Brief Context
Context On April 14, India commemorates Ambedkar Jayanti, marking the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Early Life: Baba Saheb Dr.
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Syllabus: GS1/Modern History
Context
- On April 14, India commemorates Ambedkar Jayanti, marking the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar.
About Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
- Early Life: Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891.
- He belonged to a Dalit (Scheduled Caste) family and faced severe caste discrimination.
- Despite hardships, he excelled in education with strong determination.
Major Contributions:
- In Framing of Constitution: He is known as the principle architect of the Constitution, as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, he ensured inclusion of: Fundamental Rights, Equality before law and Abolition of untouchability (Article 17).
- His vision established a democratic framework with checks and balances among the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
- He considered the ‘Right to Constitutional Remedies’, enshrined in Article 32, as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Indian Constitution.
- Social: He led movements against caste discrimination and advocated for dalit rights, gender equality and social justice.
- He founded Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (Society for Welfare of the Ostracized) and led social movements such as Mahad Satyagraha in 1927, Kalaram Satyagraha in Nashik (1930).
- Political: He was the first Law Minister of independent India and also founded political organizations like the Independent Labour Party (1936).
- He advocated for reservation/affirmative action for SCs and STs.
- Promoted labour rights such as 8-hour workday, maternity benefits, etc.
- Worked for women’s rights, including reforms in Hindu personal laws.
- Major Literary Works: Annihilation of Caste, The Problem of the Rupee, Who Were the Shudras?, Mooknayak (fortnightly newspaper, in 1920) and The Bahiskrit Bharat (newspaper, 1927).
- Conversion to Buddhism: In 1956, he embraced Buddhism along with millions of followers.
- He started a socio-religious movement for equality and dignity.
- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was conferred with the title of “Bodhisattva” by the Buddhist monks at “Jagatik Buddhism Council” in 1954 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Legacy:
- He is known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”.
- He was awarded Bharat Ratna (posthumously in 1990).
- His birth anniversary (14 April) is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti.
Source: IE