Context: April 14 marked the birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.

Meaning the context: Fondly known as Babasaheb, Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and is thus also called the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar was also the first Law and Justice minister of Independent India.

Learning Zone:

Personal Details

• Born: April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh).
• Born into a Mahar (Dalit) family, faced caste discrimination.
• Died: December 6, 1956, in Delhi; cremated with Buddhist rites at Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai.
• Bharat Ratna: Awarded posthumously in 1990.

Education

• First Dalit student at Elphinstone High School, Bombay
• Graduation: B.A. in Economics and Political Science (1912), Elphinstone College, University of Bombay.
• M.A., Ph.D.: Columbia University, New York, USA (1915, 1916; thesis: National Dividend of India).
• D.Sc.: London School of Economics (1923; thesis: The Problem of the Rupee).
• Bar-at-Law: Gray’s Inn, London (1923).
• Scholarships: Supported by Sayajirao Gaekwad III (Baroda ruler) for foreign education.

Key Movements:

• Mahad Satyagraha (1927): Led for Dalits’ right to access Chavdar Tank water in Mahad, Maharashtra.
• Kalaram Temple Entry (1930): Protest for Dalits’ temple access in Nashik.
• Poona Pact (1932): Agreement with Gandhi, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats for Depressed Classes in legislatures.

Organizations:

• Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924): For Dalit education and welfare.
• Independent Labour Party (1936): Political voice for marginalized.
• Scheduled Castes Federation (1942): Advocated Dalit rights.

Conversion to Buddhism: 

• Embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956, in Nagpur with 5 lakh followers, rejecting Hinduism’s caste system.

Political Contributions

• Round Table Conferences: Participated in 1st, 2nd, 3rd RTCs (1930–32, London), advocating for Depressed Classes’ representation.
• Government Roles:
  • Member, Viceroy’s Executive Council (1942–46), handling Labour portfolio.
  • First Law Minister of independent India (1947–51).
• Role in Constitution-Making: Chairman, Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

Literary Works

• Annihilation of Caste (1936): Critique of caste system, undelivered speech for Jat-Pat Todak Mandal.
• Who Were the Shudras? (1946): Historical analysis of caste origins.
• The Buddha and His Dhamma (published posthumously, 1957): Guide to Buddhist principles.
• The Problem of the Rupee (1923): Economic thesis influencing RBI’s formation.
• Journals: Mooknayak, Bahishkrit Bharat, Janata, Prabuddha Bharat.

Economic Contributions

• RBI Foundation: His book The Problem of the Rupee influenced the Reserve Bank of India (est. 1935).
• Labour Reforms:
  • As Labour Member, reduced factory hours to 8 hours/day (1942).
  • Advocated for minimum wages and social security.
• Pioneered Damodar Valley Project (1940s), India’s first multipurpose river valley project.

Source : The Hindu