Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti: Intriguing facts and inspiring quotes

Ambedkar Jayanti is a day celebrated in India to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who was born on April 14, 1891. Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the Dalits (previously known as untouchables) and other marginalized sections of society.
Ambedkar is widely regarded as the architect of the Indian Constitution, as he played a key role in drafting the document. He was also the first Law Minister of independent India. Throughout his life, Ambedkar fought against social discrimination and inequality, and advocated for the rights of the oppressed.
On Ambedkar Jayanti, people across India pay tribute to Ambedkar by organizing various events and programs. These include seminars, conferences, and cultural programs that highlight his contributions to Indian society. Additionally, statues of Ambedkar are garlanded, and his speeches and writings are read out in public gatherings.
Ambedkar Jayanti is an important day for the Dalit community in India, as it reminds them of the struggles and sacrifices made by Ambedkar in fighting for their rights. It is also a day to celebrate the values of equality, social justice, and human dignity that Ambedkar stood for.

Top quotes from Ambedkar
“I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
“I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality, and fraternity.”
“The sovereignty of scriptures of all religions must come to an end if we want to have a united integrated modern India.”
“I do not want that our loyalty as Indians should be in the slightest way affected by any competitive loyalty whether that loyalty arises out of our religion, out of our culture or out of our language.”
“If I find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first to burn it.”
“A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.”
“Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from co-mingling and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind.”
“Life should be great rather than long.”
“I am proud of being an Indian. I am part of the indivisible unity that is Indian nationality.”
“Freedom of mind is the real freedom.”
Here are some unknown facts about Ambedkar:
Ambedkar was born in the town of Mhow in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India.
His father, Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was a subedar in the Indian Army, while his mother, Bhimabai Sakpal, was a homemaker.
He was one of 14 children born to his parents.
Ambedkar faced discrimination and social exclusion due to his Dalit caste background throughout his life.
Despite facing many challenges, he was a brilliant student and earned a scholarship to study at Columbia University in New York, where he earned a PhD in economics.
Ambedkar was a major figure in the Indian independence movement and played a key role in drafting the Indian Constitution.
He was also a prominent advocate for women’s rights and worked to abolish child marriage and the practice of dowry.
Ambedkar was the first law minister of independent India and played a key role in shaping the country’s legal system.
He was a scholar with vast knowledge of 64 subjects and nine languages, including Hindi, Marathi, English, Sanskrit, and German.
Ambedkar was a prolific writer and authored several influential books, including “Annihilation of Caste” and “The Buddha and His Dhamma.”
He was a strong believer in the power of education and worked tirelessly to promote education and literacy among the Dalit community.
He founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha, an organization that worked to uplift the social and economic status of Dalits.
Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956 along with over 500,000 of his followers, in what is known as the “Dalit Buddhist movement.”
He passed away on December 6, 1956, just a few months after converting to Buddhism.
Today, Ambedkar is remembered as a champion of social justice and equality and is celebrated every year on his birth anniversary as a national holiday in India.