Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Bhīmrāo Rāmjī Āmbēḍkar; 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956)
Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town and military cantonment of Mhow (now officially known as Dr Ambedkar Nagar) (now in Madhya Pradesh).
He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal, an army officer who held the rank of Subedar.
His grandfather Maloji Sakpal was a retired Havaldar in the Bombay Army of the East India Company. He is said to have been allotted some land for acts of bravery in the battlefield.[1] Maloji had two children – Ramji (son) and Mira Bai (daughter). ‣
Like his father, Ramji also joined the army. He was an enlightened person who worked hard and attained proficiency in the English language. He obtained a Diploma in Teaching from the Army Normal School in Poona.[2] Consequently, he was appointed as a teacher in the Army School. He served as Head Master and had attained the rank of Subedhar Major. The Sakpal’s belonged to the Kabir cult along with the untouchability (Mahar) tag attached.
His family was of Marathi background from the town of Ambadawe (Mandangad taluka) in Ratnagiri district of modern-day Maharashtra. Ambedkar was born into a Mahar (dalit) caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination.[5]
Ambedkar's ancestors had long worked for the army of the British East India Company, and his father served in the British Indian Army at the Mhow cantonment.
- Paternal Ancestry and Military Service:
- Ambedkar's grandfather, Maloji Sakpal, served as a havaldar (sergeant) in the British army and was "allotted some land for acts of bravery in the battlefield."
- Ambedkar's father, Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was a Subedar-Major in the British Indian Army and lived in the property inherited from his father Maloji.
- Early Life and Upbringing:
- Ambedkar was born into a Mahar (Dalit) caste family, which faced socio-economic discrimination as "untouchables" in India.
- His father Ramji Maloji Sakpal was a well-read person and a follower of Sant Kabir.
- Ambedkar lost his mother at a young age (around 6 years old) and was looked after by his aunt after the family shifted to Bombay.
- Educational Scholarships and Support:
- Ambedkar received a scholarship from the Maharaja of Baroda to complete his graduation at Elphinstone College in Bombay.
- In 1913, the Maharaja of Baroda also provided Ambedkar a scholarship to study at Columbia University in the United States.
- Ambedkar used a part of this scholarship stipend to send money back home to support his family.
- He was also selected as a scholar to go to the U.S. for higher studies in 1913, which was a turning point in his educational career.
After graduating from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay, Ambedkar studied economics at Columbia University and the London School of Economics, receiving doctorates in 1927 and 1923, respectively, and was among a handful of Indian students to have done so at either institution in the 1920s.[1] He also trained in the law at Gray's Inn, London. In his early career, he was an economist, professor, and lawyer.
In a conference in late 1927, Ambedkar publicly condemned the classic Hindu text, the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu), for ideologically justifying caste discrimination and "untouchability", and he ceremonially burned copies of the ancient text. On 25 December 1927, he led thousands of followers to burn copies of Manusmriti.[35][36] Thus annually 25 December is celebrated as Manusmriti Dahan Din (Manusmriti Burning Day) by Ambedkarites and Dalits.[37][38]
On 25 September 1932, the agreement, known as the Poona Pact was signed between Ambedkar (on behalf of the depressed classes among Hindus) and Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of the other Hindus). The agreement gave reserved seats for the depressed classes in the Provisional legislatures within the general electorate. Due to the pact the depressed class received 148 seats in the legislature instead of the 71, as allocated in the Communal Award proposed earlier by the colonial government under Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
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