Er.H.R Phonsa
Bharat Ratana Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on 14 th April 1891 at Mhow to revered Subedar Major Ramji Sakhpal and Mata Bhimabai of Mahar Community. It is said that Mahars were the rulers of Marashtra ( Mahar + Rashtra ) but because of Hindu agony and caste based values, they were reduced to the level of untouchables,Sudras, Ati Sudra, whose only shadow was considered enough to pollute an upper caste Hindu. Ambedkar worked over 18 hours a day and at times sky was his roof and the earth his floor. Bhimrao was married to Ramabai at the tender age of 17 years when his wife was only of 9 years. Mata Ramabai stood like a rock by her Saheb in the later life till her death on 27th May, 1935. Bhimrao earned world’s highest academic Degrees of D.Sc ( London ); PhD and LL.D (Columbia ); M.A; D. Lit ( Osmania ) Bar -at- Law (London ) . Dr Ambedkar knew seven languages. Dr Ambedkar also served on highly prestigious positions as Labour Member of Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942-46 ); First Law Minister Of Independent India and earned the distinction of selection as Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee to draft Constitution for free India and is so called ‘Father of Indian constitution.’ Some called him as ‘Mother of Ingdian Constitution’. He proved an emancipator for Dalits, a torch bearer for the liberation of slaves’ world over and an insurmountable rock for his opponents. He contributed for the freedom of India, but more for the Dalits, who were slaves to the slaves of British India. He was highly praised by those who understood his odious cause for the liberation of his Dalit community persons, but also abused as traitor by those who never appreciated his mission of life and wanted to maintain status-quo in social, political, economic and religious spheres even after independence. Many people from different shades of life have expressed their views on the working, personality, handwork, knowledge, experience, contributions, commitment to the mission of Dr Ambedkar to eulogise Doctor’s services to different fields. Dr. Ambedkar passed away in his sleep in 26 Alipore Road New Delhi on 6th of December 1956 and was cremated at Dadar Hindu Crematorium Bombay. Babu Jagjivan Ram arranged air lifting of his mortal remains to Bombay ( now Mumbai). Over five lakh devotees witnessed the last rites and over one lakh embraced Buddhism. The pyre was lit by his only son Yashwantrao at 7:30 PM. AliPur Road Delhi has now been converted to National Museum of Bharat Rattan Baba Sahib Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
One of the major contributions of Dr. Ambedkar was to give fight to change the age old system of the Hindus to deny major chunk of their co- followers called the untouchables or Dalits, the right to have better prospects in the education social, economical, religious and political fields. By dint of his hard labour Dr. Ambedkar proved that given proper helping circumstances any body can excel in all fields including education irrespective of one’s caste, creed, religion, faith , sex or place of birth. It was the partial treatment in the Hindu society which resulted in giving poverty to the Dalits and administrative rod to the upper caste. So all right to Dalits were denied as to have equal opportunities for education, religion, economical and social status in the society. He advised the society to encourage girl education and family planning to boost all out progress of the society. He introduced in the Parliament on 5th February 1951 The Hindu Code Bill, which was opposed by many including the Hindu Mahasabha and other orthodox Hindus. Dr Ambedkar was for all round progress of the women folk. While addressing largely attended Depressed Classes Women Conference on 18th-19th July 1942, he said, “He measured the progress of a community by the degree of progress made by the women of that community. He advised, let every girl who marries, stand by her husband, claim to be her husband’s friend and equal and refuse to be his slave. “He advocated avoiding early marriage and producing too many children”. Give proper education to your children, so that they live a dignified life”. Dr Ambedkar advocated for equal wages for equal work without discrimination on the basis of sex or caste, besides grant of paid maternity leave to expecting mothers. While strongly supporting proposed maternity benefits to women in Bombay Legislative Council in 1928 he said “—- it is in the interest of the nation that the mother ought to get a certain amount of rest during the pre-natal period and also subsequently”.
As Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee Dr, Ambedkar granted equal fundamental rights, including equal wages for equal work, equality before law to all citizen irrespective of caste, creed, race, sex, religion or place of birth. His single handed efforts routed out by law the stigma of untouchability in the Hindu religion, although it is yet clinging the orthodox Hindus in a big way even after five decades of enactment of law to ban it in all its forms. He brought back Buddha to India when he embraced Buddhism on 14 th October 1956 along with over three lakh of men and women. Dr. Ambedkar lived for 22 days after conversion to Buddhism and during this small period over five Lakh Dalits got converted to their original faith.
Keeping in view Dr. Ambedkar services for the betterment of his country and his peoples, his services has been praised. Views of a few known personalities of National and International fame are reproduced here uhder; –
R. A. Seligman, Dr. Ambedkar’s teacher while on commenting on the thesis “Evolution of Provincial Finances in British India,” which earned PhD to Ambedkar remarked “Nowhere to my knowledge, has such a detailed study of the underlying principles been made.”
His Highness, Chhaterpati Sahuji Maharaj of Kohlapur State, remarked, while addressing the conference of untouchables, Presided over by Dr, Ambedkar on 21st March, 1920 “you have found your saviour in Ambedkar. I am confident he will break your sickles.
(To be continued)
