Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Alternate name(s):	Baba Saheb
Place of birth:	Mhow, Central Provinces, India
Place of death:	Delhi, India
Movement:	Dalit Buddhist movement
Major organizations:	Independent Labour Party, Scheduled Castes Federation, Republican Party of India
Religion:	Buddhism

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (April 14, 1891 — December 6, 1956) was an Indian jurist, Bahujan political leader and a Buddhist revivalist, who is the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, also known as Babasaheb. Mhow ( Hindi:महू is a small Cantonment town in the Indore District of the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh state India The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks Dr Ambedkar organised the Independent Labour Party participated in the provincial elections and was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly Scheduled Castes Federation, was a Political party in India. SCF was founded by Dr The Republican Party of India is a Political party in India. It has its roots in the Scheduled Castes Federation led by Dr Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country JURIST is an online legal news service hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, written by founder Professor Bernard Hibbitts and a staff of more than Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Constitution of India ( Hindi: भारतीय़ संविधान see names in other Indian languages) is the supreme law of India. Born into a poor Untouchable community, Ambedkar spent his life fighting against the system of Chaturvarna, the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas and the Indian caste system. Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. Varna (sa वर्ण varṇa) is a Sanskrit term derived from the root meaning "to enclose" Caste (Sanskrit Gyati ज्ञाति, Hindi Biradari बिरादरी samaj समाज jati जाति etc, Urdu Zat ज़ात) is an Endogamous group He is also credited for having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks Ambedkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, given for the highest degree of national service. Bharat Ratna (translates to Jewel of India or Gem of India in English) is India 's highest Civilian award, awarded for the

Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first "untouchables" to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar returned home a famous scholar and practiced law for a few years before publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables. A doctorate is an Academic degree that indicates the highest level of academic achievement Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. The London School of Economics and Political Science, more commonly referred to as The London School of Economics or LSE, is a specialist college of the

Contents 1 Early life 2 Pursuit of education 3 Fight against untouchability 4 Poona Pact 5 Political career 6 Architect of India's constitution 7 Conversion to Buddhism 8 Death 9 Ambedkar v. Gandhi on village life 10 Criticism and legacy 10.1 Aftermath 11 Film 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External links

Early life

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in the British-founded town and military cantonment of Mhow in the Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh). Mhow ( Hindi:महू is a small Cantonment town in the Indore District of the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh state India The Central Provinces and Berar was a province of British India. Madhya Pradesh (abbreviated as MP) ( Hindī: मध्य प्रदेश pronounced, Translation: Middle Province) often ^[1] He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Murbadkar. ^[2] His family was of Marathi background from the town of Ambavade in the Ratnagiri district of modern-day Maharashtra. The Marathi people or Maharashtrians ( Marathi: मराठी माणसं or महाराष्ट्रीय are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group Ratnagiri (रत्नागिरी(رتناگری is a District in Maharashtra[[ �ھاراشٹر]] India. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. They belonged to the Hindu Mahar caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to intense socio-economic discrimination. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Mahars are an important Social group within the Indian state of Maharashtra state and surrounding states Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. Ambedkar's ancestors had for long been in the employment of the army of the British East India Company, and his father served in the Indian Army at the Mhow cantonment, rising to the rank of Subedar. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or See Indian Army for the post-independence (and post- partition) army of the Republic of India. Subedar, a historical rank in Indian Army which ranked below British commissioned officers and above non-commissioned officers He had received a degree of formal education in Marathi and English, and encouraged his children to learn and work hard at school. Marathi (mr मराठी Marāṭhī) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of what is considered western India. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States

Belonging to the Kabir Panth, Ramji Sakpal encouraged his children to read the Hindu classics, especially the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Kabirpanthi (or Kabir Panth) is a religious community in India which recognizes Kabir as their Satguru or Prophet. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki ^[2] He used his position in the army to lobby for his children to study at the government school, as they faced resistance owing to their caste. Although able to attend school, Ambedkar and other Untouchable children were segregated and given no attention or assistance from the teachers. They were not allowed to sit inside the class. Even if they needed to drink water somebody from a higher caste would have to pour that water from a height as they were not allowed to touch either the water or the vessel that contained it. This task was usually performed for the young Ambedkar by the school peon, and if he could not be found Ambedkar went without water. ^[2] Ramji Sakpal retired in 1894 and the family moved to Satara two years later. For the Moth Genus, see Satara (moth. Satara (Marathiसातारा is a Town located in the Shortly after their move, Ambedkar's mother died. The children were cared for by their paternal aunt, and lived in difficult circumstances. Only three sons — Balaram, Anandrao and Bhimrao — and two daughters — Manjula and Tulasa — of the Ambedkars would go on to survive them. Of his brothers and sisters, only Ambedkar succeeded in passing his examinations and graduating to a bigger school. His native village name was "Ambavade" in Ratnagiri District so he changed his name from "Sakpal" to "Ambedkar" with the recommendation and faith of Mahadev Ambedkar, a Deshasta Brahmin teacher who believed in him. Deshastha Brahmins (देशस्थ ब्राह्मण are a Hindu Brahmin sub-caste belonging to the Indo-Aryan ethnic group [1]

Ramji Sakpal remarried in 1898, and the family moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), where Ambedkar became the first untouchable student at the Government High School near Elphinstone Road. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial ^[3] Although excelling in his studies, Ambedkar was increasingly disturbed by the segregation and discrimination that he faced. In 1907, he passed his matriculation examination and entered the University of Bombay, becoming one of the first persons of untouchable origin to enter a college in India. The University of Mumbai (मुंबई विद्यापीठ(formerly University of Bombay) is a University situated in Maharashtra state of This success provoked celebrations in his community, and after a public ceremony he was presented with a biography of the Buddha by his teacher Krishnaji Arjun Keluskar also known as Dada Keluskar, a Maratha caste scholar. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The Marāthās ( Marathi: mr मराठा also Mahrattas) form an Indo Aryan group of Hindu Warriors hailing mostly from the present-day Ambedkar's marriage had been arranged the previous year as per Hindu custom, to Ramabai, a nine-year old girl from Dapoli. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical ^[3] In 1908, he entered Elphinstone College and obtained a scholarship of twenty five rupees a month from the Gayakwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III for higher studies in the USA. Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. The Gaekwad or Gaikwad (once rendered as Guicowar, also given (incorrectly as Gaekwar) ( Gujarati: ગાયકવાડ; Marathi By 1912, he obtained his degree in economics and political science, and prepared to take up employment with the Baroda state government. His wife gave birth to his first son, Yashwant, in the same year. Ambedkar had just moved his young family and started work, when he dashed back to Bombay to see his ailing father, who died on February 2, 1913. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Pursuit of education

A few months later, Ambedkar was selected by the Gayakwad ruler to travel to the United States and enrol at Columbia University, with a scholarship of $11. The Gaekwad or Gaikwad (once rendered as Guicowar, also given (incorrectly as Gaekwar) ( Gujarati: ગાયકવાડ; Marathi The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Columbia University is a private University in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. 5 per month. Arriving in New York City, Ambedkar was admitted to the graduate studies programme at the political science department. The City of New York After a brief stay at the dormitory, he moved to a housing club run by Indian students and took up rooms with a Parsi friend, Naval Bhathena. ^[4] In 1916, he was awarded a Ph. D. for a thesis which he eventually published in book form as The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India. His first published work, however, was a paper titled Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development. Winning his degree and doctorate, he travelled to London and enrolled at Gray's Inn and the London School of Economics, studying law and preparing a doctoral thesis in economics. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts The London School of Economics and Political Science, more commonly referred to as The London School of Economics or LSE, is a specialist college of the The expiration of his scholarship the following year forced him to temporarily abandon his studies and return to India amidst World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All ^[4]

Returning to work as military secretary for Baroda state, Ambedkar was distressed by the sudden reappearance of discrimination in his life, and left his job to work as a private tutor and accountant, even starting his own consultancy business that failed owing to his social status. ^[5] With the help of an English acquaintance, the former Bombay Governor Lord Sydenham, he won a post as professor of political economy at the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Charles Poulett Thomson 1st Baron Sydenham PC ( Waverley Abbey September 13, 1799 &ndash September 19, 1841 Kingston Sydenham College or Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics is an institute located in Mumbai (previously Bombay affiliated to the University of Bombay He was able to return to England in 1920 with the support of the Maharaja of Kolhapur, his Parsi friend and his own savings. By 1923 he completed a thesis on The Problem of the Rupee. He was awarded a D. Sc. by the University of London, and on finishing his law studies, he was simultaneously admitted to the British Bar as a barrister. The University of London is a university based primarily in London, England, UK. A bar association is a Professional body of Lawyers Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their Jurisdiction A barrister is a Lawyer found in many Common law Jurisdictions that employ a split profession (as opposed to a Fused profession) in relation On his way back to India, Ambedkar spent three months in Germany, where he conducted further studies in economics at the University of Bonn. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The University of Bonn ( German: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany He was formally awarded a Ph. D. by Columbia University on June 8, 1927. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Fight against untouchability

As a leading Indian scholar, Ambedkar had been invited to testify before the Southborough Committee, which was preparing the Government of India Act 1919. The Government of India Act 1919 (9 & 10 Geo V c 101 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to expand participation of the natives in the government of India At this hearing, Ambedkar argued for creating separate electorates and reservations for Dalits and other religious communities. In 1920, he began the publication of the weekly Mooknayak (Leader of the Silent) in Bombay. Attaining popularity, Ambedkar used this journal to criticize orthodox Hindu politicians and a perceived reluctance of the Indian political community to fight caste discrimination. His speech at a Depressed Classes Conference in Kolhapur impressed the local state ruler Shahu IV, who shocked orthodox society by dining with Ambekdar . WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kolhapur ( Marathi:कोल्हापूर is a city situated in the south west corner of Shahu IV (also known as Rajarshi Shahu ( 26 July 1874 - 6 May 1922) was Maharaja of the Indian Princely state of Ambedkar established a successful legal practise, and also organised the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to promote education and socio-economic uplifting of the depressed classes. In 1926, he became a nominated member of the Bombay Legislative Council. The Imperial Legislative Council was a Legislature for India during the British Raj. By 1927 Dr. Ambedkar decided to launch active movements against untouchability. He began with public movements and marches to open up and share public drinking water resources, also he began a struggle for the right to enter Hindu temples. He led a satyagraha in Mahad to fight for the right of the untouchable community to draw water from the main water tank of the town. Satyagraha ( Sanskrit: सत्याग्रह satyāgraha) is a philosophy and practice of Nonviolent resistance developed by Mohandas WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Mahad is a city and a Municipal council in Raigad district in the Indian state

On January 1, 1927 Ambedkar organised a ceremony at the Koregaon Victory Memorial,which commemorated the Indian soldiers who had died in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, during the Battle of Koregaon. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Here he inscribed the names of the soldiers from the Mahar community on a marble tablet. In 1927, he began his second journal, Bahiskrit Bharat (Excluded India), later rechristened Janata (The People). He was appointed to the Bombay Presidency Committee to work with the all-European Simon Commission in 1928. The Indian Statutory Commission was a group of seven British Members of Parliament that had been dispatched to India in 1927 to study constitutional reform This commission had sparked great protests across India, and while its report was ignored by most Indians, Ambedkar himself wrote a separate set of recommendations for future constitutional reforms.

Poona Pact

By now Ambedkar had become one of the most prominent untouchable political figures of the time. He had grown increasingly critical of mainstream Indian political parties for their perceived lack of emphasis for the elimination of the caste system. Ambedkar criticized the Indian National Congress and its leader Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi, whom he accused of reducing the untouchable community to a figure of pathos. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. Pathos (ˈpeɪːθɒs ( πάθος) is one of the three Modes of persuasion in Rhetoric (along with Ethos and Logos) Ambedkar was also dissatisfied with the failures of British rule, and advocated a political identity for untouchables separate from both the Congress and the British. At a Depressed Classes Conference on August 8, 1930 Ambedkar outlined his political vision, insisting that the safety of the Depressed Classes hinged on their being independent of the Government and the Congress both:

We must shape our course ourselves and by ourselves. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. . . Political power cannot be a panacea for the ills of the Depressed Classes. Their salvation lies in their social elevation. They must cleanse their evil habits. They must improve their bad ways of living. . . . They must be educated. . . . There is a great necessity to disturb their pathetic contentment and to instill into them that divine discontent which is the spring of all elevation. ^[2]

In this speech, Ambedkar criticized the Salt Satyagraha launched by Gandhi and the Congress. The Salt Satyagraha was a campaign of non-violent protest against the British salt tax in colonial India which began with the Salt March to Dandi on March 12 1930 Ambedkar's criticisms and political work had made him very unpopular with orthodox Hindus, as well as with many Congress politicians who had earlier condemned untouchability and worked against discrimination across India. This was largely because these "liberal" politicians usually stopped short of advocating full equality for untouchables. Ambedkar's prominence and popular support amongst the untouchable community had increased, and he was invited to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931. Here he sparred verbally with Gandhi on the question of awarding separate electorates to untouchables. ^[2] A fierce opponent of separate electorates on religious and sectarian lines, Gandhi feared that separate electorates for untouchables would divide Hindu society for future generations.

When the British agreed with Ambedkar and announced the awarding of separate electorates, Gandhi began a fast-unto-death while imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail of Pune in 1932. Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra Exhorting orthodox Hindu society to eliminate discrimination and untouchability, Gandhi asked for the political and social unity of Hindus. Gandhi's fast provoked great public support across India, and orthodox Hindu leaders, Congress politicians and activists such as Madan Mohan Malaviya and Pawlankar Baloo organized joint meetings with Ambedkar and his supporters at Yeravada. Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946 was an Indian politician notable for his role in the freedom struggle and his espousal of Hindu nationalism. Fearing a communal reprisal and killings of untouchables in the event of Gandhi's death, Ambedkar agreed under massive coercion from the supporters of Gandhi to drop the demand for separate electorates, and settled for a reservation of seats, which although in the end achieved more representation for the untouchables, resulted in the loss of separate electorates that was promised through the British Communal Award prior to Ambedkars meeting with Gandhi which would end his fast. Ambedkar was later to criticise this fast of Gandhi's as a gimmick to deny political rights to the untouchables and increase the coercion he had faced to give up the demand for separate electorates.

See also: Poona Pact

Political career

In 1935, Ambedkar was appointed principal of the Government Law College, a position he held for two years. Settling in Bombay, Ambedkar oversaw the construction of a large house, and stocked his personal library with more than 50,000 books. ^[6] His wife Ramabai died after a long illness in the same year. It had been her long-standing wish to go on a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, but Ambedkar had refused to let her go, telling her that he would create a new Pandharpur for her instead of Hinduism's Pandharpur which treated them as untouchables. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage city on the Bhimā river in Solāpur district, His own views and attitudes had hardened against orthodox Hindus, despite a significant increase in momentum across India for the fight against untouchability. and he began criticizing them even as he was criticized himself by large numbers of Hindu activists. Speaking at the Yeola Conversion Conference on October 13 near Nasik, Ambedkar announced his intention to convert to a different religion and exhorted his followers to leave Hinduism. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ^[6] He would repeat his message at numerous public meetings across India.

In 1936, Ambedkar founded the Independent Labour Party, which won 15 seats in the 1937 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly. Dr Ambedkar organised the Independent Labour Party participated in the provincial elections and was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly He published his book The Annihilation of Caste in the same year, based on the thesis he had written in New York. Attaining immense popular success, Ambedkar's work strongly criticized Hindu religious leaders and the caste system in general. He protested the Congress decision to call the untouchable community Harijans (Children of God), a name coined by Gandhi. Harijan ( son of God) was a term coined by Gandhi for Dalits, which is now considered patronizing ^[6] Ambedkar served on the Defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy's Executive Council as minister for labour.

Between 1941 and 1945, he published a large number of highly controversial books and pamphlets, including Thoughts on Pakistan, in which he criticized the Muslim League's demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and With What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to the Untouchables, Ambedkar intensified his attacks on Gandhi and the Congress, charging them with hypocrisy. ^[7] In his work Who Were the Shudras?, Ambedkar attempted to explain the formation of the Shudras i. e. the lowest caste in hierarchy of Hindu caste system. He also emphasised how Shudras are separate from Untouchables. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the All India Scheduled Castes Federation, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the Constituent Assembly of India. The Constituent Assembly of India was elected to write the Constitution of India, and served as its first Parliament as an independent nation In writing a sequel to Who Were the Shudras? in 1948, Ambedkar lambasted Hinduism in the The Untouchables: A Thesis on the Origins of Untouchability:

The Hindu Civilisation. . . . is a diabolical contrivance to suppress and enslave humanity. Its proper name would be infamy. What else can be said of a civilisation which has produced a mass of people. . . who are treated as an entity beyond human intercourse and whose mere touch is enough to cause pollution?

^[7]

Ambedkar was also critical of Islam and its practices in South Asia. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. While justifying the Partition of India, he condemned the practice of child marriage in Muslim society, as well as the mistreatment of women. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, He said,

No words can adequately express the great and many evils of polygamy and concubinage, and especially as a source of misery to a Muslim woman. Take the caste system. Everybody infers that Islam must be free from slavery and caste. [While slavery existed], much of its support was derived from Islam and Islamic countries. While the prescriptions by the Prophet regarding the just and humane treatment of slaves contained in the Koran are praiseworthy, there is nothing whatever in Islam that lends support to the abolition of this curse. But if slavery has gone, caste among Musalmans [Muslims] has remained. ^[8]

He wrote that Muslim society is "even more full of social evils than Hindu Society is" and criticized Muslims for sugarcoating their sectarian caste system with euphemisms like "brotherhood". He also criticized the discrimination against the Arzal classes among Muslims who were regarded as "degraded", as well as the oppression of women in Muslim society through the oppressive purdah system. He alleged that while Purdah was also practiced by Hindus, only among Muslims was it sanctioned by religion. He criticized their fanaticism regarding Islam on the grounds that their literalist interpretations of Islamic doctrine made their society very rigid and impermeable to change. He further wrote that Indian Muslims have failed to reform their society unlike Muslims in other countries like Turkey. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches ^[8]

In a "communal malaise", both groups [Hindus and Muslims] ignore the urgent claims of social justice. ^[8]

While he was extremely critical of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the communally divisive strategies of the Muslim League, he argued that Hindus and Muslims should segregate and the State of Pakistan be formed, as ethnic nationalism within the same country would only lead to more violence. Muhammad Ali Jinnah Urdu: (December 25 1876 – September 11 1948 was a Pakistani politician and leader of the All India Muslim League who founded Pakistan The All India Muslim League ( Urdu: آل انڈیا مسلم لیگ Bengali:?????? ??? founded at Dhaka in 1906 was a political party in British Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and He cited precedents in historical events such as the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and Czechoslovakia to bolster his views regarding the Hindu-Muslim communal divide. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. ^[8]

However, he questioned whether the need for Pakistan was sufficient and suggested that it might be possible to resolve Hindu-Muslim differences in a less drastic way. He wrote that Pakistan must "justify its existence" accordingly. Since other countries such as Canada have also had communal issues with the French and English and have lived together, it might not be impossible for Hindus and Muslims to live together. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page ^[8]

He warned that the actual implementation of a two-state solution would be extremely problematic with massive population transfers and border disputes. This claim was prophetic, looking forward to the violent Partition of India after Independence. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, ^[8]

Architect of India's constitution

Despite his increasing unpopularity, controversial views, and intense criticism of Gandhi and the Congress, Ambedkar was by reputation an exemplary jurist and scholar. Upon India's independence on August 15, 1947, the new Congress-led government invited Ambedkar to serve as the nation's first law minister, which he accepted. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On August 29, Ambedkar was appointed chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, charged by the Assembly to write free India's new Constitution. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Ambedkar won great praise from his colleagues and contemporary observers for his drafting work. In this task Ambedkar's study of sangha practice among early Buddhists and his extensive reading in Buddhist scriptures was to come to his aid. Sangha practice incorporated voting by ballot, rules of debate and precedence and the use of agendas, committees and proposals to conduct business. Sangha practice itself was modelled on the oligarchic system of governance followed by tribal republics of ancient India such as the Shakyas and the Lichchavis. Shakya ( Sanskrit:Śākya and {{IAST|Pāli}}:Sākiya is the name (derived from Sanskrit śakya, capable able of an ancient Janapada (realm Thus, although Ambedkar used Western models to give his Constitution shape, its spirit was Indian and, indeed, tribal.

The text prepared by Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and protections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and the outlawing of all forms of discrimination. thumb| |Broken Liberty Istanbul Archaeology Museum Civil liberties are freedoms that protect the Individual from the Government. ^[7] Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for women, and also won the Assembly's support for introducing a system of reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, a system akin to affirmative action. Scheduled Castes ("SC"s and Scheduled Tribes ("ST"s are Indian population groupings that are explicitly recognized by the Constitution of Ādivāsīs (in Devanagari script: आदिवासी literally "original inhabitants" comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population Affirmative action in the United States|Employment equity (Canada|Reservation in India|Numerus clausus The term affirmative action describes many policies aimed at a historically India's lawmakers hoped to eradicate the socio-economic inequalities and lack of opportunities for India's depressed classes through this measure, which had been originally envisioned as temporary on a need basis. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949 by the Constituent Assembly. Events 43 BC - The Second Triumvirate alliance of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus ("Octavian" later "Caesar Augustus" Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Speaking after the completion of his work, Ambedkar said:

I feel that the Constitution is workable; it is flexible and it is strong enough to hold the country together both in peace time and in war time. Indeed, if I may say so, if things go wrong under the new Constitution the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. What we will have to say is that Man was vile. ^[7]

Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in 1951 following the stalling in parliament of his draft of the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to expound gender equality in the laws of inheritance, marriage and the economy. Although supported by Prime Minister Nehru, the cabinet and many other Congress leaders, it received criticism from a large number of members of parliament. Ambedkar independently contested an election in 1952 to the lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha but was defeated. A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. The Lok Sabha (also titled the House of the People, by the Constitution) is the directly elected Lower house of the Parliament of India He was appointed to the upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha in March 1952 and would remain a member until his death. An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. The Rajya Sabha (meaning the "Council of States" is the Upper house of the Parliament of India.

Conversion to Buddhism

It reads Let your Dhamma wheel revolve over the whole world. Image shows mass conversion of Hindus to Buddhism in background. Image of B. R. Ambedkar, Gautama Buddha and Dhamma wheel are in foreground. Dhamma ( Pāli: धम्म or Dharma (धर्म in Buddhism has two primary meanings the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment ]] In the 1950s, Ambedkar turned his attention to Buddhism and travelled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to attend a convention of Buddhist scholars and monks. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island While dedicating a new Buddhist vihara near Pune, Ambedkar announced that he was writing a book on Buddhism, and that as soon as it was finished, he planned to make a formal conversion to Buddhism. Vihara (विहार is Sanskrit or Pali for ( Buddhist) Monastery. ^[9] Ambedkar twice visited Burma in 1954; the second time in order to attend the third conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Rangoon. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and a former capital of Burma. In 1955, he founded the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha, or the Buddhist Society of India. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) He completed his final work, The Buddha and his Dharma, in 1956. It was published posthumously.

Ambedkar organised a formal public ceremony for himself and his supporters in Nagpur on October 14, 1956. Nāgpur ( Marathi: नागपुर is the largest city in central India (2001 Census and the second capital of the state of Maharashtra. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Accepting the Three Refuges and Five Precepts from a Buddhist monk in the traditional manner, Ambedkar completed his own conversion. The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge A Bhikkhu ( Pāli) or Bhiksu ( Sanskrit) is a fully ordained male Buddhist Monastic. He then proceeded to convert an estimated 500,000 of his supporters who were gathered around him. ^[9] Taking the 22 Vows, Ambedkar and his supporters explicitly condemned and rejected Hinduism and Hindu philosophy. The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks He then travelled to Kathmandu in Nepal to attend the Fourth World Buddhist Conference. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. He completed his final manuscript, The Buddha or Karl Marx on December 2, 1956. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Death

Since 1948, Ambedkar had been suffering from diabetes. Diabetes mellitus (ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz or /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtəs/ /məˈlaɪtəs/ or /ˈmɛlətəs/ often referred to simply as diabetes ( Ancient Greek: grc He was bed-ridden from June to October in 1954 owing to clinical depression and failing eyesight. ^[9] He had been increasingly embittered by political issues, which took a toll on his health. His health worsened as he furiously worked through 1955. Just three days after completing his final manuscript The Buddha and His Dhamma, it is said that Ambedkar died in his sleep on December 6, 1956 at his home in Delhi. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

A Buddhist-style cremation was organised for him at Chowpatty beach on December 7, attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters, activists and admirers. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways

Ambedkar was survived by his second wife Savita Ambedkar, born as a Caste Brahmin and converted to Buddhism with him. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices His wife's name before marriage was Sharda Kabir. Savita Ambedkar died as a Buddhist in 2002. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash Yaswant Ambedkar leads the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha and has served in both houses of the Indian Parliament. Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, a Political party in India. The party was formed in 1999, through a split in the Republican Party of India. The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is the federal and supreme Legislative body of India.

A number of unfinished typescripts and handwritten drafts were found among Ambedkar's notes and papers and gradually made available. Among these were Waiting for a Visa, which probably dates from 1935-36 and is an autobiographical work, and the Untouchables, or the Children of India's Ghetto, which refers to the census of 1951. ^[9]

A memorial for Ambedkar was established in his Delhi house at 26 Alipur Road. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population His birthdate is celebrated as a public holiday known as Ambedkar Jayanti. He was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1990. Bharat Ratna (translates to Jewel of India or Gem of India in English) is India 's highest Civilian award, awarded for the Many public institutions are named in his honour, such as the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, the other being Dr. Profile The Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University is a public institution of higher learning in Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India. History B R Ambedkar Bihar University or simply Bihar University is a Public university located in the north prime of Bihar state in WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Muzaffarpur is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, which was otherwise known as Sonegaon Airport. Nāgpur ( Marathi: नागपुर is the largest city in central India (2001 Census and the second capital of the state of Maharashtra. A large official portrait of Ambedkar is on display in the Indian Parliament building.

On the anniversary of his birth (14th April) and death (6th December) and on Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, 14th Oct at Nagpur, at least half a million people gather to pay homage to him at his memorial in Mumbai. Hundreds of bookshops are set up, and books are sold for millions of rupees. His message to his followers was " Educate!!!, Organize!!!, Agitate!!!".

Ambedkar v. Gandhi on village life

Ambedkar was a fierce critic of Mahatma Gandhi (and the Indian National Congress). Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. He was criticized by his contemporaries and modern scholars for this opposition to Gandhi, who had been one of the first Indian leaders to call for the abolition of untouchability and discrimination.

Gandhi had a more positive, arguably romanticised view of traditional village life in India and a sentimental approach to the untouchables, calling them Harijan (children of God) and saying he was "of" them. Ambedkar rejected the epithet "Harijan" as condescending. He tended to encourage his followers to leave their home villages, move to the cities, and get an education.

Criticism and legacy

Ambedkar's legacy as a socio-political reformer, had a deep effect on modern India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country In post-Independence India his socio-political thought has acquired respect across the political spectrum. His initiatives have influenced various spheres of life and transformed the way India today looks at socio-economic policies, education and affirmative action through socio-economic and legal incentives. Affirmative action in the United States|Employment equity (Canada|Reservation in India|Numerus clausus The term affirmative action describes many policies aimed at a historically 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. He passionately believed in the freedom of the individual and criticised equally both orthodox casteist Hindu society, as well as exclusivism and narrow doctrinaire positions in Islam. His polemical condemnation of Hinduism and attacks on Islam made him unpopular and controversial, although his conversion to Buddhism sparked a revival in interest in Buddhist philosophy in India. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.

Ambedkar's political philosophy has given rise to a large number of Dalit political parties, publications and workers' unions that remain active across India, especially in Maharashtra. His promotion of the Dalit Buddhist movement has rejuvenated interest in Buddhist philosophy in many parts of India. The Dalit Buddhist movement ( Pāli नवयान navayāna as dubbed by certain Ambedkerites in India began with support of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks Mass conversion ceremonies have been organized by Dalit activists in modern times, emulating Ambedkar's Nagpur ceremony of 1956.

Some scholars, including some from the affected castes, took the view that the British were more even-handed between castes, and that continuance of British rule would have helped to eradicate many evil practices. This political opinion was shared by quite a number of social activists including Jyotirao Phule. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule ( Marathi:ज्योतिराव गोविंदराव फुले ( April 11, 1827 &mdash November 28,

Narayan Rao Kajrolkar criticized Ambedkar because he believed that he was biased to spend government on his own caste, the Mahar, rather than divide the funds equally among others such as the Chambars and the Mangs. ^[10] Sitaram Narayan Shivtarkar criticised him on the same account at the Chambar conference held at Khond at the Ratnagiri District on 27 October, 1937. ^[11] The "First Chambar Conference" at Ratnagiri on December 1937, chaired by S. G. Songaonkar, echoed this yet again. ^[12]S

Some, in modern India, question the continued institution of reservations initiated by Ambedkar as outdated and anti-meritocratic.

Aftermath

Frequent violent clashes between Buddhist groups and orthodox Hindus have occurred over the years. When in 1994 a garland of shoes was hung around a statue of Ambedkar in Mumbai, sectarian violence and strikes paralyzed the city for over a week. When the following year similar disturbances occurred, a statue of Ambedkar was destroyed. Upper-caste groups in Tamil Nadu have also engaged in violence against Buddhist. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. In addition, some Buddhist who converted to Buddhism have rioted against Hindus (such as the 2006 Dalit protests in Maharashtra) and desecrated Hindu temples, often incited into doing so by anti-Hindu elements and replacing deities with pictures of Ambedkar^[13]. In November-December 2006 the Desecration of a Ambedkar statue in Kanpur triggered off violent Protests by Dalits in Maharashtra, Anti-Hindu prejudice is a negative perception or Religious intolerance against the practice and practitioners of Hinduism. The radical Ambedkarite "Buddhist Panthers Movement" has even gone so far as to attempt assassination attempts on academics who have been critical of Ambedkar's understanding of Buddhism. ^[14]

Film

Jabbar Patel directed the Hindi-language movie Dr. Dr Jabbar Patel is a renowned theatre and film director of India. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Babasaheb Ambedkar [2] about the life of Ambedkar, released in 2000, starring the Indian actor Mammootty as Ambedkar. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Mammootty (born Pannaparambil Muhammad Kutty on September 7, 1953) is an Award winning Malayalam film Actor Sponsored by India's National Film Development Corporation and the Ministry of Social Justice, the film was released after a long and controversial gestation period.

Dr. David Blundell, professor of anthropology at UCLA and Historical Ethnographer, has established [3] a long-term project; a series of films and events that are intended to stimulate interest and knowledge about the social and welfare conditions in India. Arising Light is a film on the life on Dr B. R. Ambedkar and social welfare in India.

References

Further reading

• Mahar, Buddhist. Religious Conversion and Socio-Political Emancipation by Johannes Beltz, 2005, New Delhi, Manohar.
• Reconstructing the World: B. R. Ambedkar and Buddhism in India edited by Johannes Beltz and S. JondhaleNew Delhi: OUP.
• Dr. Ambedkar and Untouchability: Analyzing and Fighting Caste by Christophe Jaffrelot (2005) ISBN 0-231-13602-1
• Ambedkar and Buddhism by Urgyen Sangharakshita ISBN 0-904766-28-4
• Ambedkar: Towards an Enlightened India by Gail Omvedt ISBN 0-670-04991-3
• Life of Babasaheb Ambedkar by C. Dr Gail Omvedt is an American born Indian scholar sociologist and human rights activist Gautam, Published by Ambedkar Memorial Trust, London, Milan House, 8 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DA Second Edition, May 2000
• Thus Spoke Ambedkar Vol-I* (Selected Speeches of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar) Compiled and edited by Bhagwan Das, published by Dalit Today Parkashan,18/455,Indira Nagar, Lucknow (U. P. )India-226016
• Revival of Buddhism in India and Role of Dr. BabaSaheb B. R. Ambedkar by Bhagwan Das, published by Dalit Today Prakashan,18/455,Indira Nagar, Lucknow (U. P. )India-226016
• Dr. Ambedkar: A Critical Study by W. N. Kuber, published by People's Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
• Dr. Ambedkar: Life and Mission by Dhananjay Keer published by Popular Prakashan, Bombay, India.
• Economic Philosophy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar by M. L. Kasare published by B. I. Publications Pvt. Ltd. ,New Delhi, India.
• The Legacy Of Dr. Ambedkar by D. C. Ahir published by B. R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi-110007,India. (ISBN 81-7018-603-X Code No. L00522)
• Ajnat, Surendra: Ambedkar on Islam. Buddhist Publ. , Jalandhar 1986.
• Fernando, W. J. Basil: Demoralisation and Hope: Creating the Social Foundation for Sustaining Democracy -- A comparative study of N. F. S. Grundtvig (1783 -1872) Denmark and B. R. Ambedkar (1881-1956) India. AHRC Publication. , Hong Kong 2000. (ISBN 962-8314-08-4)

External links

• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and His People
• Jabbar Patel's Award-Winning Movie Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar
• Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace
• Dr. Ambedkar International Mission
• Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb
• Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in Columbia University
• Ambedkar's statue at Columbia University
• University of Heidelberg
• "The Buddha and His Dhamma" with unpublished preface
• Writer Arun Shourie questions BR Ambedkar's contribution to India's independence
• Article on Ambedkar's Neo-Buddhism by Edmund Weber
• Short Movie on Life of Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar
• Dr. Ambedkar in Rationalism, Humanism and Atheism in Twentieth Century Indian Thought

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