Dr Ambedkar Life's Journey: Baba Saheb Would Be On Indian Currency If It Wasn't Gandhi Ji

Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, aided the country blossom into a vibrant democracy. The primary drafter of our constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, has also been the nation's face of the Dalit movement in India, providing a voice to the voiceless people.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Life's Journey

If it had not been for Gandhi's intervention, Ambedkar would have been featured on the currency of India for his grandiose journey home. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's 133rd birthday is celebrated on April 14 of this year. Following are some fascinating details about him and his journey through life. The highest civilian honor in India, the Bharat Ratna, was bestowed on Ambedkar posthumously in 1990. He was born on April 14, 1891, and passed away on December 6, 1956.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's life journey is a testament to resilience and determination, marked by his relentless pursuit of justice and equality. Despite facing immense obstacles, he rose from humble beginnings to become the principal architect of India's Constitution. Ambedkar's contributions to social justice, human rights, and education are unparalleled, yet his legacy often remains overshadowed. Some argue that had it not been for Gandhi's towering presence, Ambedkar might have been honored on Indian currency. Nonetheless, his impact reverberates through generations, inspiring millions to continue the fight for a more inclusive and equitable society. Explore more about his remarkable journey at the provided link.

Life Journey of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

B.R. Ambedkar's memoir is a monument to his tenacity, intelligence, and unshakable dedication to social justice. On April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar was born into a Dalit household and was exposed to the brutal reality of caste prejudice at a young age. He pursued education with a fervor seldom seen in the face of systemic persecution.

As a young man, Bhimrao did well in the Bombay University matriculation exam in 1908. Four years later, he graduated with degrees in Political Science and Economics from Bombay University and acquired a job in Baroda. At about the same time, his father passed away. Bhimrao chose to accept the Maharaja of Baroda's scholarship to study at Columbia University in the United States despite his challenging circumstances. Bhimrao remained abroad from 1913 to 1917 and again from 1920 to 1923.

Castes in India - Its Mechanism, Origin, and Development

He had made a name for himself as a distinguished intellectual throughout this time. For his thesis, which was later turned into a book with the working title "The Development of Provincial Finance in British India," Columbia University granted him a PhD. His first article, however, was titled "Castes in India - Its Mechanism, Origin, and Development." During his stay in London from 1920 to 1923, he also finished his thesis, "The Problem of the Rupee," for which he received the degree of DSc. He had previously taught at a college in Bombay and published the Marathi weekly Mook Nayak, which translates to "Dumb Hero" in English.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Life's Journey

Fought Against the Practice of Untouchability

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was fully prepared to fight against the practice of untouchability on behalf of the untouchable and the downtrodden by the time he returned to India in April 1923. In the meantime, India's political landscape had undergone enormous transformation, and the country's freedom struggle had advanced significantly. On the one side, Bhimrao was a fervent patriot; on the other, he was a champion of the underprivileged, women, and the poor. All of his life, he fought for them.

He founded the "Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha" (Outcastes Welfare Association) in 1923 intending to educate and enlighten the oppressed, enhancing their economic standing, and bringing up issues relating to their problems in appropriate forums to draw attention to them and find solutions. The issues faced by the oppressed were long-standing and challenging to solve. They were not permitted to enter temples. Public ponds and wells were inaccessible to them as a water source. Their enrollment in schools was forbidden.

He organized the Mahad March in 1927 at the Chowder Tank in Colaba, close to Bombay, to let the untouchables use the public water source. He also burned copies of the "Manusmriti'' in front of everyone. The anti-caste and anti-priest movement officially got underway as a result. Another significant moment in the fight for social justice and human rights was the temple admission agitation that Dr. Ambedkar started in 1930 at the Kalaram temple in Nasik.

Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji Came to an Agreement

Ramsay McDonald announced the "Communal Award" in the interim, granting the "depressed classes'' the right to separate electorates in several localities. This was part of the British government's larger plan to divide and dominate. Gandhiji embarked on a death-defying fast to overthrow this plan. Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji agreed on September 24th, 1932, which later became known as the Poona Pact.

Following this Pact, untouchables were given reservations in government positions and legislative bodies in addition to the agreement on electoral seats. The requirement for a separate electorate was dropped. The Pact established a distinct and obvious role for the oppressed in the nation's political arena. It provided them the chance to get an education, work for the government, and exercise their right to vote.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Life's Journey

Dr. Ambedkar participated in all three Round Table Conferences in London and passionately advocated for the "untouchables" at each event. He urged the oppressed groups to improve their standard of living and to gain as much political influence as they could. He believed that untouchables had no future in the Hindu religion and should, if necessary, change their religion. I was born a Hindu since I had no control over this, but I shall not die a Hindu, he declared in public in 1935.

Independent Labour Party by Ambedkar

Dr. Ambedkar eventually organized the Independent Labour Party, ran in the local elections, and won a seat in the Bombay Legislative Assembly. He emphasized the necessity to abolish the "Jagirdari" system during these days, urged workers to go on strike, and spoke at numerous gatherings and conferences in the Bombay Presidency.

He urged Indians to enlist in the Army in huge numbers in 1939 during the Second World War to oppose Nazism, which he claimed was another word for Fascism. After India gained its independence in 1947, Dr. Ambedkar, who had been chosen to represent Bengal as a member of the Constituent Assembly, accepted Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's invitation to serve as a law minister in his cabinet. Due to disagreements with the government over the Hindu Code Bill, Dr. Ambedkar resigned from his position as law minister.

Became Chairman of the Constitution Committee

Dr. Ambedkar was chosen as the chairman of the committee that the Constituent Assembly charged with creating the Constitution. India experienced some problems while he was working on the Constitution. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, and the nation was divided. Dr. Ambedkar finished the Constitution's draft at the start of 1948 and handed it to the Constituent Assembly. This draft was adopted in November 1949 with hardly any changes. The Constitution contains numerous measures that guarantee social justice for backward classes, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes.

Dr. Ambedkar believed that traditional religious beliefs should be abandoned in favor of fresh perspectives. He placed particular focus on the dignity, harmony, freedom, and rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. In every area, including social, economic, and political, Ambedkar promoted democracy. For him, social justice meant ensuring the greatest possible level of happiness for everyone.

He announced in Bombay on May 24, 1956, the Buddha Jayanti, that he would become a Buddhist in October. Together with many of his supporters, he adopted Buddhism on October 14, 1956.

In the same year, he finished his final book, "Buddha and His Dharma." The empowerment of the poor and the underprivileged was the foundation of Dr. Ambedkar's patriotism. He battled for their rights and equality. His views on patriotism extended beyond the end of colonialism and included the desire for freedom for everyone.

According to him, freedom without equality, democracy without equality, and equality without freedom could lead to total dictatorship. Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar attained "Mahaparinirvan" on December 6, 1956.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Life's Journey

Facts About Dr. B. R. Ambedkar That You May Not Know

> Babasaheb had recommended dividing Madhya Pradesh and Bihar in the 1950s for the betterment of both states, but it wasn't until 2000 that Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were divided to create Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

> The greatest private library in the world, "Rajgirh," belonged to Babasaheb and held more than 50,000 books.

> Dr. Babasaheb's book "Waiting for a Visa" is used as a textbook at Columbia University. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was listed first on a list of the top 100 scholars in the world compiled by Columbia University in 2004.

> Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was an expert in 64 subjects. He spoke Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, English, French, German, Marathi, Persian, and Gujarati, among other nine languages. In addition, he spent about 21 years studying all of the world's religions side by side.

> Babasaheb finished his eight years of study at the London School of Economics in just two years and three months. He put in 21 hours a day of study for this.

> The introduction of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to Buddhism with his 8,50,000 supporters is legendary in the world since it was the biggest conversion ever.

> Babasaheb was introduced to Buddhism by the eminent Buddhist monk "Mahant Veer Chandramani," who referred to him as "the modern Buddha of our age."

> Babasaheb is the first and only individual to ever obtain from the London School of Economics the prestigious doctorate degree known as "Doctor All Science." Numerous bright students have applied, but up till now, none of them have been successful.

> Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has the most songs and books produced in his honour anywhere in the world.

> Mahatma Gandhi and Governor Lord Linlithgow said Babasaheb was smarter than 500 graduates and thousands of scholars.

> Babasaheb was the first and only Satyagrahi in history, and his Satyagraha was for access to clean water.

> Buddhist monks conferred the highest title in Buddhism, "Bodhisattva," on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1954 during the "World Buddhist Council" meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Buddha and His Dhamma, his best-known work, is considered the "scripture" of Indian Buddhism.

> Three great people-lord Buddha, Saint Kabir, and Mahatma Phule-were regarded by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as their "instructors."

> Babasaheb has the most statues in the entire world. Around the world, people celebrate the anniversary of his birth.

> The first lawyer from an underprivileged class was Babasaheb.

> Oxford University compiled a list of the top 100 humanists over the past 10,000 years based on a global survey titled "The Builders of the Universe," and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was listed fourth.

> In his book "The Problem of Rupee-Its Origin & Its Solution," Babasaheb Ambedkar offers several recommendations on demonetization, a topic that is currently being addressed widely.

> Buddha's closed-eye monuments and paintings may be seen all over the world, but Babasaheb, a talented painter, created the first painting of Buddha with open eyes.

> When Babasaheb was still alive, the first statue of him was erected in the city of Kolhapur in the year 1950.

Quis time: Questions on Baba Saheb Ambedkar

More News  

For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

--Or--
Select a Field of Study
Select a Course
Select UPSC Exam
Select IBPS Exam
Select Entrance Exam
Notifications
Settings
Clear Notifications
Notifications
Use the toggle to switch on notifications
  • Block for 8 hours
  • Block for 12 hours
  • Block for 24 hours
  • Don't block
Gender
Select your Gender
  • Male
  • Female
  • Others
Age
Select your Age Range
  • Under 18
  • 18 to 25
  • 26 to 35
  • 36 to 45
  • 45 to 55
  • 55+