Today marks the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and one of the greatest reformers of modern India. Revered across the world for his intellectual brilliance and unwavering commitment to social justice, Dr. Ambedkar earned an astounding 32 degrees during his lifetime. His legacy continues to inspire generations, and his memorials are found in several prestigious universities worldwide.
While his achievements as a jurist, economist, and social reformer are well known, there are many lesser-known yet significant aspects of his early life that reflect the adversity he faced and the resilience he embodied. For today’s generation, revisiting these stories offers a powerful lens into India’s social history and the transformative journey of one of its foremost leaders.
Dr. Ambedkar was born as Bhimrao Ramji Sakpal in Mhow, present-day Madhya Pradesh, though his ancestral roots trace back to Ambadve village in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. At the time of his school admission in Satara, his father listed his name as Bhimrao Ramji Ambadvekar, in line with regional naming traditions based on native villages.
However, his teacher, Krishnaji Keshav Ambedkar, found the surname "Ambadvekar" a bit complex and instead simplified it to Ambedkar. This change would later become historically significant, as Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar emerged to be a globally renowned figure. Interestingly, in the school register of that time, the young student had signed his name as ‘Bhiwa Ramji Ambedkar’—a record still preserved today.
In 1904, after completing his early education in Satara, the Ambedkar family moved to Mumbai and settled in the Lower Parel area. Young Bhimrao was admitted to the prestigious Elphinstone High School, a place that exposed him not only to academic knowledge but also to the brutal reality of caste-based discrimination.
Despite being one of the brightest students, Babasaheb faced severe untouchability. He was made to sit separately from the other children and was not allowed to touch the common water pot or glass. To drink water, he had to rely on school peon who would pour it from a height. If the peon was absent, he would be deprived of water for the entire day.
In his own words, he once recounted this experience with a piercing remark: “If there are no peon, there is no water.”
Moreover, the rigid caste boundaries of the time denied him access to learning Sanskrit, considered a sacred language. As an untouchable, he was not permitted to study it and instead chose Persian as his optional subject.
What set Dr. Ambedkar apart was his unshakable belief in the power of education. Despite facing social exclusion, humiliation, and countless barriers, he pursued his studies with unwavering determination. It was this strength of character and commitment to learning that helped him carve out a unique identity—not just for himself, but for countless others who drew inspiration from his journey.
Today, as the nation remembers Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, it's important not only to celebrate his accomplishments but also to understand the hardships he overcame. His life story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the relentless pursuit of equality and justice.