Introduction:
B.R. Ambedkar “Babasaheb” was an Indian political reformer who
campaigned for the rights of the ‘untouchable’ caste of India. He played a role
in the Indian independence movement and also played a key role in drafting the
Indian constitution and the reformation of Indian society through the promotion
of greater equality and rights for both the poor and women.
Ambedkar was
also a prolific scholar, attending university in Mumbai, New York and London;
he specialised in law, economics and political science, and made contributions
to Indian economic thought. In 1956, shortly before his death, he converted
from Hinduism to Buddhism encouraging many fellow ‘untouchables’ to also
convert.
Early
Life
Bhimrao Ambedkar was born to Bhimabai and Ramji on 14 April 1891
in Mhow Army Cantonment, Central Provinces (Madhya Pradesh). Ambedkar’s father
was a Subedar in the Indian Army and after his retirement in 1894, the family
moved to Satara, also in Central Provinces. Shortly after this, Bhimrao’s
mother passed away. Four years later, his father remarried and the family
shifted to Bombay. In 1906, 15 year old Bhimrao married Ramabai, a 9 year old
girl. His father Ramji Sakpal died in Bombay, in 1912.
Throughout his childhood, Ambedkar faced the stigmas of caste
discrimination. Hailing from the Hindu Mahar caste, his family was viewed as
“untouchable” by the upper classes. The discrimination and humiliation haunted
Ambedkar at the Army school. Fearing social outcry, the teachers would
segregate the students of lower class from that of Brahmins and other upper
classes. The untouchable students were often asked by the teacher to sit
outside the class. After shifting to Satara, he was enrolled at a local school
but the change of school did not change the fate of young Bhimrao. Discrimination
followed wherever he went. After coming back from the US, Ambedkar was
appointed as the Defence secretary to the King of Baroda but there also he had
to face the humiliation for being an ‘Untouchable’.
Education
He cleared his matriculation in 1908 from Elphinstone High
School. In 1908, Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at the Elphinstone
College and obtained his graduate degree in Economics and Political Science in
the year 1912 from Bombay University. Besides clearing all the exams successfully
Ambedkar also obtained a scholarship of twenty five rupees a month from the
Gaekwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Ambedkar decided to use the money for
higher studies in the USA. He enrolled in the Columbia University in New York
City to study Economics. He completed his Master’s degree in June 1915 after
successfully completing his thesis titled ‘Ancient Indian Commerce’.
In 1916, he enrolled in the London School of Economics and
started working on his doctoral thesis titled “The problem of the rupee: Its
origin and its solution”. With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord
Sydenham, Ambedkar became a professor of political economy at the Sydenham
College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay. In order to continue his further
studies, he went to England in 1920 at his own expense. There he was received
the D.Sc by the London University. Ambedkar also spent a few months at the
University of Bonn, Germany, to study economics. He received his PhD degree in
Economics in 1927. On 8 June, 1927, he was awarded a Doctorate by the
University of Columbia.
Movement
Against Caste Discrimination
After returning to India, Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to fight
against the caste discrimination that plagued him throughout his life. In his
testimony before the Southborough Committee in preparation of the Government of
India Act in 1919, Ambedkar opined that there should be separate electoral
system for the Untouchables and other marginalised communities. He contemplated
he idea of reservations for Dalits and other religious outcasts.
Ambedkar began to find ways to reach to the people and make them
understand the drawbacks of the prevailing social evils. He launched a
newspaper called “Mooknayaka” (leader of the silent) in 1920 with the
assistance of Shahaji II, the Maharaja of Kolkapur. It is said that after
hearing his speech at a rally, Shahu IV, an influential ruler of Kolhapur,
dined with the leader. The incident also created a huge uproar in the
socio-political arena of the country.
Ambedkar started his legal career after passing the Bar course
in Gray’s Inn. He applied his litigious skills in advocating cases of caste
discrimination. His resounding victory in defending several non-Brahmin leaders
accusing the Brahmins of ruining India, established the bases of his future
battles.
By 1927, Ambedkar launched full-fledged movements for Dalit
rights. He demanded public drinking water sources open to all and right for all
castes to enter temples. He openly condemned Hindu Scriptures advocating
discrimination and arranged symbolic demonstrations to enter the Kalaram Temple
in Nashik.
In 1932, the Poona Pact was signed between Dr. Ambedkar and
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, representative of the Hindu Brahmins relinquishing
reservation of seats for the untouchable classes in the Provisional
legislatures, within the general electorate. These classes were later
designated as Scheduled Classes and Scheduled Tribes.
Political
Career
In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labor Party. In the
1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly, his party won 15 seats.
Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India
Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held
in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.
Ambedkar objected to the decision of the Congress and Mahatma
Gandhi to call the untouchable community as Harijans. He would say that even
the members of untouchable community are same as the other members of the
society. Ambedkar was appointed on the Defence Advisory Committee and the
Viceroy’s Executive Council as Minister for Labor.
His reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free
India’s first Law Minister and chairman of the committee responsible to draft a
constitution for independent India.
Framer
of the Constitution of India
Dr. Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution
drafting committee on August 29, 1947. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction
of a virtual bridge between all classes of the society. According to him, it
would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among
the classes were not met. He put particular emphasis on religious, gender and
caste equality. He was successful in receiving support of the Assembly to
introduce reservation for members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
in education, government jobs and civil services.
Br
Ambedkar & Conversion to Buddhism
In 1950, Ambedkar travelled to Sri Lanka to attend a convention
of Buddhist scholars and monks. After his return he decided to write a book on
Buddhism and soon, converted to Buddhism. In his speeches, Ambedkar lambasted
the Hindu rituals and caste divisions. Ambedkar founded the Bharatiya Bauddha
Mahasabha in 1955. His book, "The Buddha and His Dhamma" was
published posthumously.
On October 14, 1956 Ambedkar organized a public ceremony to
convert around five lakh of his supporters to Buddhism. Ambedkar traveled to
Kathmandu to attend the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. He completed his
final manuscript, "The Buddha or Karl Marx" on December 2, 1956.
Death
Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health
problems including diabetes and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at
his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted Buddhism as his religion, a
Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by
hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers.
