Friday, June 25, 2010

Dr. B.R.Ambedkar

Dr. B.R.Ambedkar [1891-1956]

Dr. B.R.Ambedkar was born on 14th April 1891. He was a crusader in the cause of the uplift of the lower castes. In 1924, he founded the Bahishkrit Hitkarni Sabha for the moral and material progress of the untouchables. He attended the three Round Table Conferences held at London[1930-32].

The communal award announced by the British Prime Minister, Ramsay Macdonald, in 1932, provided for separate electorate for depressed classes. This upset Gandhiji who went on fast unto death. As a result a final compromise was reached popularly known as Poona Pact. It provided for reservation of seats for the depressed classes in general constituencies.

In depression Ambedkar opposed the Congress and wanted British rule in India to continue to safeguard the interests of lower castes. In 1942 he founded the Scheduled Caste Federation. Later he announced that scheduled castes would leave the Hindu fold altogether. He along with many followers embraced Buddhism.
On the eve of independence Ambedkar was nominated as a member of the Constituent Assembly[ Chairman of the drafting committee]. He is remembered as the emancipator of lower castes.

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