From the depths of a life of humiliation,
an untouchable arose to touch the skies. He was Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Bhimrao was born in 'mahar' caste, which
was considered as untouchable. This fourteenth child of Ramji Sakpal and
Bhimabai was born on 14 April 1891. He lost his mother when he was five. From a
very young age, he experienced the humiliating treatment meted out to the
untouchables. In the school he had to sit away from other children. If he drank
water from a common well, he would be beaten up. Innumerable such experiences
made him bitter towards the religion.
Later his family moved to Bombay where he
attended high school. He married to Ramabai when he was 17 years old. Maharaja
of Baroda granted him scholarship to study in the degree college and also
further helped him to go to U.S. Of America for higher studies. After studying
various subjects like political science, social science, economics, ethics etc,
he returned with a doctorate in 1917.
In
spite of such high education, he received the same treatment. In 1920 he went
to London to study law and set up law practice on returning back. Then he began
working towards the betterment of his people. He addressed their gatherings,
made them aware of their rights and he fought for them. British government
granted separate electorate for the Harijans, but Gandhiji opposed it fearing
that it could separate them from the Hindus, but he agreed to deserve seats for
Harijans in the legislature.
Dr. Ambedkar was appointed as the first Law
Minister of independent India. He was the chairman of the committee, which
prepared the Constitution of India. He is called the 'Father of Indian
Constitution'.
Dr. Ambedkar resigned from the post of
minister in 1951. In 1956 he accepted Buddhism along with his wife and many
followers. He had written many books like 'Untouchables', 'Buddha and Karl
Marx', 'Buddha and his gospel' etc. He died in his sleep on 10 December 1956.
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