Biography of Dr B.R Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was an Indian philanthropist, legalist, economist, politician, and social reformer.  He inspired the untouchables (Dalits) against social discrimination against the campaign Workers, farmers and women. He was the first minister of law and justice independent India, father of Indian constitution and maker of the Republic of India.

The journey to become the first law minister from a dalit family was not easy for him, he worked hard, struggled and finally succeeds. In this article, we will discuss about the journey of Dr. B.R Amvedkar to become the maker of Indian Constitution.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in the military cantonment Mau (in Madhya Pradesh) on April 14, 1891, was the architect of Indian constitution. He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Sakpal and Bhimabai. His family was a Marathi family. They belonged to the Mahar (Dalit) caste, who were called untouchables and had a very different social and economic discrimination. His father was in the service of Mau Cantonment in the Indian army. Amvedkar ji got his hard-earned education from his father. Even though he was good in schooling, but he was kept separate in the school and also discriminated by the teachers. The Dalit children were also not allowed to sit in the classroom. The Dalit student was not allowed to touch the water utensil. Many times, Bhimrao Ambedkar has to remain thirsty.

Education:

The primary education of the child Bhimrao Ambedkar has happened in Dapoli and Satara. From Elphinstone School of Bombay, he passed the matriculation examination in 1907. A congratulatory ceremony was organized on this occasion and in the form of a gift, his teacher Shri Krishna, Arjuna Keluskar presented the book “Buddha Charitra” to him. After getting the Fellowship of Baroda King Sayaji Rao Gaikwad, Bhimrao passed the graduation examination from the University of Mumbai in 1912. With the prohibition on Sanskrit reading, he passed with Persian. After receiving the Fellowship of Baroda Naresh Sayaji Gaikwad for studying, he entered Columbia University of America. In the year 1915, he passed the postgraduate degree examination. For this, he wrote his research ‘Commerce of ancient India’. After that, he received Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1916. Graduated from his Ph.D. The subject of research was ‘decentralization of the basic finance in British India’.

After the fellowship was over, he had to return to India, so he was returning to Britain. He attended the London School of Economics and Political Science in M.Sc. And registered himself for the degree of Bar-at-Law in D.Sc. and Law Institute and returned to India.

Fight against Untouchability:

Ambedkar was educated by the Princely State of Baroda, he was appointed as Military Secretary to the Gaikwad nut he had to quit that job. Therefore he tried to find some other ways like he worked as a private tutor, as an accountant and established an investment consulting business but it failed because his clients started to come when they learned that he was untouchable. In 1918 he was appointed as a professor of political economy in Sydenham College of Commerce and Economy but other professors objected to sharing drinking water with them.

Ambedkar went on to work as a legal professional. In 1926, he successfully defended three non-Brahmin leaders who had accused the Brahmin community of ruining India and were then subsequently sued for libel. Dhananjay Keer notes that “The victory was resounding, both socially and individually, for the clients and the Doctor.”

When he was practicing at Bombay high Court he tried to promote education for untouchables and other backward classes to uplift them. In 1927 Ambedkar had decided to launch a movement against untouchability, he also begun a struggle for the right to enter Hindu temples.

Political Career:

Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party in 1936, which contested the 1937 Bombay election to the Central Legislative Assembly for 13 reserved and 4 general seats, and secured 11 and 3 seats respectively.

After the Lahore resolution in 1940, the Muslim League demanding Pakistan, Ambedkar wrote a 400-page tract named Thoughts on Pakistan, in which he analysed the concept of “Pakistan” in all its aspects.

Ambedkar argued that the Hindus should concede Pakistan to the Muslims. He proposed that the provincial boundaries of Punjab and Bengal should be redrawn to separate the Muslim and non-Muslim majority parts.

Ambedkar contested in the Bombay North first Indian General Election of 1952 but lost to Congress Party candidate Narayan Kajrolkar. He became a member of Rajya Sabha. In the by-election of 1954, he tried to enter Lok Sabha again from Bhandara, but he placed third on that election. By the time of the second general election in 1957, Ambedkar had died.

Role of DR B.R Ambedkar in Indian Constitution:

The role of Dr. B.R Ambedkar in making the Indian Constitution was simply outstanding. Though Dr. B.R Ambedkar was not the single person in regard to frame Indian Constitution. On 15th August 1947 British government leave India by transferring power to M.K. Gandhi and his team, Jawaharlal Neheru became India’s first Prime Minister without an election. The newly formed India has to face a lots of challenge, forming of a Constitution was one of them.

They all knew that forming a Constitution was not an easy task and nobody had such knowledge other than Dr. B.R Ambedkar because he was well educated and had knowledge of all the subjects. Then a committee of 7 members headed by Dr. B.R Ambedkar was formed for the purpose of framing the Constitution which is known by the drafting Committee.

So the role of Dr. B.R Ambedkar was very important in the forming of the Indian Constitution than any other, that is why he is considered as the father of the Indian Constitution and he was also the first law minister of republic India.

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