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BR AMBEDKAR
A BRIEF INFORMATION
• Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables (Dalits), while also supporting the rights of women and labour.
• He was Independent India’s first law minister, the principal architect of the Constitution of India and a founding father of the Republic of India.
• Ambedkar was a prolific student, earning doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics, and gained a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics and political science. In his early career he was an economist, professor, and lawyer.
• His later life was marked by his political activities; he became involved in campaigning and negotiations for India’s independence, publishing journals, advocating political rights and social freedom for Dalits, and contributing significantly to the establishment of the state of India. In 1956 he converted to Buddhism, initiating mass conversions of Dalits.
• In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar.
• His forefathers had left their hereditary occupation for service in the Army of the Company. His father also followed the family tradition and sought service in the Army.
• The first incident which he recorded , occurred in about 1901 when they were at Satara. His mother was then dead.
• When father went to Goregaon he left him, his brother who was older than him and two sons of eldest sister who was dead, in charge of my aunt and some kind neighbours
• Once his father wrote him to come to Goregaov to meet him.All left but
faced immense descrimination on his way to journey.He was not allowed
to drink water not allowed to take a tonga and even to touch people of the
upper caste.
• In 1916 he returned to India. He had been sent to America by His Highness the Maharaja of Baroda for higher education was obliged to return to India without completing studies. As was educated by the Baroda State he was bound to serve the State.
• But when he returned he could not go anywhere due to caste problems.He hired a small hotel of parsi by aquiring false name of parsi but that also didn’t work because every society discarded them.
• He was appointed a probationer in the Accountant General’s Office by the Maharaja of Baroda. He used to leave the inn at about 10 a.m. for the office and return late at about 8 in the evening contriving to while away outside the inn as much time in company of friends as he could. The idea of returning to the inn to spend the night therein was most terrifying and used to return to the inn only because had no other place under the sky to go for rest.
• He was thrown out by parsis later describing this horrific incident from the inn.
• The year was 1929. The Bombay Government had appointed a
Committee to investigate the grievances of the untouchables. He was
appointed a member of the Committee.
• The Committee had to tour all over the province to investigate into the
allegations of injustice, oppression and tyranny. The Committee split up.
He and another member were assigned the two districts of Khandesh
• At Chalisgaon got down to go to a village on the Dhulia line to investigate
a case of social boycott.The untouchables of Chalisgaon came to the
station and requested to stay for the night with them.
• But he met with an accident and there also had a very terrible experience.
INCIDENT
• In the year 1934, some of his co-workers in the movement of the
depressed classes expressed a desire to go on a sight-seeing tour if he
agreed to join them. He agreed.
• It was decided that plan should at all events include a visit to the Buddhist
caves at Verul. It was arranged that he should go to Nasik and the party
should join at Nasik. To go to Verul they had to go to Aurangabad.
• Aurangabad is a town in the Mohammedan State of Hyderabad and is
included in the dominion of His Exalted Highness, the Nisam.But there
also he was insulted by muslims badly and was restricted to watch the fort.
• Resulted in quarrel with them.
INCIDENT
• Then there is a case of a doctor who did not treat a women just because he was a harijan.
• There is one other incident more telling than this. On the 6th of March 1938, a meeting of the Bhangis was held at Kasarwadi (behind Woollen Mills) Dadar, Bombay, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Indulal Yagnik.
• One man narrated the horrific incident to ambedkar that how he was
insulted in the office.
