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| Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti |
India is celebrating 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao, Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar today. Dr B R Ambedkar was one of leading figures of modern India, whose valuable services played vital role in changing India’s social and political arena. A versatile orator, social reformer, champion of the untouchables and their cause and great constitutionalist, Babasaheb Ambedkar fought throughout his life for the social equality and justice.
Dr B R Ambedkar is popularly known for his two works- his struggle for the upliftment of the lower caste community in India and valuable contribution in making of country’s constitution. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who was born in the Mahar caste, an untouchable community of Maharastra, left no stone unturned to uplift the untouchables and depressed classes of India. His struggle to uplift the condition of untouchables eventually prompted him to embrace Buddhism.
December 6 is observed every year all over India as Mahaparinirvan Din, the death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. He was an economist, politician and social reformer and was considered as ‘The Father of the Indian Constitution’. He was known for his campaigns against social discrimination against Dalits, women, and labor. On his 61st death anniversary here are 15 interesting facts about BR Ambedkar you probably did not know.
- Born on April 14, 1891, he was the 14th and last child of his parents. His father Ramji Maloji Sakpal was a Subhedar major. His mother’s name was Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal.
- Ambedkar’s father Ramji Maloji Sakpal was a Subedar major— the highest rank for an Indian under the British rule. His mother’s name was Bhimabai Murbadkar Sankpal.
- BR Ambedkar’s original name was Ambavadekar. His teacher who was fond of him changed it to his own surname ‘Ambedkar’.
- When he was 15-year-old he married nine-year-old Ramabai.
- Ambedkar was the first Dalit to pass matriculation.
- He was the first Indian to pursue a doctorate in economics abroad.
- For two years, he held the position of a Principal in Mumbai’s Government Law College.
- Popularly known as the Architect of Indian Constitution, Ambedkar wanted to burn the constitution if it did not take into consideration the welfare of the minorities.
- He refused to draft Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as he felt it was discriminatory and against the principles of unity and integrity. The Article gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- In 1947, he was appointed as the first Minister of Law and Justice. He resigned after his women rights bill was rejected.
- The idea to split Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were first proposed by Ambedkar. The states were formed in 1912.
- Ambedkar changed the working hours from 14 hours to 8 hours in India in the 7th session of Indian Labour Conference in New Delhi in 1942.
- 1935-36, Ambedkar penned down a 20-page autobiography titled ‘Waiting for a Visa’. The book is used by Columbia University as a textbook.
- Three days before his death he completed his manuscript – The Buddha and his Dhamma.
- In his later years, Ambedkar suffered from severe diabetes. On December 6, 1956, he died in his sleep at his residence in Delhi.
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