the Dalits be given a separate electorate, which would enable them to elect their representatives. The upper-caste Hindu leaders, however, were vehemently opposed to this idea, as they felt it would lead to the fragmentation of Hindu society. After several rounds of negotiations, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar agreed to give up the demand for a separate electorate, in exchange for reserved seats for the Dalits in the provincial and central legislatures. This compromise came to be known as the Poona Pact.
India’s Constitution
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is widely considered to be the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he played a critical role in drafting the Constitution and shaping India’s political and social landscape.
“Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of Life, and its spirit is always the spirit of Age.”
In addition to his role as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was also a member of the Constituent Assembly and played an active role in debates and discussions about the Constitution. His speeches and interventions in the Assembly reflect his deep commitment to social justice and his determination to create a Constitution that would ensure equality for all.
While there is much to say on this topic, I am limited by the constraints of time and space. There are numerous points to consider, but I am unable to elaborate on all of them in detail. In short, there is an ocean of knowledge about Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar but being a human there is limited time to explore all of it. It is impossible to write everything about god.
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