This story is from April 14, 2016

Babasaheb resolved to fight for equality in Baroda

While the visionary ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad played a key role in mentoring Ambedkar by arranging for his higher education both in Mumbai and in the US, Ambedkar faced untouchability in Vadodara, then called Baroda, that eventually made him resolve to fight for equality.
Babasaheb resolved to fight for equality in Baroda
Vadodara: Sanskarinagari would definitely have given bitter sweet memories to Dr B R Ambedkar, the father of the Constitution of India.
While the visionary ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad played a key role in mentoring Ambedkar by arranging for his higher education both in Mumbai and in the US, Ambedkar faced untouchability in Vadodara, then called Baroda, that eventually made him resolve to fight for equality.

Ambedkar had met Sayajirao through his mentor Krishnaji Keluskar and the Maharaja had granted him a monthly scholarship of Rs 25 for studies at Elphinston College in Mumbi.
Ambedkar passed out from the college in 1912 and took up a job in January 1913 in the Baroda state service as a lieutenant. But as fate would have it, his father took seriously ill and he had to leave for Mumbai within days of joining. His father passed away in February and in the same year Sayajiaro announced a scholarship for those wanting to study in Columbia University in US.
Ambedkar was granted the scholarship and signed an agreement with the Baroda state regarding in June for the 11.5 pounds per month for three years. He obtained a MA with economics as the principal subject from the Columbia University in 1915. In 1916, Ambedkar left for further studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Even before his scholarship expired, he was appointed the military secretary to the Maharaja with a view to groom him as the finance minister in the long run. Ambedkar returned to the city in September 1917 as his scholarship tenure ended and joined service.
But after a brief stay in the city till November 1917, he left for Mumbai. The ill treatment he faced on grounds of untouchability had forced him to leave service.
Historians note that Ambedkar had difficulty in finding a house due to his caste and even the peons in his office at Baroda started mistreating him once they came to know of his caste. It is said that they would not give him water and would even drop files on his table instead of giving it to him in hand. Eventually, Ambedkar had to resign from service and left for Mumbai resolving to fight inequality.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA