BR AMBEDKAR (1891 – 1956)

About: 

• BR Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer.
  
  
• Name: Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is popularly known as Babasaheb, meaning "respected father" in Marathi and Hindi.
  
  
• As an economist: He earned doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), was based on the ideas that Ambedkar presented to the Hilton Young Commission.
  
  
• Anti-Caste Movement:
  • Ambedkar was born into a poor low Mahar (dalit) caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination. He campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables.
    
    
  • In 1930, Ambedkar launched Kalaram Temple movement to enter Kalaram Temple.
    
    
  • The Poona Pact was an agreement made in 1932 between Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in the legislature of British India government.
    
    
  • In 1956, he converted to Buddhism initiating mass conversions of Dalits.
    
    
  
  
  
• Architect of Constitution: He was independent India's first law and justice minister. He was the architect of the Constitution of India by serving as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee.
  
  
• Hindu Code Bills: Ambedkar recommended the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code. He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, when parliament stalled his draft of the Hindu Code Bill, which sought to enshrine gender equality in the laws of inheritance and marriage.
  
  
• Political parties/groups formed by him:
  • Depressed Classes Federation (DCF) in 1930.
    
    
  • Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1936.
    
    
  • Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) in 1942.
    
    
  
  
  
• Key Literary works:
  • Annihilation of Caste
    
    
  • Rande, Gandhi and Jinnah
    
    
  • Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development
    
    
  • The Buddha and His Dhamma: It is the last book of Ambedkar which is a scripture for those who follow Navayana Buddhism.
    
    
  • Waiting for a Visa: His autobiography.
    
    
  
  
  
• Awards and Honours:
  • In 1990, the Bharat Ratna was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar.
    
    
  • In honor of Ambedkar, Indian Constitution Day (National Law Day) is celebrated on 26 November.
    
    
  • Ambedkar's birthdate is celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti. The United Nations has celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti since 2016.