Dr Ambedkar is a well-renowned personality all over the world. He is remembered as the ‘Father Of Indian Constituition’. His life cannot be summarized by this title as he has travelled a million of hardships to reach that sky. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was truly a multi-faced personality – a veritable emancipator of Dalits (Harijans or Untouchables), a great national leader and patriot, a great author, a great educationist, a great political philosopher, a great religious guide and above all a great, great humanist.
By profession, he was a learned scholar and an eminent lawyer.Dr Ambedkar descended the Indian skies like a meteor, lighting up the freedom movement with a viable economic vision and road map, charted a constitutional democracy which, as he often said, could take us to the revolutionary goal of equality, liberty and fraternity. He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai. [8] His family was of Marathi background from the town of Ambavade (Mandangad taluka) in the Ratnagiri district of modern-day Maharashtra. They belonged to the Mahar caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination.
After his father retired from the army, the family moved to Dapoli and Bhim was enrolled in the Cantonment school – Government High School. Soon he began to notice that he and his family were treated differently. At high school he had to sit in the corner of the room on a rough mat, away from the desks of the other pupils. At break-time, he was not allowed to drink water.
As he grew up, such senseless insults made him realise that what Hindu society called ‘untouchability’ was stupid, cruel, and unreasonable. His sister had to cut his hair at home because the village barbers were afraid of being polluted by an ‘untouchable’.If he asked her why they were ‘untouchables’, she could only answer – “that is the way it has always been. ” Bhim could not be satisfied with this answer. He knew that –“it has always been that way” does not mean it had to stay that way forever. It could be changed.
His teacher, though from a ‘high’ caste, liked him a lot. He praised Bhim’s good work and encouraged him, seeing what a bright pupil he was . The teacher also changed Bhim’s last name to Ambedkar - his own name. Soon he was winning the highest praise and admiration from all his teachers. They urged Ramji to get the best education for his son Bhim.
So Ramji moved with his family to Bombay. Bhim was able to go to Elphinstone High School - one of the best schools in all of India. In the big city, where life was more modern than in the villages, Bhim found that he was still called an ‘untouchable’ and treated as if something made him different and bad - even at his famous school! When he wanted to learn Sanskrit, the language of the Hindu Holy Scriptures, he was told that it was forbidden for ‘untouchables’ to do so. He had to study Persian instead - but he taught himself Sanskrit later in life. Once found drinking from the public reservoir, he was beaten up by the higher caste Hindus.These experiences were permanently etched onto his mind.
He realized that this was the fate of everyone born as an untouchable. In due course, Bhim passed his Matriculation Exam. he was the first ‘untouchable’ from his community to pass it. Early marriage was common in those days, so he was married to Ramabai the same year.
He continued to study hard and passed the next Intermediate examination with distinction. Bhim was recommended to the Maharaja Gaekwad of Baroda. The Maharaja granted him a monthly scholarship. In 1913, he went to the USA where he studied Economics and Sociology at the world-famous Columbia University, New York.
In just two years he had been awarded an M. A. - the following year he completed his Ph. D.
thesis. Then he left Columbia and went to England, where he joined the London School of Economics. So he was called back to India to take up a post in Baroda as agreed. He was given an excellent job in the Baroda Civil Service.
He could not stay with either of the two acquaintances he had in Baroda for the same reason - his low caste. Bhimrao felt totally miserable and rejected. After only eleven days in his new job, he had to return to Bombay.He tried to start a small business there, advising people about investments - but it too failed once customers learned of his caste. In 1918, he became a lecturer at Sydenham College in Bombay.
There, his students recognised him as a brilliant teacher and scholar. At this time he also helped to found a Marathi newspaper ‘Mook Nayak’ (Leader of the Dumb) to champion the cause of the ‘untouchables’ He also began to organise and attend conferences, knowing that he had to begin to proclaim and publicise the humiliations suffered by the Dalits - ‘the oppressed’ - and fight for equal rights.His own life had taught him the necessity of the struggle for emancipation. In 1920, with the help of friends, he was able to return to London to complete his studies in Economics at LSE. He also enrolled to study as a Barrister at Gray’s Inn.
In 1923, Bhimrao returned to India with a Doctorate in Economics from the LSE - he was perhaps the first Indian to have a Doctorate from this world-famous institution. He had also qualified as a Barrister-at-Law. His qualifications meant nothing as far as the practice of Untouchability was concerned - it was still an obstacle to his career.However, he had received the best education anyone in the world could get, and was well equipped to be a leader of the Dalit community.
He could argue with and persuade the best minds of his time on equal terms. He was an expert on the law, and could give convincing evidence before British commissions as an eloquent and gifted speaker. Bhimrao dedicated the rest of his life to his task. His main concern was to fight against untouchability.
Ambedkar was deeply hurt at the differential treatment meted out to the harijans. To put his plan into action, Dr.Ambedkar formed the outcaste welfare society and organised the so-called untouchables to initiate his fight for them. He created awareness in them to have a graceful life. He launched a Satyagraha on Chandan Tank. His major victory was to seek the right to fetch water from the tank.
He tried hard to bring about a change in the life of the downtrodden He organized Mahad satyagrah inspite of great risk to himself personally and to the members of his community In 1927 Babasaheb presided over a conference at Mahad in Kolaba District.There he said:- “It is time we rooted out of our minds the ideas of high and low. We can attain self-elevation only if we learn self-help and regain our self-respect. ” Because of his experience of the humiliation and injustice of untouchability, he knew that justice would not be granted by others. Those who suffer injustice must secure justice for themselves. In 1930, he represented the untouchables in the Round Table.
As a result of his efforts the harijans were granted reservations of seat in the election. Dr. Ambedkar was a vocal critic of capitalism and Brahmanism.He supported equality of opportunity.
He was hurt at the plight of the labourers. He organised them under the banner of Savatantara Mazdoor Dal. It was due to his popularity and influence that Swantatara Mazdoor Dal bagged all the fifteen seats in the elections held in Bombay. His popularity rose all the more.
He became the hero of the underdog. He was their messiah. They began to worship him like God. Dr. Ambedkar set the wheel of Dhamma in motion once again, spreading the message of his Master to all the corners of the world. The Buddhists said the "the Dhamma Chakra was set revolution by Dr.
Ambedkar and it was the greatest religious revolution which India had witnessed in modern times. " Dr. Ambedkar dedicated himself to the propagation of the Buddhist faith in India. He wrote a book on Buddhism titled "Buddha and His Dhamma" explaining its tenets in simple language to the common man. His two other books were" Revolution and Counter Revolution in India' and " Buddha and Karl Marx" A deep probe into Dr. B.
R. Ambedkar's personal life, his mission in life and his deeds would reveal that during his lifetime he had been under-studied and under-rated.His greatness is percolating gradually in the minds of the people of this country and abroad. His sympathy towards downtrodden and untiring efforts to ameliorate their condition was beyond comparison. Dr.
Ambedkar's views on religion and its applicability to our lives put him in the category of the greatest rationalists and humanists that the world has ever produced. All through his life Dr. Ambedkar struggled for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society. Dr.
Ambedkar was clear in his mind that so long as there are castes in Hinduism, the social unity cannot be achieved.The most eminent mission of Dr. Ambedkar's life was undoubtedly the unshackling of the bondages and upliftment of the depressed castes among Hindus. He was of the view that this is possible only through attainment of political power. He fought for separate electorate for the depressed classes His own life had taught him the necessity of the struggle for emancipation. Babasaheb started a Marathi journal Bahishkrit Bharat (‘The Excluded of India’).
In it, he urged his people to hold a satyagraha (non-violent agitation) to secure the right of entry to the Kala Ram Temple at Nasik. Untouchables’ had always been forbidden to enter Hindu temples. The most important thing for which Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is known all throughout India is that he was designer and formulator of the Indian Constitution. Though he was unpopular with many leaders of the Indian National Congress and other political parties in post-independence India, Ambedkar was summoned by the Congress-led Government to take the post of the first Law Minister of independent India.
He was also made the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee on 29 August 1947.As he was a learned scholar and an eminent lawyer, he was given this grave task and after the completion of the work, he was praised by all. He used all his experience and knowledge in drafting the Constitution. Dr Ambedkar finally emerged as the main ‘Architect’ of this most vital document that lays down the framework of the Republic and its social , political and economic objectives , which is a manifesto of those who struggled for India’s freedom against foreign capital , foreign rule and local dominant , economic and caste interests .
The Constitution is above the Supreme Court, the Lok Sabha , the Prime Minister and the Executive and was intended to be its guiding star , its Dhruva tara. Babasaheb was made a hero by thousands of his followers on his return from Bombay - even though he always said that people should not idolise him. If Babasaheb is made unto granite, stone or marble then he too is in danger of becoming an ‘idol’ to be revered and worshipped on only two days in the year.Ambedkar's writings, exhortations, untiring efforts and his inputs in the Indian constitution have undoubtedly had tremendous effect in raising the self-pride, aspirations, status and desire to unshackle themselves from the age-old bondages of the depressed classes. They have also helped in material advancement of some of them, who are proving to be role models for others to follow.
Therefore, it can be confidently concluded today that Dr. Ambedkar has succeeded greatly in his mission 'to uplift his community. '
