India celebrated Mahaparinirvan Divas to remember Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his 66th death anniversary.
“If I find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first to burn it.”
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a name in itself, a great man who proved himself with great virtues and great capability and who changed the face of the independent India, was born on 14 April 1891 in Mahu in Madhya Pradesh . He was Indian jurist, economist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, historian and social reformer who fought for the economic and social rights of the untouchables (now called Dalits)in India’s Hindu society.
He was born in a poor Hindu untouchable family. He spent his whole life fighting against the discrimination against the untouchables. He later renounced Hinduism and inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement. He also served as the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution of India and Minister of Law and Justice in the first cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru from 1947 to 1951.
He was born in a small village, his father’s name was Ramji Sakpal and he was married to Bhimabai who was from Murbadkar family. Bhimrao faced a lot of discrimination as a child, he was criticised by the Savarns for drinking water from a public water course and they also beat him for polluting their drinking water. However, he said that there are exceptions. Not all Savarns were bitter. His high school teacher loved him dearly. He used to give him meals during recess. His teacher left a huge impression on Bhimrao’s life.
Ambedkar earned his doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics, gaining a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics and political science. He obtained a M.A. degree for his thesis, “Ancient Indian Commerce”.
On 29th August 1947, Ambedkar was appointed for preparing a draft of the Constitution of the Independent India with seven other members. The Law Minister, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was appointed the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
Granville Austin described the Indian Constitution drafted by Ambedkar as the ‘first and foremost a social document.’ The text prepared by Ambedkar provided constitutional guarantees and protections for a wide range of civil liberties for individual citizens, including freedom of religion, the abolition of untouchability and the outlawing of all forms of discrimination.
Ambedkar argued for extensive economic and social rights for women and won the support of Assembly for introducing reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class. He also opposed Article 370 of the Constitution of India which granted special status to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and it was included against his wishes.
“The best government rests on the people, and not on the few on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority.”
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar played an unforgettable role in the Indian democracy . He was the gift of the Indian freedom movement. He was not only the builder of the Constitution but also the creator of social justice and betterment of the poor. He deserves to be called the “Father or Chief Architect” of the Indian Constitution.
On 6th December, our nation celebrates Mahaparinirvan Diwas every year to commemorate Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary. The Prime Minister of India announced the celebration of Mahaparinirvan Diwas under the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.