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.