Dr. Ambedkar’s Death Anniversary | 09 Dec 2024

Why in News?

Recently, Uttar Pradesh leaders paid tributes to Dalit icon and India’s first Law Minister Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who headed the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, on his death anniversary.

Key Points

About:
- Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a prominent Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician.
- He was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
  - His father, Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was a well-read person and follower of Sant Kabir.
Education:
- Ambedkar earned his Bachelor's degree from Bombay University and went on for further studies to Columbia University in New York and London School of Economics.
Contributions:
- In 1924, he started an Association for the welfare of the depressed classes and in 1927, he started the Bahishkrit Bharat newspaper to address the cause of the depressed classes.
  - He also led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927.
- 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).
- In 1936, he formed the Independent Labour Party to safeguard the interests of the depressed classes.
- In 1942, Dr. Ambedkar was appointed to the Executive Council of the Governor General of India as a Labour member and elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal in 1946.
  - He was the Chairman of Drafting Committee and remembered as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
- In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar became Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.
  - He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
Additional Details:
- Later in life, He converted to Buddhism. He passed away on December 6, 1956, which is commemorated as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
  - Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B R Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.
- He was also awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.