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So long as inequality, caste discrimination, atrocities on the poor, and exploitation persist, the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar will remain immortal.
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, at the Mhow military cantonment in present-day Madhya Pradesh. His father’s name was Ramji Maloji Sakpal and his mother’s name was Bhimabai. He was the fourteenth child in the family. Their ancestral village was Ambavade in the Ratnagiri district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra. Born into the Mahar community — considered “untouchable” — his family followed the Kabir Panth. Affectionately he was called Bhima.
Under British rule, untouchables faced severe discrimination. They were prohibited from drawing water from public wells, entering temples, walking on public roads, entering schools, or wearing decent clothes. They were forced to live in segregated areas outside villages.
After his father retired, the family moved through Dapoli, Satara, and then Mumbai. When Bhimrao was six, his mother passed away. He attended Pratapsingh High School in Satara, where he experienced deep humiliation—forced to sit outside the classroom, denied drinking water, never allowed to approach the blackboard, or ask questions. He had to carry his own gunny sack to sit on, and show homework from a distance. A Brahmin teacher who loved him found it difficult to pronounce his family name “Ambavadekar,” and thus gave him the surname “Ambedkar,” which remained with him throughout his life.
In 1907, Ambedkar completed his matriculation from Elphinstone High School in Mumbai. Due to poverty, further education seemed impossible, but Krishnaji Keluskar secured a scholarship for him from Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda. Ambedkar completed his graduation in 1912. He had been married in 1906 to Ramabai, then nine years old, and was a father by the time he graduated.
He accepted employment under the Baroda state but was denied accommodation and food due to caste. After ten days he had to return to Mumbai upon receiving news of his father’s death.
With Sayajirao’s support, Ambedkar joined Columbia University in 1913. There he earned an M.A. and completed his Ph.D. in 1916. Later in London he pursued advanced studies at the London School of Economics and legal training at Gray’s Inn, but due to end of financial support, he returned to India in 1917 before completing his Bar-at-Law.
Bound by scholarship conditions, he joined service as Military Secretary to the Baroda State. Despite global education and multiple degrees, untouchability followed him. Peons refused to touch files, mats were rolled up when he entered an office, water was given from a distance. Forced to hide his caste, he rented a room posing as a Parsi, but upon discovery, he was thrown out within 24 hours and his belongings tossed outside. Ambedkar wrote:
“All day I wandered searching for a house. No one would rent to me. I met Hindu, Christian and Muslim friends, but each made excuses. I was lost and broken. Sitting under a tree, I wept bitterly.”
On September 23, 1917, humiliated, he left Baroda.
This moment changed the course of his life. The seed of struggle against oppression took root.
Ambedkar formed a close association with Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, joining the movement for the upliftment of untouchables. His first public role was drafting a felicitation address at an event honoring P. Balu, a Dalit cricketer. He submitted a memorandum demanding voting rights for the depressed classes to the Southborough Committee.
In 1920, he founded the fortnightly Mook Nayak. In 1924, he established the Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha with the motto: “Educate, Organize, Struggle.”
On March 19–20, 1927, under his leadership, thousands conducted the Mahad Satyagraha at Chavdar Lake for the right to draw water. On December 25, 1927, the Manusmriti — source of caste oppression — was publicly burnt.
He launched another newspaper, Bahishkrit Bharat, and in 1928 became Professor of Law at Government Law College, Mumbai. He spoke before the Simon Commission demanding rights for the depressed classes.
Ambedkar led the Kalaram Temple Entry Satyagraha in 1930, which continued for a year. He participated in the Round Table Conferences in London advocating political and social rights.
Ramsay MacDonald’s Communal Award granting separate electorates to Dalits was opposed by Gandhi who began a fast unto death on September 20, 1932, in Yerwada Jail. Under immense pressure and threats to Dalits, Ambedkar agreed to the Poona Pact — foregoing separate electorates in exchange for reserved seats.
Ambedkar established colleges, hostels and scholarships for students. As Chairman of the Drafting Committee, he gave India its Constitution — completed in 2 years, 11 months and 18 days.
The Constitution guarantees equality, liberty, freedom from exploitation, prohibition of untouchability, ban on discrimination, and rights to social, economic and political justice, along with universal adult franchise. It empowered the people from Panchayats to Parliament. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a Republic.
He served as India’s first Law and Labour Minister, enacting major laws for workers and women. He resigned over opposition to the Hindu Code Bill, which sought women’s rights.
For a casteless society, he fought lifelong and on October 14, 1956, embraced Buddhism with 500,000 followers.
He passed away in Delhi on December 6, 1956. His last rites were performed at Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai. In 1990, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.
The words spoken by his close associate Shivraj at Ambedkar’s passing remain prophetic:
“The dead Ambedkar is more powerful than the living Ambedkar.”
This is evident in the awakening of Dalit consciousness across India today.
Babasaheb said, “My life is my message. Carry forward this chariot of revolution — and if you cannot move it, at least do not block it.”
On the 69th Mahaparinirvan Diwas, countless salutations to Bharat Ratna, world visionary, scholar, liberator of the oppressed, and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
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*Navsarjan Trust, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
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