Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti

“We must stand on our own feet and fight

as best as we can for our rights.

So carry on your agitation and organize your forces.

Power and prestige will come to you through struggle”

Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti The birthday of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, also known as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, is celebrated as a festival on 14 April all over the world including India. This day is also known as 'Equality Day' and 'Knowledge Day'.

Ambedkar, who fought for equality throughout his life, is considered a symbol of equality and wisdom. Ambedkar is known all over the world for his human rights movement, constitution maker, and erudite scholarship, and this day is celebrated to pay respect to him. Ambedkar's first birth anniversary was celebrated by Sadashiv Ranpise on 14 April 1928 in Pune city. Ranpise was a follower of Ambedkar. He started the practice of Ambedkar Jayanti and on the occasions of Bhima Jayanti, Babasaheb's statue was placed in the elephant's ambari and took out many mirvanuks from the chariot, on the camel.

Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow Nagar Military Cantonment located in the Central India Province (now Madhya Pradesh) of British India. Bhimrao Ambedkar's ancestors had been serving in the army of the British East India Company for a long time and his father, Ramji Sakpal, was serving in the Mhow Cantonment of the Indian Army and while working here, he reached the rank of Subedar. He had formal education in Marathi and English.

Ambedkar took admission in the first class of English on 7 November 1900 at the Government High School (now Pratapsingh High School) located at Rajwada Chowk in Satara Nagar. From this day his educational career started, hence 7th of November is celebrated as Student's Day in Maharashtra.

By 1912, he had obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in economics and political science from the University of Bombay and went on to work with the Baroda state government. In 1913, at the age of 22, Ambedkar moved to the United States where he received $11.50 per month for three years to provide opportunities for postgraduate education at Columbia University in New York City under a scheme set up by Sayajirao Gaekwad III (the Gaekwad of Baroda). In June 1915 he passed his Master of Arts (M.A.) examination, with economics as the main subject, and sociology, history, philosophy, and anthropology among other subjects. He received his Ph.D. in economics in 1916 for his third thesis, Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India, and was officially granted a Ph.D. in 1927 after publishing his thesis.

In the 1950s, Bhimrao Ambedkar was attracted to Buddhism and went to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to attend a conference of Buddhist monks and scholars. Dedicating a new Buddhist vihara near Pune, Dr. Ambedkar announced that he was writing a book on Buddhism and would formally convert to Buddhism as soon as it was finished. In 1954 Ambedkar visited Myanmar twice; The second time he went to Rangoon to participate in the conference of the Third World Buddhist Fellowship. In 1955 he founded the 'Indian Buddhist Mahasabha', the 'Buddhist Society of India'. He wrote his last famous treatise, ' The Buddha and His Dhamma' was completed in 1956. It was published after his death in 1957.

Since 1948, Ambedkar was suffering from diabetes. He was very ill from June to October 1954, during which he was suffering from deteriorating eyesight. Ambedkar's Mahaparinirvana took place in his sleep in Delhi on 6 December 1956, three days after completing his final manuscript Lord Buddha and His Dhamma. Then his age was 64 years and 7 months.

Gajra Vidya Bhavan, Sachin appreciated the work of Babasaheb Ambedkar. His work in constitution-making remains unprecedented. Making a constitution was not an easy task. Let us honor the hard work and sacrifice of the person who gave us the Indian Constitution. He was a man who fought against discrimination and oppression. He was the epitome of confidence and dedication. Here's wishing you all a very Happy Ambedkar Jayanti.