134th Birth Anniversary of Dr Ambedkar

Context

The Dr Ambedkar Foundation (DAF) celebrated the 134th Dr Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, 2024 (DAF) on behalf of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India. 

Dr Ambedkar Jayanti 2024

The birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar was celebrated near the statue of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Parliament House Lawn. 

About Dr Ambedkar 

• He  is popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar.
• He was born on April 14, 1891 near Indore, now Madhya Pradesh He belonged to the Mahar Family in Mhow
  • He was a politician, economist, and social reformer.
• He  advocated for the rights of the Dalit community, formerly considered as untouchables.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

• • The notable events include Equality Janta, Mook Nayaka, etc.
• Dr Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.
  • He is  recognised as the “father of our Constitution”. 
  • He  served as India’s first Law Minister after independence.
    • He later resigned from the post due to a difference of opinion over the Hindu Code Bill. 
• Buddhism: In 1956,  he embraced Buddhism with many of his followers. 
  • The same year he completed his last writing ‘Buddha and His Dharma’.

Dr Ambedkar Contributions

• Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar played a major role in improving the lives of marginalized communities.
• He introduced reservations for Dalits and other religious groups.
• His major contributions are In the areas of fundamental rights, strong central government and protection of minorities. 
  • Dr. Ambedkar described Article 32 as the “soul of the Constitution”
  • Support for Strong Central Government: Ambedkar favored a powerful central government.
    • He was aware that caste discrimination was stronger locally and provincially, where upper castes might pressure the government to neglect lower caste interests.
    • According to him, The national government, less influenced by such pressures, could better protect lower caste rights.
  • Protection for Minorities: He believed that democracy’s ‘One man one vote’ principle wasn’t enough as the minority was the most vulnerable group in the nation. 
    • He ensured that Minorities should have a guaranteed share in power to prevent ‘Majoritarianism Syndrome’.
  • Parliamentary form of democracy: He was in support of parliamentary democracy. 
    • This form aligns with other national leaders.
  • He emphasized ‘democracy as a way of life’, beyond politics, extending to personal, social, and economic aspects.

Major Social Reforms Movements and Initiatives led by Dr Ambedkar 

• Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (Outcastes Welfare Association): In 1923, Dr. Ambedkar founded this Sabha to promote education and culture among downtrodden communities.
  • Objective: To improve their economic status and address their issues in appropriate forums.
• Mahad March: In 1927, Ambedkar organized the Mahad March at Chowdar Tank. 
  • It started the movement against caste discrimination and priestly dominance.
  • Mahad Satyagraha is also known as Chavdar Tale Satyagraha. 
    • Objective: The objective of this Satyagraha was to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad (currently in Raigad district), Maharashtra, India.
      • 20 March is celebrated as Social Empowerment Day in India.
• The Temple Entry Movement:  It was initiated by Dr. Ambedkar in 1930 at Kalaram temple.
  • This movement demanded that lower caste people enter temples and use temple wells.
  • Through this movement,  Dr. Ambedkar advocated Equal status for lower caste people 
    • Objective: This movement aimed to reform Hindu society by challenging caste-based discrimination.
  • Nasik is another landmark in the struggle for human rights and social justice.
• Three Round Table Conferences (1930-32): Dr. Ambedkar went to all three Round Table Conferences (1930-32) in London, where he strongly advocated for the rights of the ‘untouchables’.

• Poona Pact  with Gandhiji: Dr Ambedkar was in favor of a separate electorate for several communities including the ‘depressed classes’ Under the ‘Communal Award, announced by Ramsay McDonald. 
  • However, In 1932, Gandhi protested the Communal Award’s separate electorate by fasting while in Yerwada Central Jail.
    • This led to the Poona Pact, where Gandhi ended his fast and Ambedkar withdrew the demand for a separate electorate.
    • Instead, a set number of seats were reserved for the ‘Depressed Class’.
• Independent Labour Party and Provincial Elections: In 1936, Dr. Ambedkar organized the Independent Labour Party.
• He participated in the provincial elections and won a seat in the Bombay Legislative Assembly.
• • During this time, he advocated for ending the ‘Jagirdari’ system and supported workers’ strike rights. 
• Second World War: In 1939, during World War II, Dr Ambedkar encouraged Indians to join the Army to fight against Nazism, which he saw as similar to Fascism.
• Creation of the Central Bank of India: As an economist, he played a significant role in establishing the Central Bank of India, now called the Reserve Bank of India.

Relevance of Dr Ambedkar in Present Times

The legacy of Dr. Ambedkar is very significant today too. 

• Constitutional Values: As the chief architect of the Indian constitution, he included fundamental rights, democratic principles, and secularism in the legal framework of India. 
  • These constitutional values guide our actions, legal battles, and debates today too. 
    • These values give rights to each individual that protect them from exploitation, social injustices,  and discrimination on certain grounds such as sex, place of birth, caste, race, and religion. 
• Social Justice: Dr. Ambedkar fought against caste-discrimination, inequality, and untouchability to establish a more inclusive society. 
  • He focused on the systematic issues of the society and made special provisions in the constitution for the upliftment of marginalized societies. 
    • It is his efforts due to which the rights of marginalized groups have been saved so far. 
• Guide for policymakers: Ambedkar’s principles and his clarity of social structures, and democracy help the policymakers in understanding the ground reality of societal issues and struggles of the marginalized groups. 
  • His insights are very useful in policy formation, economic changes and global integration while balancing social justice worldwide. 

A few Important Works of Dr Ambedkar

• The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and its Solution
• Administration and Finance of East India Company
• The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India 
• Mook Nayak (weekly) 1920
• Janta (weekly) 1930
• The Annihilation of Caste 1936
• The Untouchables 1948
• Buddha Or Karl Marx 1956, etc.

Awards and Tributes

• He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor in 1990.
• In the same year, a life-sized portrait of him was revealed in the Central Hall of Parliament.
• 10 Rupees and 125 Rupees coins: Government of India Issued 10 Rupees and 125 Rupees coins in 2015 to mark the 125 Birth Anniversary in the honor of Ambedkar.
• Knowledge Day (Dnyan Din): In 2017, the Government of Maharashtra declared April 14 as Knowledge Day (Dnyan Din) in honor of Ambedkar’s memory.
• Twitter created a Dr. Ambedkar emoji in 2017 for his birthday.
• On April 6, 2020, Burnaby City Council in Canada declared April 14 as “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality.”
• British Columbia recognized April 2022 as Dalit History Month.
• In British Columbia, April 14, 2022, will be “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Equality Day” as per the provincial government.
• Colorado, United States, will celebrate April 14, 2022, as “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Equity Day” according to the state government.
• Starting in 2022, Tamil Nadu will mark April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, as “Equity Day” according to the state government.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes