December 6th is Dr. BR Ambedkar’s death anniversary. He died on this day in 1956. Dr Ambedkar’s followers throughout the world will also always remember him for the work he did for equality and social justice.
According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “Dr. Ambedkar who strived for social justice and equality is still relevant and holds universal appeal cutting across geographical and political boundaries.”
To pay allegiance to his legacy and a gratitude to his marvellous contribution in making a New India, the Government undertook several projects like a Statue of Equality in Mumbai overlooking the sea near Chaityabhumi where Ambedkar’s last rites were performed; Ambedkar Museum at 10 King Henry’s Road in northwest London where Dr. Ambedkar stayed while doing his PhD at London School of Economics.
Dr Ambedkar is also remembered in Lower Mainland. He has a Bust at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby and a Portrait at Burnaby Council. The Burnaby Council took the initiative to proclaim his birthday (April 14) as Day of Equality last year. This year the British Columbia Legislature also followed suit.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, also known as the architect of the Indian Constitution was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow, a town and military cantonment in the Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh) He was the 14th and the last child of Ramji Sakpal, a Subedar in the British Army. His death anniversary will be celebrated on December 6 by the government of India and followers of Dr. Ambedkar throughout the world.
Dr. Ambedkar was an economist, jurist, social reformer, politician and a human rights champion. He is also known as the Father of Indian Constitution. Ambedkar was appointed India’s first Law Minister.
Unhappy with the caste system in Hinduism, Ambedkar considered converting to Sikhism. The Muslims also invited him. Finally, Ambedkar converted to Buddhism initiating mass conversion of Dalits. His message to his countrymen was “educate, agitate and unite.”
Here are some facts to know about Dr. Ambedkar:
Article 370 of the Constitution: This Article gave a Special Status to Jammu
and Kashmir. Dr. Ambedkar was totally against this Article. He walked out of the meeting when the Constituent Assembly was deliberating on this Article. It was approved in his absence. The Parliament, in August 2019 revoked this Article.
Hindu Code Bill: To seek gender equality in the laws of inheritance and marriage, Dr. Ambedkar in 1951 introduced this Bill in the Parliament. The Bill failed. As a moral duty, Dr. Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet. He was not after power but for justice. The Bill was passed during the next ten years in piecemeals.
Uniform Civil Code: During the debates in the Constituent Assembly Dr. Ambedkar demonstrated his will to reform Indian society by recommending the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code.
Reserve Bank of India: The RBI was conceptualized as per the guidelines,
working style and outlook presented by Ambedkar in his book “The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution.” He recommended that the currency should be demonetized every ten-year.
Economic Planning: Dr. Ambedkar stressed investment in agriculture as the primary industry of India. Ambedkar advocated national economic and social development stressing education, public hygiene, community health, residential facilities as the basic amenities. In 1951, he established the Finance Commission of India. He opposed income tax for low-income groups. Dr. Amartya Sen, the Nobel Laureate in Economics said, “Dr. Ambedkar is the father of my economics.”
Labour Rights: Without Dr. Ambedkar, most of the protective and benevolent
rights enjoyed by the labourers in India would have been a big question mark. He is called “A Saviour of Labour Rights in India”
Family Planning: Dr. Ambedkar was the first scholar to express concern on population control. He moved a non-official Bill on population control in the Bombay Assembly in November 1938.
River and Water Management: Prime Minister Modi said that many of us
may not know that Dr Ambedkar was the architect of the water and river
navigation policy of India.
Partition of India: “More brain, O Lord, more brain! Or we shall mar,
utterly this fair garden we might win.” This is a quote from the title page of
‘Thoughts on Pakistan’ by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
On Religion: Ambedkar the strongest critics of Hindu religion India had ever seen, however, was not undoubtedly less critical of Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism. To him religion was the social force that bound people together as a single group or community, through a set of codes, laws and sanctions. Accordingly, it could also be a mechanism of establishing slavery of specific set of people. His thoughts on religion surrounded the question to what extent a religion delivers justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Despite his tactical conversion, from his personal point of view and from multiple sociological perspectives, he could be easily termed as an atheist having strong faith on human realities, science and scientific inventions.
Ambedkar’s search and struggle for a different religion turned more rigorous ending up with Buddhism. The Buddhism propagated by Ambedkar was the rejection of all schools of Buddhism. This rejection could be seen in the 22-vows given by him. Thus, his idea of a secular religion marked its entry in modern times.
