About
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow (Madhya Pradesh) into a Mahar (Dalit) family, is a major figure in the emancipation of castes in India. With a PhD in economics from Columbia and the London School of Economics, he became a lawyer and led struggles for the rights of untouchables, notably the Mahad Satyagraha (1927) and the Poona Pact (1932). As chairman of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly, he was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution (1950) and the first Minister of Law and Justice. He converted to Buddhism in 1956, founding the Navayana movement. His written work, including 'Annihilation of Caste', remains a reference.
* 1891-04-14 — † 1956-12-06
Major works
- Annihilation of Caste (1936)essay
- Who Were the Shudras? (1946)essay
- The Untouchables (1948)essay
- The Buddha and His Dhamma (1957)essay
Key milestones
- 1927Led the Mahad Satyagraha for Dalits' right to public water and publicly burned the Manusmriti.
- 1947Appointed chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly.
- 1956Converted to Buddhism in Nagpur with hundreds of thousands of followers, founding the Navayana movement.
Themes
Caste equalityDalit rightsSocial justiceBuddhismDemocracy
Sources: drambedkarwritings.gov.in · britannica.com
