Mahaparinirvan Diwas 2023: BR Ambedkar’s Death Anniversary

December 6, 2023

History

Context: The death anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is recognized as Mahaparinirvan Diwas every year on 6 December.

What does Parinirvana mean?

Parinirvana represents a fundamental concept in Buddhism, signifying the attainment of nirvana or liberation during one’s lifetime and even after death.
In Sanskrit, achieving nirvana posthumously or releasing the soul from the body after death is called Parinirvana.

About Dr. BR Ambedkar:

Birth: April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

Inspirational Quotes:

I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress that women have achieved.
I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity.
If you believe in living a respectable life, you believe in self-help, which is the best help.
So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom the law provides is of no avail to you.
Life should be great rather than long

Father of the Indian Constitution: He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and is remembered as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
Literary Contributions: Annihilation of Caste, The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution”, “Thoughts on the Linguistic States”, “The Buddha and His Dhamma”
- In 1916, he wrote his thesis ‘National Dividend for India — A Historic and Analytical Study’ and received his Ph.D. Degree.
Economic Contributions: The Central Bank was formed on the concept presented by Babasaheb to the Hilton Young Commission.
Associated Organizations:
- Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (Outcastes Welfare Association) (1923).
- Independent Labor Party (1936)
- Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)
Social: He worked towards putting in place political safeguards for untouchables, the first of which was his presentation to the Southborough Committee that was preparing the Government of India Act 1919.
- He argued fervently for separate electorates for the ‘backward classes’,
- In 1927, a Depressed Classes Conference was organized at Mahad, located in Raigad district.
- He attempted to pass the Hindu Code Bill, to reform Hindu personal laws that dictated matters like marriage, divorce, succession and adoption.
Constituent Assembly Membership: In 1942, he was appointed to the Executive Council of the Governor General of India as a Labour member, in 1946, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal.
Parliamentary Life: Ambedkar was also a nominated member of the Bombay Legislative Council from 1926-34.
- BR Ambedkar was appointed as the first Law Minister of independent India in 1947.
- In 1951, he resigned from his ministership, expressing his differences on the Kashmir issue, India’s Foreign Policy and Nehru’s Policy towards the Hindu Code Bill.
He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
Honors: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was conferred with the title of “Bodhisattva” by the Buddhist monks at the “Jagatik Buddhism Council” in 1954 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Under the V.P. Singh Government, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was honored with ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian award in 1990.