Every year on December 6, Dr. BR Ambedkar’s death anniversary is observed annually . His Death anniversary is observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, or Babasaheb, who is known as the architect of the Indian Constitution was born on April 14, 1891. Dr BR Ambedkar was known for his extraordinary vision and contributions, He fought for the welfare of the Dalits and the oppressed . He opposed social discrimination and took extraordinary efforts to eradicate social evils like untouchability and Caste inequalities and promote equality . Ambedkar, who died in 1956, was awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian Jurist, economist, social reformer and political leader who headed the committee drafting the Constitution of India from the Constitutent Assembly debates , served as Law and Justice Minister in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru , and inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement after renouncing Hinduisim . He was called the Father of the Indian Constitution.
On August 29, 1947, a drafting committee under the chairmanship of Dr BR Ambedkar was constituted to prepare a draft constitution. A total of 11 sessions were held between December 9, 1946, and January 24, 1950 covering a total of 165 days. During this period there were over 2000 amendments made to the draft after much debate and discussion.
Dr Ambedkar completed the draft of the Indian Constitution and presented it in the Constituent Assembly in the beginning of 1948. On November 26, 1949, this draft was adopted with very few amendments. The Indian Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950, which is observed as Republic Day. Under the chairmanship of Dr BR Ambedkar , the world’s longest-written constitution was framed by the constituent assembly.
On his 66th death anniversary, here’s a look at some interesting facts about Dr BR Ambedkar.
- Dr Ambedkar was born to a Hindu family belonging to Maharashtra’s Mahaar caste . He was born in the military cantonment of Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, where his father Ramji Sakpal was a Subedar in the British Army.
- In 1956 he converted to Buddhism with his followers.
- He received his education at Columbia University in the US and the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom.
- Dr Ambedkar knew 9 languages. He was considered the first Indian to get a PhD in the subject from a foreign university.
- His 20-page autobiography, Waiting for a Visa, has been used as a textbook at Columbia University.
- He had one the world’s largest personal library. Ambedkar had a huge collection of over 50,000 books in Rajagriha.
- One of the gratest Social reformers Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was also responsible for the reform in the labour sector. He proposed changing to an eight-hour workday from a 14-hour one.
- There is a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar been installed alongside Karl Marx in the London Museum.
- Dr BR Ambedkar played a crucial role in the formation of the Reserve Bank of India as it was conceptualised in line with the guidelines presented by Babasaheb to the Hilton Young Commission based on his book, The Problem of the Rupee – Its Origin and Its Solution.
- Baba Saheb Ambedkar breathed his last on December 6, 1956 after he had converted to Buddhism fulfilling his declaration of ‘I will not die a Hindu’.
