Category: Bhimrao Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had a remarkable political career as a social reformer, economist, and principal architect of the Indian Constitution. His journey in politics was deeply tied to his mission for the upliftment of the Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and other marginalized communities. Here’s an overview of his political career:

Early Political Involvement (1920s-1930s)

• Formation of the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924): Ambedkar founded this organization to promote education and socio-economic development among the Dalits.
• Simon Commission (1928): He submitted a memorandum advocating separate electorates for Dalits.
• Round Table Conferences (1930-1932): Represented the Depressed Classes and demanded separate political rights.
• Poona Pact (1932): After a fast unto death by Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar agreed to reserved seats instead of separate electorates for Dalits.

Formation of Political Parties

• Independent Labour Party (1936): Focused on labor rights and Dalit welfare.
• Scheduled Castes Federation (1942): Aimed at representing the interests of Dalits in politics.

Role in Independent India

• First Law Minister of India (1947-1951): Played a crucial role in framing the Indian Constitution.
• Architect of the Constitution: Advocated for equality, fundamental rights, and the abolition of untouchability (Article 17).
• Resigned from Cabinet (1951): Due to differences over Hindu Code Bill, which aimed to grant equal rights to women.

Later Political Initiatives

• Founded the Republican Party of India (1956): Laid the foundation for a new political movement before his death.
• Converted to Buddhism (1956): Inspired Dalits to embrace Buddhism as a way to escape caste oppression.

Dr. Ambedkar’s political legacy continues to influence Indian politics, especially in Dalit and social justice movements.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Poona Pact (1932)

The Poona Pact was an agreement signed on September 24, 1932, between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi regarding the political representation of the Depressed Classes (Dalits) in British India.

Background

• The Communal Award (1932) by the British government granted separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, allowing Dalits to elect their own representatives.
• Mahatma Gandhi opposed this, fearing it would divide Hindu society. He started a fast unto death in Yerwada Jail, Pune.
• To prevent Gandhi’s death and to ensure Dalit rights, Dr. Ambedkar negotiated a compromise—this resulted in the Poona Pact.

Key Provisions of the Poona Pact

1. Reserved Seats – Instead of separate electorates, Depressed Classes were given reserved seats in provincial legislatures. The number increased from 71 to 147.
2. Joint Electorate – Dalits would vote in the general electorate but elect representatives from their own community.
3. Educational & Social Upliftment – Government committed to improving education and socio-economic conditions for the Dalits.

Significance

• The Poona Pact increased Dalit political representation, though Ambedkar later expressed dissatisfaction as it did not ensure true independence for Dalits.
• It shaped India’s reservation policy, which continues today.
• It marked a major moment in Dalit rights and the struggle against caste discrimination.

Dr. Ambedkar later criticized the agreement, believing it kept Dalits dependent on upper-caste Hindus instead of empowering them fully.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a staunch opponent of untouchability and dedicated his life to eradicating caste-based discrimination in India. His opposition to untouchability was reflected in various ways:

1. Legal Reforms – As the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, he ensured the inclusion of Article 17, which abolished untouchability in all forms.
2. Temple Entry Movements – He led movements like the Kalaram Temple entry protest (1930) to assert the rights of Dalits to enter temples.
3. Mahad Satyagraha (1927) – He organized this movement to allow Dalits to use public water sources, particularly the Chavdar Tank in Mahad, Maharashtra.
4. Conversion to Buddhism – In 1956, he and thousands of followers embraced Buddhism as a protest against caste oppression.
5. Publications & Advocacy – Through books like Annihilation of Caste, he strongly criticized the caste system and untouchability.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a highly educated leader, social reformer, and the architect of the Indian Constitution. Despite facing severe caste discrimination, he pursued his education with great determination and excelled in academics.

1. Early Education (Schooling in India)

• Ambedkar completed his primary education at a government school in Satara, Maharashtra.
• He was the only Dalit student in his class and faced discrimination from teachers and peers.
• In 1907, he passed his matriculation exam from Elphinstone High School, Mumbai, becoming one of the first Dalits to do so.
• He later attended Elphinstone College, affiliated with the University of Bombay, and earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science in 1912.

2. Higher Education (Studies Abroad)

Thanks to a scholarship from the Maharaja of Baroda, Ambedkar pursued further education abroad:

• Columbia University, USA (1913-1916)
  • M.A. in Economics (1915) – Thesis: Ancient Indian Commerce
  • Ph.D. in Economics (1927) – Dissertation: The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India
• London School of Economics (1916-1923)
  • D.Sc. in Economics (1923) – Thesis: The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution
• Gray’s Inn, London (1916-1923)
  • Studied Law and became a Barrister.

3. Academic Excellence and Achievements

• Ambedkar was one of the most highly educated Indians of his time.
• He was fluent in multiple languages, including Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Pali, and Persian.
• He used his education to fight for social justice, equality, and the upliftment of Dalits in India.

His vast knowledge in law, economics, and political science played a key role in drafting the Indian Constitution, making him one of the greatest intellectuals of modern India.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, a small town in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India. He was the 14th and youngest child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Sakpal. His family belonged to the Mahar caste, which was considered “untouchable” in the caste-based society of that time.

Challenges in Childhood

Despite his father being a Subedar in the British Indian Army, Ambedkar faced severe caste discrimination from an early age. In school, he and other Dalit students were often seated separately, denied access to water, and treated as inferior by teachers and classmates.

Education

Ambedkar, however, was a brilliant student. His father encouraged him to pursue education, and he completed his matriculation in 1907 from Elphinstone High School, becoming one of the first Dalits to do so. Later, he earned a scholarship from the Maharaja of Baroda, which allowed him to pursue higher studies.

Ambedkar’s early life was shaped by social discrimination and educational perseverance, which later influenced his fight for social justice and equality in India.