Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was one of the first Dalits to get a complete education in India. He was a great writer and lawyer, as well as one of the greatest political leaders. He was born in Madhya Pradesh on April 14, 1990. This day is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti. His parents were Bhimabai and Ramji Maloji Sakpal. He is mostly known as “Baba Saheb.” He has always fought for the rights of Dalits, and he himself has faced a lot of injustice in his life.
Early Life and Challenges:
He had two brothers, Balarama and Anand Rao, and two sisters, Manjula and Tusala. Out of all of them, only Ambedkar went to high school. His mother passed away when he was young, and then his father married again, and the family moved to Bombay. At the age of 15, he married Ramabai.
His education journey was not smooth, as he belonged to a poor Dalit family and was regarded as untouchable. Though untouchables attended school, they were never considered by the teachers. They had to sit outside the class in order to be segregated from the privileged class. Even if they needed water, the upper class would pour it from a height, as they were barred from touching the vessel containing water. The peon used to pour water for Ambedkar, so in his writings, he mentioned “no peon, no water.” Ambedkar faced segregation and humiliation everywhere in society.
Education and Achievements:
He was the only untouchable to join Elphinstone High School in Mumbai. He enrolled there in 1908 after he passed his matriculation. He acquired a degree in economics and political science from Bombay University in 1912. He got a Baroda State Scholarship and enrolled at Columbia University in New York to study economics.
He received his master’s degree in June 1915. Then, in 1916, he joined the London School of Economics1916, he joined the London School of Economics. He went to England in 1920, and in 1927 he received his doctorate degree. One of his biggest achievements was the Bharat Ratna, which he won in 1990.
Role in the Eradication of Caste Discrimination:
He faced a lot of humiliation throughout his childhood. Later, he became the spokesperson for all the backward classes. According to him, the caste system was not a division of labour but a division of laborers. He always believed in the unity of all the communities. After he began his legal career, he started advocating caste discrimination cases. He chose a fight that would last his entire life.He initiated full-fledged movements for the Dalits’ rights and demanded a separate electoral system for the untouchables and Dalit reservation. Also, he demanded that public water sources be made accessible for all castes. The Poona Pact was signed in 1932 between Ambedkar and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya for more seats to be reserved for the lower classes in return for the continuation of their joint electorate.
In order to reach people and make them understand the social evils and negativities, he launched a newspaper, Mooknayka. He also joined Mahatma Gandhi in the Harijan Movement, which was against the social injustice faced by the backward people.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar fought throughout his life for justice and equality. He ensured that the constitution makes no discrimination based on caste. He was one of the greatest leaders in India. Despite the hardships he faced, he fought without giving up and succeeded. He helped Dalits get what they deserved and also contributed to the law and order of India. His slogan, “Life should be great rather than long,” had shown the right path and motivated a lot of people globally. Truly, he was a hero for India, and he is known as the symbol of knowledge worldwide and the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. He deserves the respect he gets today, as Ambedkar Jayanti is the biggest Jayanti observed as an annual festival in the world. Because of his good deeds and welfare, he is remembered to date.
