Dr BR Ambedkar. Image courtesy @RailMinIndia|Twitter
Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti: April 14
Baba Saheb Dr Bhim Rao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, he was the 14th and last child of his parents. He was the son of Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal, who was a Subedar in the British Army. Babasaheb’s father was a follower of Sant Kabir and was also a well-read person. He was hardly two years old when his father retired from service. His mother died when he was only about six. He was taking his school education in Satara when, unfortunately, he lost his mother. His aunt looked after him. Afterwards, they shifted to Bombay.
Baba Saheb got his early education in Bombay. Since his school days, he realized with intense shock what it was to be an untouchable in India. Throughout his school education, young Bhim Rao suffered from the curse of untouchability. His marriage took place after his matriculation in 1907 in an open shed of a market. He completed his graduation at Elphinstone College, Bombay, for which he was getting a scholarship from Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda. After his graduation, he had to join Baroda Sansthan according to the bond. He lost his father when he was in Baroda.
In 1913 Baba Saheb was selected as a scholar to go to the U.S.A, for higher studies. This was the turning point of his educational career. He got his M.A. and PhD degrees from Columbia University in 1915 and 1916 respectively. He then left for London for further studies. He was admitted there to the Gray’s Inn for Law and also allowed to prepare for the D. Sc. at the London School of Economics and Political Science. But he was called back to India by the Dewan of Baroda. Later, he got his Bar-at-Law and D.Sc. degree also. He studied for some time at Bonn University in Germany.
In 1916 he read an essay on ‘Castes in India — their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development’. In 1916, he wrote his thesis ‘National Dividend for India — A Historic and Analytical Study’ and got his PhD. Degree. This was published after eight years under the title — “Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India.” Then after getting this highest degree, he returned to India and was appointed a Military Secretary to the Maharaja of Baroda with a view to grooming him as the finance minister in the long run.
Babasaheb returned to Baroda in September 1917 as his scholarship tenure ended and joined the service. But after a brief stay in the city till November 1917, he left for Mumbai. The maltreatment he faced on grounds of untouchability had forced him to leave the service.
Dr Ambedkar returned to Bombay and joined Sydenham College as a Professor of Political Economy. As he was well-read, he was very popular among the students. But he resigned from his post, to resume his studies in Law and Economics in London. Maharaja of Kolhapur gave him financial help. In 1921, he wrote his thesis. “Provincial Decentralization of Imperial Finance in British India,’ and got his M.Sc. Degree from the London University. Then he spent some period at Bonn University in Germany. In 1923, he submitted his thesis — “Problem of Rupee Its Origin and Solution”, for the D.Sc. Degree. He was called to Bar in 1923.
After coming back from England in 1924 he started an Association for the welfare of the depressed classes, with Sir Chimanlal Setalvad as the President and Dr Ambedkar as the Chairman. To spread education, improve economic conditions and represent the grievances of depressed classes were the immediate objects of the Association.
The Bahiskrit Bharat, newspaper was started on April 3, 1927, to address the cause of the depressed classes in view of the new reform.
In 1928, he became a Professor at Government Law College, Bombay and on June 1, 1935, he became the Principal of the same college and remained in that position till his resignation in 1938.
On October 13, 1935, a provincial conference of the depressed classes was held a Yeola in Nasik District. At this conference, he shocked the Hindus by announcing. “I was born in Hinduism but I will not die as a Hindu” Thousands of his followers supported his decision. In 1936 he addressed the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference and advocated the renunciation of Hinduism.
On August 15, 1936, he formed Independent Labour Party to safeguard the interest of the depressed classes, which mostly formed the labour population. In 1938, the Congress Party introduced a bill making a change in the name of untouchables. He criticized it. In his point of view changing the name was not the solution to the problem.
In 1942, Baba Saheb was appointed to the Executive Council of the Governor General of India as a Labour member. In 1946, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal. At the same time, he published his book, Who Were Shudras?
He was also the Chairman of the drafting commitee of the Constitution of India. On 29 August 1947, the Constituent Assembly set up a Drafting Committee under his chairmanship to prepare a draft Constitution for India. While deliberating upon the draft Constitution, the Assembly moved, discussed and disposed of as many as 2,473 amendments out of a total of 7,635 tabled.
In 1947, he was appointed as Independent India’s first Minister of Law and Justice in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet. But in 1951, he resigned from his ministership, expressing his differences on the Kashmir issue, India’s Foreign Policy and Nehru’s Policy towards the Hindu Code Bill.
In 1952, Columbia University conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in recognition of the work done by him in connection with the drafting of India’s Constitution. In 1955, he published his book titled Thoughts on Linguistic States. He was also awarded a Doctorate on January 12, 1953, from Osmania University.
Ultimately after 21 years, he proved true, what he had announced in Yeola in 1935, that “I will not die as a Hindu”. On October 14, 1956, he embraced Buddhism in a historic ceremony in Nagpur and died on 6th December 1956. His death anniversary is observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas across the country.
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was conferred with the title of “Bodhisattva” by the Buddhist monks at the “Jagatik Buddhism Council” in 1954 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The special thing is that Dr Ambedkar was conferred with the title of Bodhisattva while he was alive. He also contributed to India’s Independence struggle and its reforms post-independence. Apart from this, Babasaheb played a significant role in the formation of the Reserve Bank of India. The Central Bank was formed on the concept presented by him to the Hilton Young Commission.
This sparkling life history of Dr Ambedkar shows that he was a man of study and action. Firstly, he acquired a sound knowledge of Economics, Politics, Law, Philosophy and Sociology. In pursuing his studies he had to face many social odds. But he did not spend all his life reading and studying by being in libraries. He refused the higher posts with attractive salaries because he never forgot his brothers in the depressed class. He dedicated the rest of his life to equality, brotherhood and humanity. He tried his best the upliftment of the depressed classes.
After having gone through his life history it is necessary and proper to study and analyze his main contribution and their relevance. According to one opinion, there are three points which are more important even today. Today also the Indian economy and Indian society are facing many economic and social problems. Dr Ambedkar’s thoughts and actions may guide the country in the solution to these problems.
Courtesy: Press Information Bureau, Government of India
– global bihari bureau
