DR. AMBEDKAR (டாக்டர் அம்பேத்கார் )

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar :

14 April 1891-6 December 1956), popularly known as Baba Saheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformers who inspired the Dailt Buddhist Movement and Campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables, 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 Colombia 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.

Education:

He cleared his matriculation in 1908 from Elphinestone High School. In 1908, Ambedkar got the opportunity to study at the Elphinstone College and obtained his graduate degree in Economics and Political Science in the year 1912 from Bombay University Besides clearing all; the exams successfully Ambedkar also obtained a scholarship of twenty five rupees a month from the Gaekwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III. Ambedkar decided to use the money for higher studies in the USA. He enrolled in the Columbia University in New York to Study Economics. He completed his Master’s degree in june 1915 after successfully completing his thesis ‘ Ancient Indian Commerce’.

         In 1916, he enrolled in the London School of Economics and started workingon his doctoral thesis titiled “The Problem of the Rupee: its origin and its solution” With the help of the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Bombay . In order to continue his further studies, he went to England in 1920 at his own expenses. There he was received the D.Sc by the London University. Ambedkar also spent a few months at the University of Bonn, Germany, study economics. He received his PhD degree in Economics in 1927. On 8 June, 1927, he was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Columbia.

Political Career :

In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party. In the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly, his party won 15 seats. Ambedkar oversaw the transformed of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, althought it Performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India.

       Ambedkar objected to the decision of the Congress and Mahatma Gandhi to call the Untouchable community as Harijans. He would say that even the members of untouchable community are same as the other members of the society. Ambedkar was appointed on the defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy’s Executive Council as Minister for Labour.

       His reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free India’s first Law Minister and chairman of the committee responsible to draft a constitution for independent India.

Framer of the Constitution of India:

Dr. Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee on august 29, 1947. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a vitual bridge between all classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met. He put particular emphasis on religious, gender and caste equality. He was successfully in receiving support of the assembly to introduce reservation for members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in education, government jobs and civil services.

Death :

Since 1954-55 Ambedkar was suffering from serious health problems including diabetes and weak eyesight. On 6 December, 1956 he died at his home in Delhi. Since, Ambedkar adopted Buddhism as his religion, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousand of supporters. activities and admirers.