BR Ambedkar

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Some facts from Dr Ambedkar’s life…
His real name is Bhimrao Ramji
Ambedkar
He’s popularly known as
Babasaheb Ambedkar
He is a popular freedom fighter, one of the
architects of the Indian constitution
He was appointed as India’s first law
minister in the cabinet of the first prime
minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Dr Ambedkar was awarded Bharat Rhatna, which is India's highest
civilian honor.
He was a very well-known political leader, philosopher, freedom
fighter, economist, scholar, writer, editor and anthropologist.
He fought to finish the social evils like untouchability and fought for the rights of
socially backward classes like the Dalits throughout his life.
 Let’s know more about his life
•Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14 1891 at Mhow in
Madya Pradesh.
•He was a good student earning doctorates from both London university
and Columbia University of London.
•He gained a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics,
and political science.
•In his early career he was an editor, economist, professor, and activist
who was against discrimination Dalits faced based on caste.
Dr Ambedkar’s later career included participating in political activities.
He was involved in campaigning, and negotiation of India’s
independence.
After Independence, he became the chairman of the drafting committee of
the Indian constitution.
After Independence, he was the first minister of law and justice, and is
considered to be the architect of the constitution of India.
In 1956, he converted to Buddhism, resulting in the mass conversion of
the Dalits.
In 1948, Ambedkar suffered from diabetes after fighting diabetes for 7
years, Ambedkar passed away in his sleep on December 6 1956.
 Shall we dive deeper?
His father was Ramji Makoji Sakpal who was an army officer in the British
India army. Dr. B.R.Ambedkar was the fourteenth son of his father. Bhimabai
Sakpal was his mother.
His family was of Marathi background from the town of Ambawade. Dr. B.R.
Ambedtkar was born as a Dalit and he was treated as an untouchable. He was
subjected to regular social and economic discrimination. Although Ambedkar
attended school, he and other Dalit students were treated as untouchables.
They were separated from another group of students from other caste and
were not given attention by the teachers. They were even not allowed to sit
with other students for their own drinking water. He used to drink water with
the help of the peon as he and other Dalit students were not allowed to touch
anything.
His father retired in 1894 and his mother passed away
2 years after they moved to Satara. Of all his brothers
and sisters, Ambedkar was the only one who passed
his examination and went to high school. Later in high
school, his school, a Brahmin teacher changed his
surname from Ambadawekar which was given by his
father to Ambedkar in records. This shows the level of
discrimination that was done on Dalits.
In 1897, Ambedkar became the only untouchable to get enrolled at
the Elphinstone High School. In 1906, Ambedkar who was 15 years
old married a 9 years old named Ramabai. The marriage was done
by the couple’s parents as per the rituals. In 1912, he obtained his
degree in political science and economics from Bombay University
and was employed by the Baroda state government. In 1913,
Ambedkar moved to the United States as he was awarded a
scholarship for three years by Sayajirao Gaekwad three. The
scholarship was designed to provide opportunities for post-graduate
education at Columbia University in New York City. In 1915, he
majored in Economics, Sociology, History, Philosophy, and
Anthropology
Let’s talk about his
ACHIEVEMENTS
In 1916, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar worked as the defense
secretary for the princely state of Baroda. As he was a
Dalit, work was not easy. He was ridiculed by the
people and often ignored. After continuous caste
discrimination, he quit his job as the defense secretary
and took up jobs as a private tutor and accountant. He
later established a consulting firm but it failed to
flourish. The reason has been that he was a Dalit. He
finally got a job as a teacher at the Sydenham College
of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.
As Ambedkar was a victim of caste discrimination, he
thrived to uplift the pitiable state of the untouchables in
the society. He founded a weekly journal called
“Mooknayak” which enabled him to criticize the beliefs of
the Hindus.He was passionate to eradicate the practice
of caste discrimination in India which led him to establish
“Bahishkrit Hitakarni Sabha”. The main goal of the
organization was to provide education to the backward
classes.
In 1927, he continuously worked against untouchability. He followed
the footsteps of Gandhi and led a Satyagraha movement. The
untouchables were denied access to the main source of drinking water
and entry in Temples. He fought for the rights of the untouchables.
In 1932, the “Poona Pact” was formed that allowed reservation for the
depressed class in the regional legislative assembly and central council
states.
In 1935, he founded the “Independent labor party” which secured
fourteen seats in the Bombay election. In 1935, he published books
such as ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ which questioned orthodox Hindu
beliefs, and the very next year he published another book by the name
‘Who Were the Shudras?’ in which he explained how the untouchables
were formed.
After India’s Independence, he served on the board of the defense
advisory committee and as the minister for labor for the ‘viceroy's
executive council’. His dedication towards the work earned him the chair
of India's first law minister. He was the first chairman of the drafting
committee of the Constitution of India. He also established the finance
committee of India. It was through his policies the nation progressed
both economically and socially.
In 1951, ‘The Hindu Code Bill’ was proposed to him, which he later
rejected and resigned from the Cabinet. He contested for the seat of Likh
Sabha but was defeated. He was later appointed to the Rajya Sabha and
remained a member of the Rajya Sabha until his death in 1955.
MY THOUGHTS
BR Ambedkar’s determination is definitely what attracted me to his personality
and his life. His parents must have been good and hard working parents who
brought him up in values such as honesty and righteousness. Because in spite of
the obstacles, discriminations and humiliations he had to face, it only made him
work all the more enthusiastically and study and increased the dedication for the
rights of the Dalits. He found a lot of issues with the caste system and realized
caste system was an inevitable part of Hinduism. He started studying about
various religions. Finally he declared in one his speeches saying even though he
was born a Hindu, he’ll never die as an a Hindu. Dr Ambedkar, with his wife and
together with his huge number of Dalit followers converted to Buddhism which
he considered to be the most scientific religion. Altogether, Dr Ambedkar’s
dedication towards what he fought for was my inspiration.
 Thankyou

Reference: Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Biography - Hi

story, Education, and Achievements (vedantu.com
)