Dr B. R. Ambedkar's 129th Birth Anniversary

• 14 Apr 2020

Why in News

Dr. B R Ambedkar’s Birth Anniversary is observed every year on 14th April.

Key Points

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
• He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India's first Law Minister.
  
  • He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
• Dr. Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages) orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.
• He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board.
  
  • In 1926, Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to throw open the tank to all communities. Earlier, the untouchables were not allowed to use water from the Mahad tank.
• He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
• In 1932 Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
  
  • However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
• His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• In 1936, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
• He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
• In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar accepted PM Nehru's invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.
• He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
• He converted to Buddhism. He passed away on 6th December 1956. Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B. R. Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.

Contributions of Dr. Ambedkar

• Journals: Dr. Ambedkar launched various journals like:
  
  • Mooknayak (1920)
  • Bahishkrit Bharat (1927)
  • Samatha (1929)
  • Janata (1930)
• Books:
  
  • Annihilation of Caste
  • Buddha or Karl Marx
  • The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become Untouchables
  • Buddha and His Dhamma
  • The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women
• Organisations:
  
  • Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
  • Independent Labor Party (1936)
  • Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)

Panchteerath

• The Indian Government has set up Panchteerath in the memory of Dr BR Ambedkar.
• Panchteerath include:
  
  • Amedbkar’s birthplace in Mhow,
  • The place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK
  • Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, where he took education
  • Mahaparinirvan Sthal in Delhi, and
  • Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai

Round Table Conferences

• First Round Table Conference: It was held in London on Nov. 12, 1930 but the Congress did not participate in it.
  
  • In March 1931, Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy of India 1926-31) entered into a Pact, called Gandhi-Irwin Pact, by which the Congress called off the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to participate in the Round Table Conference.
• Second Round Table Conference: It was held in London on the 7^th of September, 1931.
• Third Round Table Conference: It was held in London on the 17^th of November, 1932 to consider the reports of various sub-committees appointed from time to time. It ultimately led to the passage of Govt. of India Act, 1935.
  
  • The Congress did not participate as most of the leaders were in jail.