Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birthday celebration on 14 April
Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti 2020: The birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, the author of the Indian Constitution, is celebrated on 14 April every year. His birth anniversary celebrates as Ambedkar Jayanti around the world including India. Bharat Ratna Ambedkar, popularly known as Baba Saheb, struggled for equality throughout his life. It is the reason why Bhim Jayanti celebrates as ‘Equality Day’ and ‘Gyan Diwas’ in India.
Know these seven things related to them:
1. Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in a small village in Madhya Pradesh. However, his family was Marathi and originally hailed from Ambadwe village in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. His father’s name was Ramji Maloji Sakpal and mother Bhimabai. Ambedkar belonged to the Mahar caste. People of this caste were considered untouchables in society, and they discriminated against.
Ambedkar was intelligent since childhood, but due to ethnic untouchability, he faced difficulties in taking elementary education. In school, his surname written based on his village name Ambedkar. A teacher of the school had a great affection for Bhimrao, and he amassed his surname Ambedvekar by simplifying it.
2. Bhimrao Ambedkar became the first untouchable student of the Government School on Elphinstone Road, Mumbai. In 1913, Bhimrao selected to study at Columbia University in the United States, from where he graduated in political science. In 1916, he was awarded a PhD for a thesis. Ambedkar wanted to do a doctorate in economics from London, but due to the scholarship ended, he had to leave his middle studies and come back to India.
After this, he became a tutor and sometimes started consulting, but he did not get success due to social discrimination. He was then appointed Professor at Sidney College, Mumbai. In 1923, he completed his research called ‘The Problem of the Rupee’ and the University of London gave him the title of Doctors of Science. In 1927, Columbia University also gave him a PhD.
3. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar struggled throughout his life to bring equality to the oppressed in the society. He advocated a separate political identity for the Dalit community in which both the Congress and the British have no interference. In 1932, the British government approved Ambedkar’s proposal for a separate electorate, but in protest, Mahatma Gandhi started a fast unto death. After this, Ambedkar withdrew his demand. In return, the Dalit community allow abolishing untouchability along with reservation in seats and the right to enter temples.
4. Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party in 1936. This party won 15 seats in the 1937 Central Assembly elections. Mahatma Gandhi used to call the Dalit community as Harijan, but He sharply criticized this. Between 1941 and 1945, he wrote several controversial books including ‘Thoughts on Pakistan’ and ‘What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables’.
5. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was a learned scholar. That is why despite his controversial views and criticism of Congress and Mahatma Gandhi, he made the first law minister of independent India. Not only this, on 29 August 1947, but Ambedkar also appointed the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee of India. Babasaheb Ambedkar contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1952 as an independent candidate but lost. He nominated to the Rajya Sabha in March 1952, and then he remained a member of this House until his death.
6. Doctor Bhimrao Ambedkar, organized a formal public function in Nagpur on 14 October 1956. In this ceremony, he embraced Buddhism from the great Buddhist monk of Sri Lanka, Mahathaveer Chandramani, traditionally adopting the Triratna and Panchsheel. In 1956, He wrote his last book on Buddhism called ‘The Buddha and His Dhamma’. This book, published in 1957 after his death.
7. He had diabetes. He died in Delhi on 6 December 1956, three days after completing his last book ‘The Buddha and His Dhamma’. His last rites took place in Mumbai with Buddhist rituals. At the time of his previous funeral, about 10 lakh supporters took him to Buddhism as a witness.
Also Read : Ambedkar Jayanti: Dr Ambedkar Jayanti 2020 Quotes
