Today we celebrate the 126th birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
April 14 is commemorated as the birth Anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of Indian constitution.
Born into a family of Mahars, a low-caste in India, he was the first man to raise his voice against inequality, untouchability and discrimination on the basis of caste that was prevalent in India.
Babasaheb Ambedkar condemned the practice of untouchability that was prevalent in the country then, and gave voice to the oppressed Dalits and demanded their welfare.
He also designed the Indian Constitution, and is thus known as the Father of Indian Constitution.
Here are some facts you should to know about this visionary messiah of the oppressed:
- He was born to Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal in Mhow, a small village in Madhya Pradesh on April 14, 1891. He was a Mahar by caste, an untouchable and Dalit caste in India.
- He first experienced discrimination when he was in school. He was not allowed to sit in his class and denied water from the vessel from which other kids drank.
- Ambedkar was the only child among his 13 siblings to reach high school.
- He changed his surname to Ambedkar after his teacher who was also his mentor.
- Ambedkar graduated in Economics and Political Science from Elphinstone College, Mumbai and went on to pursue Masters in Economics from Columbia University and Doctorate in Economic sciences from London School of Economics.
- He was married twice, his first wife Savita Ambedkar was a Brahmin.
- Amdedkar's father worked in Indian army while his ancestors served East India Company
- His autobiography 'Waiting for a Visa' reflects his journey as a 10-year-old with big dreams to a visionary leader.
- He was the first Union Minister of Law and Justice post-independence.
- Flamboyant Bhimrao publicly condemned Manusmriti and even burnt its copies as it propagates the ideology of untouchability and caste discrimination.
- A messiah for the Dalits, he formed Independent Labour Party, that gave voice to the oppressed. However, his party faced limited electoral success. This led him to form a Scheduled Caste Federation.
- When his Hindu code bill wasn't passed by Parliament, he abdicated his post as law minister.
- The Constitution prepared by him includes article 16 that propagates right to equality and abolition of untouchability.
- He also set up Finance Commission in India and his ideologies were used while establishing Reserve bank of India.
- He opposed article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
- He converted to Buddhism along with his wife in 1956.
- Ambedkar’s struggle and constant endeavours to fight for the society took a toll on his health. He breathed his last on August 6, 1956 at the age 65 of at his residence in Delhi.
A true visionary, he constantly thought about well-being of society and wished to take India to great heights. His political ideologies and social reforms were full of progressive agendas.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Babasaheb Ambedkar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}