BR Ambedkar death anniversary. Mahaparinirvan Diwas 2023: Tomorrow 6th December is the death anniversary of the father of the Constitution, Dr. BR Ambedkar. Babasaheb Ambedkar died on 6 December 1956. His death anniversary is celebrated as Mahaparinirvan Day across the country. Constitution maker Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a great social reformer and scholar. He dedicated his entire life to eliminate casteism and upliftment of the poor, Dalits and backward classes. Ambedkar adopted Buddhism in the year 1956. Parinirvana is one of the major principles and goals of Buddhism. It means 'Nirvana after death'. According to Buddhism, the person who attains Nirvana becomes free from worldly desires and illusions. On the day of Ambedkar's death anniversary, Mahaparinirvan Diwas, people offer flowers and garlands to his statue. They pay tribute to him by lighting lamps and candles. Programs are organized in his memory at many places. Apart from remembering his thoughts, his struggle story is also told.
Know here about some important things related to his life
1. Had differences with Gandhiji
Both Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar made tireless efforts for social reform. But their views were quite different on many issues. The biggest difference was that Gandhiji wanted to eliminate untouchability from the caste system whereas Ambedkar wanted to abolish the entire caste system. Gandhiji was a supporter of the caste system. However, both were in favor of improving the condition of Dalits. Apart from this, Mahatma Gandhi advocated rural economy. He asked to move towards villages for complete development. Whereas Ambedkar used to appeal to the people to leave villages and move to cities. He believed that Dalits should come to cities for better education and progress.
2. One of the most educated people of his time
BR Ambedkar was one of the most educated great scholars of his time. He had degrees in 32 different subjects. After completing BA from Elphinstone College, Mumbai, he went to Columbia University, USA to pursue MA. Also did PhD from there. After this he did MSc, DSC from London School of Economics. Graduated as Barrister-at-Law. He was the only Dalit student in Elphinstone College.
3. Great hobby of reading books
Dr. Ambedkar was fond of reading a lot of books. He had a huge and excellent collection of books. John Gunther has written in Inside Asia that in 1938 Ambedkar had 8000 books. At the time of his death he had reached 35,000.
4. Babasaheb Ambedkar was also fond of gardening. His garden was much praised. He also loved his dog very much. Many times he used to cook food himself and invite his friends for dinner.
5. Father had 14 children but only Ambedkar got a chance to study in school.
Ambedkar's ancestors were soldiers in the British East India Company. Father was a Subedar in the British Indian Army. Because of this also Ambedkar got a chance to study in school. At that time, it was not possible for a child of a Dalit and untouchable caste to go to school and study. Ambedkar did not have as many rights as other children in school. They were made to sit separately. He couldn't even drink water himself. Higher caste children used to pour water on his hands from height.
6. Was inspired by- Ambedkar was greatly inspired by the thoughts of Kabirdas, Jyotiba Phule, Mahatma Buddha.
7. What was your real name?
Ambedkar's real name was Ambawadekar. His father had also registered the same name in the school. But one of his teachers changed his name and gave him his surname 'Ambedkar'. In this way his name was recorded as Ambedkar in the school records.
8. Due to child marriage being prevalent, Ambedkar got married to 9 year old girl Ramabai in 1906. At that time Ambedkar was only 15 years old.
9. It was possible for Dr. Ambedkar to study in America because of the monthly scholarship he received from the Gaekwad ruler of Baroda, Sahyaji Rao III.
10. Babasaheb Ambedkar's legal expertise proved to be very helpful in the framing of the Indian Constitution. He is called the creator of the Constitution and the father of the Constitution. He had studied the constitutions of many countries before making the constitution. On the basis of his ability, he reached the post of the first Law Minister of India.
11. Ambedkar started publishing fortnightly and weekly newspapers named 'Bahishkrit Bharat', 'Mook Nayak', 'Janta' to raise voice against the atrocities on Dalits. From 1927 he intensified his movement against untouchability and casteism. He also started Satyagraha in Mahad of Raigarh in Maharashtra. He along with some people burnt the then existing copy of 'Manusmriti'. In 1930 he started the Kalaram Temple Movement.
12. Ambedkar formed the Labor Party in 1936 amid the freedom struggle. Ambedkar contested the country's first general election from Bombay North seat in 1952 but lost. He was a two-time MP from Rajya Sabha.
13. Some scholars believe that Ambedkar did not want the British to leave India at once. Actually, Dr. Ambedkar was a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council. The status of a member was equal to that of a present-day cabinet minister. According to experts, he felt that while holding this post, he could do many important works for the welfare of Dalits, which could not be done after the British left India.
14. In 1951, he presented the 'Hindu Code Bill' in the Parliament. Dr. Ambedkar believed that true democracy would come when women would get an equal share in ancestral property and would be given equal rights as men. Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet after his Hindu Code Bill draft was blocked in Parliament.
15. On 14 October 1956, Ambedkar and his supporters embraced Buddhism by adopting Panchsheel. He had become quite unhappy with many of the practices of Hinduism. Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956.