Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Why in News?

Recently, the nation paid tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his 135th Birth Anniversary.

• Name – Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
• Birth – 14 April 1891, Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), into the Mahar caste.
• Education
  • PhD in Economics – Columbia University.
  • MSc & DSc in Economics – London School of Economics.
  • Barrister-at-Law – Gray's Inn, London.

• Major Socio-Political Movements - Mahad Satyagraha (1927) – Also called Chavdar Tale Satyagraha; asserting right to public water.
• Manusmriti Dahan (1927) – Burned the text to protest institutionalized caste discrimination.
• Kalaram Temple Entry (1930) – Led agitation in Nashik for Dalit temple entry.
• Poona Pact (1932) – Signed with M.M. Malaviya (on behalf of Gandhi); replaced separate electorates with reserved seats.
• Round Table Conferences – Attended all three (1930–32).
• Simon Commission (1928) – Cooperated with it to demand political safeguards for depressed classes.
• Organizations Founded
  • Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924) – For Dalit upliftment.
  • Independent Labour Party (1936) – His first political party.
  • Scheduled Castes Federation (1942) – Precursor to the Republican Party of India (RPI), which was announced in 1956 but formally established in 1957 after his death.
• Labour & Water Reforms (The "Nation Builder")
  • Labour Reforms – At the 7^th Indian Labour Conference (1942), he changed the workday from 12 to 8 hours.
  • Introduced maternity benefits, minimum wages, Employees' State Insurance Corporation and Employees' Provident Fund.
  • Water & Power – Conceptualized Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). Founded CWINC (now Central Water Commission) and Central Technical Power Board (now CEA).
  • Architect of Hirakud, Sone, and Kosi projects.
  • Legal Framework – Drafted Article 262 (Inter-State Water Disputes).
• Constitutional & Parliamentary Role
  • Chairman, Drafting Committee – Primary architect of the Constitution.
  • Seat Transition – Originally elected from East Bengal; re-elected from Bombay (Poona seat) post-Partition after M.R. Jayakar resigned.
  • Article 32 – Called it the “Soul of the Constitution.”
  • Resignation – Resigned as Law Minister in 1951 over the Hindu Code Bill.
  • Parliamentary Status – Lost 1952 Lok Sabha election; served as Member of Rajya Sabha (1952–56).
• Titles – Father of the Indian Constitution, Architect of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb, Bodhisattva, Father of Modern India, and First Law Minister of India.
• Recognition – Posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna (1990).
• Literary Works
• Journals – Mooknayak (1920), Bahishkrit Bharat (1927), Janata (1930), Samata (1929).
• Books – Annihilation of Caste (1936), The Problem of the Rupee (1923), Who Were the Shudras? (1946), Pakistan or the Partition of India (1940), The Buddha and His Dhamma (1957).
• Autobiography – Waiting for a Visa.

References

1. SCI | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
2. PIB | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar