Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar

Early Life and Education
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow (now Dr. Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh, into a Mahar Dalit family, considered “untouchable” in the caste-based hierarchy of Hindu society. His father, Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was an army officer, and his mother, Bhimabai, instilled in him the value of education before passing away when Ambedkar was just five years old. Despite facing severe caste discrimination and exclusion at school, Ambedkar excelled academically. He pursued his higher education in India and later in the United States and England, earning multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. from Columbia University and a D.Sc. from the London School of Economics, becoming one of the most highly educated Indians of his time.

Fight Against Caste Discrimination and Early Career
After returning to India, Ambedkar began working as a legal advisor and professor while simultaneously advocating for the rights of Dalits and other marginalized communities. His personal experiences of discrimination fueled his determination to fight for social justice. He led movements like the Mahad Satyagraha in 1927, where he fought for the right of Dalits to access public water tanks, and the temple entry movement, challenging centuries-old caste-based oppression. His book Annihilation of Caste became a revolutionary manifesto against the caste system and highlighted the deep-rooted inequalities in Indian society.

Role in the Independence Movement
Ambedkar’s vision for an equitable society sometimes put him at odds with leaders of the Indian National Congress, including Mahatma Gandhi, particularly on the question of caste reform. He founded the Independent Labour Party in 1936 to represent the interests of Dalits, laborers, and peasants. Although not directly involved in the mainstream freedom struggle, Ambedkar’s focus was on social and economic justice, ensuring that India’s independence would include liberation for all, especially the oppressed classes. His contributions to shaping India’s social reform movement earned him a pivotal role in post-independence politics.

Drafting the Indian Constitution
After India gained independence in 1947, Ambedkar was appointed as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution. As the principal architect, he played a critical role in framing the Constitution, ensuring it upheld principles of equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice. Ambedkar introduced provisions to abolish untouchability, promote affirmative action for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and guarantee fundamental rights for all citizens. His work made the Indian Constitution one of the most progressive in the world. On 26 January 1950, when the Constitution came into effect, Ambedkar declared it a document aimed at creating a social democracy.

Conversion to Buddhism and Social Reforms
Despite his achievements, Ambedkar remained deeply disillusioned with the persistence of caste discrimination within Hindu society. He declared that Dalits could never achieve true equality within the Hindu fold and advocated for mass conversion to Buddhism. On 14 October 1956, along with thousands of his followers, Ambedkar embraced Buddhism at a historic ceremony in Nagpur. He believed Buddhism, with its emphasis on equality and compassion, offered a path to dignity and liberation for Dalits. His conversion marked the beginning of the Dalit Buddhist movement in India.

Political Career and Later Life
Ambedkar served as India’s first Law Minister but resigned in 1951 due to his differences with the government on the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to reform Hindu personal laws. He continued his advocacy for social justice and economic reforms, publishing influential works like The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution and The Buddha and His Dhamma. Ambedkar also worked to address issues of labor, women’s rights, and economic inequality. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952, where he remained a fierce critic of casteism and communalism.

Death and Legacy
Dr. Ambedkar passed away on 6 December 1956 in Delhi, just weeks after his conversion to Buddhism. His death was mourned by millions, especially the Dalit community, for whom he was a symbol of hope and empowerment. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1990.