Dr. B. R. Ambedkar 133rd Birth Anniversary.
Ambedkar Jayanti 2024:
On 133rd birth anniversary of the Father of Indian Constitution,
Ambedkar Jayanti is an annual festival celebrated in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and politician and is best known as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar Jayanti is observed on April 14 every year, which is his birth anniversary and on this day, people pay their respects to Dr BR Ambedkar by offering flowers, lighting candles and organising cultural events.
Dr. B.R,Ambedkar was one of the most important figures in Indian history. Born on 14 April, 1891 in the small town of Mhow, located in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar went on to become a prominent lawyer, politician, and social reformer who played a major role in India's struggle for independence and in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. He is widely regarded as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
Ambedkar was born into the Mahar caste, which was considered to be a Dalit or untouchable community in India at that time. Despite facing discrimination and hardship due to his caste, he was a brilliant student who excelled academically. He earned a scholarship to study at Elphinstone College in Bombay (now Mumbai) and went on to study law at Gray's Inn in London.
After completing his education, Ambedkar returned to India and began practicing law. He soon became involved in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly to fight against social discrimination and for the rights of the Dalit community. He founded several organizations, including the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha, which focused on promoting education and social welfare among Dalits.
In 1932, Ambedkar played a pivotal role in the Round Table Conferences, which were held in London to discuss India's future political structure. He demanded separate electorates for Dalits, which would allow them to elect their own representatives and have a greater say in government affairs. While the demand was eventually rejected, it helped bring the issue of Dalit rights to the forefront of Indian politics.
Due to his Mahar caste since childhood, before converting to Buddhism, Dr BR Ambedkar witnessed economic and social discrimination and most of these painful experiences that honed Babasaheb’s life have been penned down by him in his autobiographical book ‘Waiting For A Visa’. It was on August 29, 1947, that he was appointed as the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee for the constitution of independent India and after Independence, he was appointed as the law minister of India.
By writing the Indian Constitution, he not only broke the social conventions meant for Hindu Shudras to emulate caste supremacists, changed their mindsets and urged them to educate and fight for their rights and gave equal rights to all but also ended the monopoly of Hindu Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas - in education, military, trade, social standards - who deemed themselves as superior to Shudras or the untouchables. From publishing scores of journals and advocating for Dalits rights to making significant contributions toward the establishment of the state of India, drafting of the Indian Constitution, giving ideas that served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and playing a crucial role in promoting gender equality, Dr BR Ambedkar dedicated most of his life to empowering and voicing concerns for the downtrodden.
Ambedkar was also a key figure in the drafting of the Indian Constitution, which was adopted in 1950. He served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and was responsible for ensuring that the document reflected the ideals of social justice and equality that he had fought for throughout his life. His contributions to the Constitution were extensive, and he is credited with shaping many of its key provisions.
One of the most significant contributions that Ambedkar made to the Constitution was the inclusion of Article 17, which abolished untouchability in India. This was a major step forward in the fight against caste discrimination and helped to bring greater equality to Indian society.
In addition to his work as a lawyer and politician, Ambedkar was also a prolific writer and thinker. He wrote extensively on a wide range of subjects, including economics, sociology, and political philosophy. His books and essays remain influential today, and his ideas continue to inspire people around the world.
Some of Ambedkar's most famous works include "Annihilation of Caste," which is a critique of the caste system in India, and "The Buddha and His Dhamma," which explores the teachings of Buddhism and their relevance to modern society.
Ambedkar, who belonged to the Mahar caste which was considered untouchable in Hinduism, converted to Buddhism on October 14, 1956, in Nagpur along with 500,000 supporters, after studying the religion for years.
He saw Buddhism as a way to promote social equality and to break free from the constraints of the caste system
He is not only known for his great influence in eradicating the social scourge of untouchability in India but also for having led a crusade for the upliftment and empowerment of Dalits in the country since he believed that Dalits can never get their rights within Hinduism.
Ambedkar's legacy is still felt in India today. His contributions to the Indian Constitution and his work for social justice and equality continue to inspire people from all walks of life. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Indian history, and his ideas and teachings remain relevant and important in the modern world.
here are some inspiring quotes by him as we commemorate the memory of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar to boost our motivation:
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
“I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality, and fraternity.”
“Be educated, be organized, and be agitated.”
“Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence.”
“A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.”
“Freedom of mind is the real freedom.”
“I am proud of my country, India, for having a constitution that enshrines principles of democracy, socialism, and secularism.”
“Law and order are the medicine of the body politic, and when the body politic gets sick, medicine must be administered.”
“Life should be great, rather than long.”
"History shows that where ethics and economics come in conflict, victory is always with economics. Vested interests have never been known to have willingly divested themselves unless there was sufficient force to compel them."
He saw Buddhism as a way to promote social equality and to break free from the constraints of the caste system.
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