Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Bhimrao Ranji (1891-1956), Indian lawyer and social reformer who fought for the rights of the “Untouchables” of India. He was born at Mhow (now Mahu), the fourteenth child in a poor Hindu family who were subcaste, or Untouchables. His father was a soldier and the family moved frequently between military camps. Ambedkar was married in 1905, at the age of 14, to an illiterate 9-year-old girl of his community. However, he graduated from Elphinstone college in 1912, and won a scholarship to the United States, where he rapidly gained his MA and PhD in economics from Columbia University. In 1916, he went to England, joining the London School of Economics and Gray's Inn before the ending of his scholarship forced him to return to India, where he became Professor of Economics at Sydenham College in Bombay. He was able to return to England to complete his studies soon after, gaining an MSc and DSc and was called to the Bar in 1923. The next year, he began his legal career in the High Court at Bombay.
Throughout these years, Ambedkar had been active in promoting the cause of the Untouchables (or Dalits, as they are now known). He began several organizations working for the progress of the community and promoting social equality and intercaste marriage. He also started journals to publicize the cause, an early one being Mooknayak, (Leader of the Dumb). More practically, he set up several boarding houses for Untouchable students in Bombay. Dissatisfied by the results of this approach, Ambedkar began a campaign of direct action in 1927, leading satyagrahas (peaceful protests) to fight specific instances of discrimination against Untouchables. A highly successful lawyer, he was appointed Professor at the Government Law College in Bombay, where he later became Principal and gained the distinguished post of Perry Professor of Jurisprudence in 1935.
By now a recognized leader of the suppressed classes, Ambedkar was nominated as a delegate to the Round Table Conferences in London (1930-1933) on the future of India. He clashed seriously with Mohandas Gandhi over his demand for separate electorates for Untouchables, which was against Gandhi's approach of making the Harijans (“people of God”), as he called them, an integral part of society. Ambedkar believed that more drastic measures were necessary to remove the social stigma of Untouchability. In 1935, he declared that Untouchables had no real hopes of equality within Hinduism, and urged them to embrace Buddhism. Mass conversions took place but proved in many cases to be superficial.
Ambedkar was opposed to the Indian National Congress, which he believed to be dominated by upper-caste Hindus. His leadership of the Harijans was nevertheless recognized by the Congress, who nominated him to the Constituent Assembly. On independence, he joined the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru as Law Minister, in which position he made an outstanding contribution to the drafting of the new Indian constitution. Ill-health led to his resignation from the Cabinet in 1951 and, having lost elections to parliament in subsequent years, he retired from public life.
Ambedkar was also a prolific writer. His writings include studies of the phenomenon of caste, notably Castes in India—Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development (1916) as well as political commentary, for example Ranade, Gandhi, and Jinnah (1943). His interest in Buddhism was acted on with characteristic ardour, and he participated in several world Buddhist conferences as well as founding the Bharatiya Buddha Mahasabha to rekindle interest in Buddhism in India.
Throughout these years, Ambedkar had been active in promoting the cause of the Untouchables (or Dalits, as they are now known). He began several organizations working for the progress of the community and promoting social equality and intercaste marriage. He also started journals to publicize the cause, an early one being Mooknayak, (Leader of the Dumb). More practically, he set up several boarding houses for Untouchable students in Bombay. Dissatisfied by the results of this approach, Ambedkar began a campaign of direct action in 1927, leading satyagrahas (peaceful protests) to fight specific instances of discrimination against Untouchables. A highly successful lawyer, he was appointed Professor at the Government Law College in Bombay, where he later became Principal and gained the distinguished post of Perry Professor of Jurisprudence in 1935.
By now a recognized leader of the suppressed classes, Ambedkar was nominated as a delegate to the Round Table Conferences in London (1930-1933) on the future of India. He clashed seriously with Mohandas Gandhi over his demand for separate electorates for Untouchables, which was against Gandhi's approach of making the Harijans (“people of God”), as he called them, an integral part of society. Ambedkar believed that more drastic measures were necessary to remove the social stigma of Untouchability. In 1935, he declared that Untouchables had no real hopes of equality within Hinduism, and urged them to embrace Buddhism. Mass conversions took place but proved in many cases to be superficial.
Ambedkar was opposed to the Indian National Congress, which he believed to be dominated by upper-caste Hindus. His leadership of the Harijans was nevertheless recognized by the Congress, who nominated him to the Constituent Assembly. On independence, he joined the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru as Law Minister, in which position he made an outstanding contribution to the drafting of the new Indian constitution. Ill-health led to his resignation from the Cabinet in 1951 and, having lost elections to parliament in subsequent years, he retired from public life.
Ambedkar was also a prolific writer. His writings include studies of the phenomenon of caste, notably Castes in India—Their Mechanism, Genesis, and Development (1916) as well as political commentary, for example Ranade, Gandhi, and Jinnah (1943). His interest in Buddhism was acted on with characteristic ardour, and he participated in several world Buddhist conferences as well as founding the Bharatiya Buddha Mahasabha to rekindle interest in Buddhism in India.
This Man is a rare jewel in India. It's amazing that slavery still exist in India. This must come to an end Now. I love Indian food. Never knew they hated blacks like they do.
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