Indian History
Dr B. R. Ambedkar's 129th Birth Anniversary
- 14 Apr 2020
- 4 min read
Why in News
Dr. B R Ambedkar’s Birth Anniversary is observed every year on 14th April.
Key Points
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
- He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India's first Law Minister.
- He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
- Dr. Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages) orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.
- He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board.
- In 1926, Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to throw open the tank to all communities. Earlier, the untouchables were not allowed to use water from the Mahad tank.
- He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
- In 1932 Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
- However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
- His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- In 1936, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
- He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
- In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar accepted PM Nehru's invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.
- He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
- He converted to Buddhism. He passed away on 6th December 1956. Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B. R. Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.
Contributions of Dr. Ambedkar
- Journals: Dr. Ambedkar launched various journals like:
- Mooknayak (1920)
- Bahishkrit Bharat (1927)
- Samatha (1929)
- Janata (1930)
- Books:
- Annihilation of Caste
- Buddha or Karl Marx
- The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become Untouchables
- Buddha and His Dhamma
- The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women
- Organisations:
- Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
- Independent Labor Party (1936)
- Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)
Panchteerath
- The Indian Government has set up Panchteerath in the memory of Dr BR Ambedkar.
- Panchteerath include:
- Amedbkar’s birthplace in Mhow,
- The place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK
- Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, where he took education
- Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and
- Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai
Round Table Conferences
- First Round Table Conference: It was held in London on Nov. 12, 1930 but the Congress did not participate in it.
- In March 1931, Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy of India 1926-31) entered into a Pact, called Gandhi-Irwin Pact, by which the Congress called off the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference.
- Second Round Table Conference: It was held in London on the 7th of September, 1931.
- Third Round Table Conference: It was held in London on the 17th of November, 1932 to consider the reports of various sub-committees appointed from time to time. It ultimately led to the passage of Govt. of India Act, 1935.
- The Congress did not participate as most of the leaders were in jail.