Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (14th April, 1891 – 6th December, 1956)
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in Mhow in the Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh) on 14 April, 1891. Also known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, he was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He was independent India’s first Minister of Law and Justice and is considered as the chief architect of the Constitution of India.
Ambedkar was a prolific student, earning doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the University of London. In 1956, he converted to Buddhism, initiating mass conversions of Dalits. For the defense of Dalit rights, he started many periodicals like Mook Nayak, Bahishkrit Bharat and Equality Janta. 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. On 25 September, 1932, the agreement known as Poona Pact was signed between Ambedkar and Madan Mohan Malaviya. Due to the pact, the depressed class received 148 seats in the legislature, instead of the 71 as allocated earlier. Ambedkar published his book Annihilation of Caste on 15 May, 1936, which strongly criticized the caste system in general. He also wrote his autobiography, waiting for a Visa.
Three days after completing his final manuscript The Buddha and His Dhamma, Ambedkar died in his sleep on 6 December, 1956, at his home in Delhi.
In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar. Ambedkar’s legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture.
Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, is observed on 14 April to commemorate the memory of B. R. Ambedkar, Indian politician and social reformer. It marks Ambedkar's birthday who was born on 14 April 1891. His birthday is also referred to as Equality Day by some in India.
The Citizens paid tributes to Ambedkar on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary, at Parliament House, in New Delhi on April 14, 2016.
Ambedkar Jayanti processions are carried out by his followers at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai and Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur. It is a customary for senior national figures, such as the President, Prime Minister and leaders of major political parties, to pay homage at the statue of Ambedkar at the Parliament of India in New Delhi. It is celebrated throughout the world especially by dalits, adivasi, labour workers, women and also those who embraced Buddhism after his example. In India, large numbers of people visit local statues commemorating Ambedkar in procession with lot of fanfare. In 2020, the first online Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated in the world.
Ambedkar Jayanti is a public holiday in more than 25 states and union territories of India, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal etc.
