Buddhist Society of India
| Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st Minister of Law and Justice | |
|
In office 15 August 1947 – September 1951 |
|
| Prime Minister | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Charu Chandra Biswas |
| Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee | |
|
In office 29 August 1947 – 24 January 1950 |
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| Labour Member, Viceroy's Executive Council | |
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In office 1942–1946 |
|
| Preceded by | Feroz Khan Noon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 April 1891 Mhow, Central Provinces, India (now in Madhya Pradesh) |
| Died | 6 December 1956 (aged 65) Delhi, India |
| Political party | Republican Party of India |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent Labour Party, Scheduled Castes Federation |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Jurist, economist, politician, social reformer |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (posthumously in 1990) |
| Signature |  |
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly known as Baba Saheb, was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables (Dalits), while also supporting the rights of women and labour. He was Independent India's first law minister, the principal architect of the Constitution of India and a founding father of the Republic of India.
Ambedkar was a prolific student, earning doctorates in economics from both Columbia University and the London School of Economics, and gained a reputation as a scholar for his research in law, economics and political science. In his early career he was an economist, professor, and lawyer. His later life was marked by his political activities; he became involved in campaigning and negotiations for India's independence, publishing journals, advocating political rights and social freedom for Dalits, and contributing significantly to the establishment of the state of India. In 1956 he converted to Buddhism, initiating mass conversions of Dalits.
In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar. Ambedkar's legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture.
Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town and military cantonment of Mhow in the Central Provinces (now in Madhya Pradesh). He was the 14th and last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal, an army officer who held the rank of Subedar, and Bhimabai Sakpal, daughter of Laxman Murbadkar. His family was of Marathi background from the town of Ambadawe (Mandangad taluka) in Ratnagiri district of modern-day Maharashtra. Ambedkar was born into a poor low Mahar (dalit) caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination. Ambedkar's ancestors had long worked for the army of the British East India Company, and his father served in the British Indian Army at the Mhow cantonment. Although they attended school, Ambedkar and other untouchable children were segregated and given little attention or help by teachers. They were not allowed to sit inside the class. When they needed to drink water, someone from a higher caste had to pour that water from a height as they were not allowed to touch either the water or the vessel that contained it. This task was usually performed for the young Ambedkar by the school peon, and if the peon was not available then he had to go without water; he described the situation later in his writings as "No peon, No Water". He was required to sit on a gunny sack which he had to take home with him.
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