Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956)
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
- We are Indians, firstly and lastly
April 14 is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the revolutionary political leader, Buddhists activist, great scholar and a historian. Referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Constitution’, Dr B.R. Ambedkar was born as the poor Mahar at the Military Head Quarter of War in state of Madhya Pradesh. He devoted his entire life for the cause of humanity in uplifting the minority (schedule caste and schedule tribe) section of the society.
Ambedkar's family moved to Bombay in 1902 and he became the only untouchable enrolled at Elphinstone High School. In 1906 his marriage to a nine-year old girl, Ramabai, was arranged. In 1907, he passed his matriculation examination and in the following year he entered Elphinstone College, which was affiliated to the University of Bombay, becoming the first from his untouchable community to do so. By 1912, he obtained his degree in economics and political science from Bombay University, and prepared to take up employment with the Baroda state government.
In 1918 he became Professor of Political Economy in the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. Even though he was successful with the students, other professors objected to his sharing the same drinking-water jug that they all used. As a leading Indian scholar,Ambedkar had been invited to testify before the Southborough Committee, which was preparing the Government of India Act 1919. At this hearing, Ambedkar argued for creating separate electorates and reservations for untouchables and other religious communities.
Defeating numerous social and financial crises, he became first untouchables to obtain college education in India. After earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and London School of Economics, he returned India as a great scholar, after which he practiced law for few years before publishing journals propagating social and political rights for the Indian untouchables.
Dr Ambedkar was the founder of the ‘Independent Labour Party of India’. He was considered ‘God’ for the untouchables in the society. Beyond social reformer, he was also a great philosopher and prolific writer. Some of his popular contributions include The Annihilation of Caste; The Untouchables: A Thesis on the Origins of Untouchability; Who are Shudras etc.
Between 1941 and 1945, he published a number of books and pamphlets, including Thoughts on Pakistan, in which he criticized the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan but considered its concession if Muslims demanded so as expedient.
He also played important role in the freedom struggle of India. Post Independence, he became India’s first law minister. In 1945, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee and was asked to write free India’s new constitution.
Since 1948, Ambedkar had been suffering from diabetes. He was bed-ridden from June to October in 1954 owing to diabetes and failing eyesight. He had been increasingly embittered by political issues, which took a toll on his health. His health worsened during 1955. it is said that Ambedkar died in his sleep on 6 December 1956 at his home in Delhi. Dr. Ambedkar was honored Bharat Ratna in 1990.
April 14 is declared as a public holiday in the country. On this day all the Dalit organizations, carry huge possessions and rallied and conduct cultural programees on grand scale. His statues are decorated. Some of the other known Dalit leaders in the country includes Shri Mayawati and K. R. Narayanan.
“Man is mortal. Everyone has to die some day or the other. But one must resolve to lay down one's life in enriching the noble ideals of self-respect and in bettering one's human life. We are not slaves. Nothing is more disgraceful for a brave man than to live life devoid of self-respect.”
-Ambedkar
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