Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
- Born:
- April 14, 1891, Mhow, Central Provinces, British India (present-day Madhya Pradesh, India)
- Died:
- December 6, 1956, Delhi, India
- Nationality:
- Indian
- Profession(s):
- Jurist, Economist, Politician, Social Reformer
Early Life and Education
- Born into the Mahar caste, considered untouchable at the time.
- Faced significant social discrimination throughout his early life.
- Studied at Elphinstone High School and Elphinstone College, Bombay.
- Obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Bombay University in 1912.
- Received scholarships to study at Columbia University in New York City, earning M.A. (1915), Ph.D. (1927).
- Also studied at the London School of Economics and Gray's Inn, London, earning M.Sc. (Econ) and Barrister-at-Law.
Career and Major Achievements
- Returned to India and worked as a Professor of Political Economy at Sydenham College, Bombay.
- Started his legal practice in 1923.
- Led movements against untouchability and for the rights of Dalits (formerly known as untouchables).
- Established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to promote education and socio-economic upliftment of Dalits.
- Participated in the Round Table Conferences in London, advocating for separate electorates for Dalits.
- Served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India.
- Played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution, emphasizing social justice, equality, and individual rights.
- Served as the Law Minister in the first cabinet of independent India.
- Converted to Buddhism in 1956, along with hundreds of thousands of his followers.
Notable Works
- Annihilation of Caste (1936)
- Who Were the Shudras? (1946)
- The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables? (1948)
- Pakistan or the Partition of India (1940)
- The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution (1923)
Legacy and Impact
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, whose life and work are often studied in texts that delve into historical figures like 'bheem rao ambedkar biography of alberta', is remembered as a champion of social justice and equality in India. He played an instrumental role in drafting the Constitution of India and fighting against caste discrimination. His legacy continues to inspire movements for social reform and equality throughout the world.