The birth anniversary of Bhimrao Ambedkar, known as the Father of The Indian Constitution, is celebrated on April 14 every year in India as Ambedkar Jayanti. The day is also known as ‘Bhim Jayanti’ and this year it falls on Wednesday.
Ambedkar spent most of his lifetime working for the upliftment of Dalits and those from the backward communities. The social reformer made the Indian society more conscious about the evils of the caste system and worked towards making it more inclusive, tenets of which are explained in detail in the Constitution.
While the day is observed not just in India but also around the world, it is considered to be an official public holiday in the country.
Ambedkar highlighted the discrimination faced by him as a Dalit boy in his famous essay — “No peon, no water”. The essay recollects the time when he was not allowed to drink water from the school’s pitcher unless someone from the upper caste pours the water. So Ambedkar couldn’t drink water if the peon was away or absent.
Life of Bhimrao Ambedkar
Throughout his life, he made efforts to uplift the untouchables, women, and labourers. The plight of Dalits in India, in particular, had a strong impact on Ambedkar since his childhood, and it is said that it was one of the reasons that drew him in the fight for their cause and for equality.
Besides playing a key role in framing the Indian Constitution, Ambedkar also had a hand in the formation of the Reserve Bank of India. He was posthumously conferred with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990.
In 1956, Dr. Ambedkar had steered a socio-political movement called the Dalit Buddhist Movement in India, which saw the participation of half a million members of the community. The movement later got converted to ‘Navayana Buddhism’ or ‘Neo-Buddhism’, which is considered a re-interpretation of Buddhism.
The year 2021 marks his 130th birthday celebration.
