Essay on the biography of Dr. B.R Ambedkar. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was the architect of Indian Constitution. He was born on 14 April 1891 at Mahu near Indore in Madhya Pradesh in a low caste family of harijan.
His father’s name was Shri Ramji Sukhpal and his mother’s name was Bhimabai. He was brilliant from his childhood. Dr. Ambedkar received his early education in a nearby village school. He had great interest in studies. But his low caste birth was a cause of his disgrace, hardships and humiliation. He had to suffer every moment due to his caste.
Dr. Ambedkar was married at an immature age of fourteen with Ramabai. Dr. Ambedkar, however, continued his studies. He passed the Intermediate Examination with good percentage of marks. He joined Alfinston College, Bombay and obtained his degrees there. The Maharaja of Baroda was highly impressed with his talents and he awarded him scholarship for further studies. It helped him to go to America for higher education. In 1916, he obtained the postgraduate degree in Economics. Then he started his career as a professor and served for four years. In 1923, he went to England to pursue higher studies. In England he received the degrees of M.Sc., D.M.S. Law and Ph.D.
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When he returned to India he was appointed Sainik Secretary at Baroda, but he left the job due to discrimination, and moved to Bombay. His caste, however, always stood in his way. Then he started practicing law. Now his main concern was to fight against untouchability. Ambedkar was deeply hurt at the differential treatment meted out to the harijans.
To put his plan into action, Dr. Ambedkar formed the outcaste welfare society and organised the so-called untouchables to initiate his fight for them. He created awareness in them to have a graceful life. He launched a Satyagraha on Chandan Tank. His major victory was to seek the right to fetch water from the tank. He tried hard to bring about a change in the life of the downtrodden. He had all the support of the British government which believed in the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’. Later the Congress due to the influence of Mahatma Gandhi included eradication of untouchability in its agenda. In 1930, he represented the untouchables in the Round Table. As a result of his efforts the harijans were granted reservations of seat in the election.
Dr. Ambedkar was a vocal critic of capitalism and Brahmanism. He supported equality of opportunity. He was hurt at the plight of the labourers. He organised them under the banner of Savatantara Mazdoor Dal. It was due to his popularity and influence that Swantatara Mazdoor Dal bagged all the fifteen seats in the elections held in Bombay. His popularity rose all the more. He became the hero of the underdog. He was their messiah. They began to worship him like God.
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All through his life Dr. Ambedkar struggled for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society. He became the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution making committee. He deeply studied the various constitutions of the world and took out their good points. He assimilated all those points in Indian Constitution. He is rightly called the Founding Father of Indian Constitution.
After independence, he was made the Law Minister in the union cabinet. Dr. Ambedkar was deeply hurt by the casteism prevalent in Indian society. Therefore, in the later stage of his life, he embraced Buddhism. He is fondly called Baba Saheb. Dr. Ambedkar died on 6th December 1956. He was honoured with Bharat Ratna posthumously—the highest civilian award of India. Many colleges and universities have been named after him to commemorate this great soul.