Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was a legal expert, social reformer and political leader in India. He worked towards improving the social, political and economic conditions of Dalits, the depressed class. He was the chairman of the drafting committee of the constituent assembly, which was responsible for preparing the constitution of India. Towards the end of his life, disillusioned with orthodoxy in Hinduism, he converted to Buddhism and encouraged others to do the same. Early life – Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, at Mhow cantonment, Madhya Pradesh in the Mahar community of Dalits. He was called Bhima in his childhood. His father’s name was Ramji Maloji Sakpal and mother’s name was Bhimabai. The family hailed from Ambadawe village in Mandangarh Taluk of Ratnagiri district in Maharastra. Bhima’s grandfather Maloji Sakpal had retired from the Indian army as a constable. Bhima’s father Ramji Sakpal was the headmaster of an army school, and had retired as a Subedar from the army after twenty-five years of service. After retirement, Ramji started living with his family in Dapoli, a town near his native village. He wished his children to be educated, however, the Municipal Education Department of Dapoli did not admit Dalits’ children to its school. At that time, the Dalits were treated as untouchables and were subjected to social and economic discriminations. Their children were generally excluded from schools and if admitted, were subjected to inhumane treatment. Ramji moved from Dapoli to Mumbai expecting better educational and employment opportunities but was disappointed. Eventually he secured a job as a storekeeper in the Public Works Department in Satara office. He moved to Satara with his family. Bhima’s formal education began in 1900. He was admitted to the Satara Higher Secondary School. He was allowed admission on the condition that he would not sit on a bench with other children in the class. He was required to bring a mat to sit on near the door. He faced problems on a daily basis and often he would cry. Although the discriminatory conditions were offensive, his father suggested he tolerate and ignore them and concentrate on his studies. The principal of the school Krishnaji Keshav Ambedkar was kind and unorthodox. Though a Brahmin, he encouraged Bhima and supported him. On his suggestion, Bhima
changed his surname from Sakpal to Ambedkar. He remembered his teacher’s kindness throughout his life. In Satara, Bhima’s mother passed away when he was only six years old. His father remarried a widow named Jijabai four years after the death of his mother. The family relocated to Mumbai. In 1904, Bhima was admitted to Elphinstone High School Mumbai. He used to visit a local park and read books. One of his teachers also visited that park. He was impressed by Bhima’s dedication and imparted valuable guidance. Bhima completed his matriculation in 1908. He was the first untouchable in India to achieve the feat. A social reformer Dada Keluskar gifted Ambedkar his self-authored book Buddha Charitra and arranged a stipend from the Maharaja of Baroda for his further education. Ambedkar married Ramabai in 1908. The couple had five children, four of whom died in childhood. Only one son named Yashwant survived them. On scholarship from Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda, Ambedkar studied at Elphinstone College and graduated with a degree in political science and economics from Mumbai University in 1912. Subsequently, he was appointed to a senior post in the army of Baroda. Despite his senior position he was ill treated by his colleagues and subordinates due to his social status. During his stay in Baroda, his father became seriously ill and died in February 1913. The same year, Ambedkar was selected for study at Columbia University USA on scholarship from Sayajirao Gaekwad. In June 1913, Ambedkar he arrived in the USA and finally settled in a room with Naval Bhathena, a Parsi, who became his lifelong friend. He studied history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, psychology and economics, and completed his MA degree in 1915. In 1916, he completed his second master's thesis for a second MA degree. Ambedkar wanted to study law and political science. He enrolled for Bar course at Gray’s Inn in London, and also at the London School of Economics for a doctoral thesis. However, his stipend was not extended and he was forced to return home in August 1917. He had informed the Maharaja of Baroda about his circumstances. The Maharaja offered him a post of secretary in his army. Ambedkar travelled to Baroda, where he found that no one was willing to rent a house to him due to his caste. Despite his senior position, clerks
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and peons treated him as an untouchable. He came to realise that a high educational attainment and a well ranked job would not ameliorate his birth social status. He returned to Mumbai and after enduring many setbacks, he was appointed as a temporary professor of economics at Sydenham College in Mumbai. Initially he was neglected and disregarded by students and other staff members but later their behaviour softened. They started accepting and respecting him when they understood his devotion to work and mastery of his subjects. In his spare time, he visited the nearby backward areas to spread awareness among the oppressed people about their rights. During this time he was introduced to Shahuji, the Maharaja of Kolhapur who sympathised with backward castes. On his advice, in January 1920 Ambedkar started a Marathi fortnightly paper Mooknayak, which enabled him to review certain Hindu beliefs and practices he disdained. He still desired a legal degree from London. He resigned from his professorship, borrowed money from his friend Naval Bhathena and also received financial help from Maharaja Shahuji. He arrived London in July 1920 to study law and economics. He completed a master degree in 1921. In 1923 he completed a DSc in Economics. The same year he was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn. Social and Political activities - Dr Ambedkar started his career as an advocate at Mumbai High Court in July 1923. There too, lawyers were not prepared to cooperate with him. However, through cases from clients of backward and lower castes, he was able to earn his living. Gradually his financial condition improved. He successfully
defended RD Karve’s journal Samaj Swasthya against which obscenity was framed. He also won the defamation case for three authors for writing a book entitled Enemies of Country. His victories were resounding, both socially and individually. He was passionate about eradicating the practice of caste discrimination in India. In July 1924, he founded the ‘Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha’, a society to benefit ostracised communities. The main goal of the organisation was to provide education to the backward classes. The society had an impact on the Dalit movement. It started hostles for Dalits and published a magazine called Saraswati Vilas. It organised conferences in different districts of Maharastra. At a conference in 1925, Ambedkar declared that Mahatma Gandhi did not lay as much emphasis on upliftment of the depressed classes as on the HinduMuslim unity and on the use of Khadi. He urged Dalits to continue the fight for their rights. In 1927, Ambedkar was appointed a member of the Mumbai Legislature. During this period, he learned about a regulation which allowed untouchables to collect and use water from public sources. On its basis, Ambedkar fought for the right of untouchables to drink water from a common source. He started his fight from Mahad because he knew that area. He organised the Mahad conference in March 1927. He led a procession to the Chavdar Lake and drank a little water from it. Others also drank water from the lake and the group returned to the conference venue. Upper caste Hindus were appalled and attacked the conference participants. The situation was controlled by Ambedkar’s foresight. Police arrived at the scene and subsequently five
attackers were punished. For the first time, Dalits had undertaken a direct action for their rights. Many social reformers including Veer Savarkar voiced their support for Ambedkar. Ambedkar started a fortnightly newspaper named Bahiskrit Bharat, the excluded India, to spread the voice of Dalits. He encouraged Dalits to pay attention to personal hygiene and attire and encourage women to dress like upper caste women and educate their children. During the Simon Commission’s visit to India, he met the commission members and presented his demands on behalf of Dalits. His support of the commission was criticised by other national leaders, who felt that it was against the freedom movement. Ambedkar participated in all the three Round Table Conferences held in London. Through his speeches and advocacy, he brought the social, educational and economic problems encountered by Dalits to the forefront. During the second RTC, he had a heated exchange with Mahatma Gandhi on social issues. When the British announced in August 1932 the Communal Award to separate Dalits from Hindus, Gandhi vehemently opposed it. He started his fast unto death. After intense negotiations, Ambedkar and Malaviya signed the Pune Pact that saved Gandhi’s life. After the Pune Pact, the Dalit movement gained further momentum. Congress initiated social programs for Dalits such as their entry to temples, eating together with other Hindus and welfare works for the depressed classes. In 1935, his wife Ramabai fell seriously ill and died. Her death was a great shock to Ambedkar. For some time he shaved his head and lived like a monk. The same year, he was appointed the Principal of the Law College Mumbai. During this time, he travelled to Mahad and was forced to spend the day without food. Caste Hindus were not prepared to offer food and water to a Dalit man. He was enraged at this treatment. He declared in 1935 that he was born a Hindu but pledged that he would not die a Hindu. Following his announcement, many leaders of other religions urged him to adopt their beliefs. Congress leaders and many Hindus strongly criticised his decision to convert. Ambedkar stated that he was prepared to remain a Hindu on the condition that the caste system was eradicated. During the Second World War, Ambedkar’s position on participation in the war and later on Quit India movement was contrary to that of the Congress. Following the Cripps
Mission, elections were declared for the formation of an interim government. Ambedkar was elected to the Central Assembly from Bengal as a representative of the Dalits. Jawaharlal Nehru highly regarded him for his wisdom and courage. He appointed Ambedkar as law minister in his cabinet. On 29 August 1947, Ambedkar was appointed chairman of the drafting committee to prepare a Draft Constitution for India. During this period, his health deteriorated rapidly. He came in contact with Dr Sharada Kabir and both agreed to marry. Their wedding was solemnised on 15 April 1948. Her name was formally changed to Savita Ambedkar. Untouchability was declared illegal in India in April 1948. It was a great victory for Ambedkar. Ambedkar worked on a bill, which was presented as the Hindu Code Bill in Parliament. Many Hindus opposed it and finally the bill was withdrawn. He expected that the proposed bill would have improved women’s condition but its failure disappointed him. He submitted his resignation in September 1951. Ambedkar contested from the Socialist Party in the election held in 1952. He was defeated. However, he was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha and discharged his duties responsibly. He considered Lord Buddha, Kabirdas and Jyotirao Phule his gurus. He attended the third World Buddhist Brotherhood Conference held in December 1954 in Rangoon, Myanmar. On October 14, 1956, the Vijaya-Dashami day, he along with nearly five hundred thousand followers, was initiated into Buddhism. He visited many Buddhist shrines. He attended the fourth Buddhist Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal on November 15, 1956. Ambedkar’s health had declined. On 5th December he worked as normal and went to sleep. On the morning of 6th December 1956, his wife found him dead. His body was transported to Mumbai. His last rites were performed according to Buddhist tradition. Over seven hundred thousand people attended his funeral. He had published many books and articles, which continue to inspire depressed people across the world. Numerous institutions and organisations are named after him. His statues and monuments can be seen all over India. In 1990, he was awarded the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. His followers use the salutation Jai Bhim to honour him. —Awadhesh Sharma www.hinduguru.com.au
