By the time he returned to India in April 1923, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had equipped himself fully to wage war against the practice of untouchability on behalf of the untouchable and the downtrodden. Meanwhile the political situation in India had undergone substantial and the freedom struggle in the country had made significant progress.
While Bhimrao was an ardent patriot on one hand, he was the savior of the oppressed, women and poor on the other. He fought for them throughout his life. In 1923, he set up the 'Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha' (Outcastes Welfare Association), which was devoted to spreading education and culture amongst the downtrodden, improving the economic status and raising matters concerning their problems in the proper forums to focus attention on them and finding solutions to the same.
The problems of the downtrodden were centuries old and difficult to overcome. Their entry into temples was forbidden. They could not draw water from public wells and pans Their admission in schools was prohibited. In 1927, he led the Mahad March at the Chowdar Tank at Colabah near Bombay, to give the untouchables the right to draw water from the public tank where he burnt copies of the 'Manusmruti publicly This marked the beginning of the anti-caste and anti-priest movement. The temple entry movement launched by Dr. Ambedkar in 1930 at Kalaram temple, Nasik is another landmark in the struggle for human rights an social justice.
In the meantime, Ramsay McDonal announced the 'Communal Award' as a result of which in several communities including the 'depressed classes' were given the right to have separate electorates. This was a part of the overall design of the British to divide and rule. Gandhiji wanted to defeat this design and went on a fast into death to oppose it. On 24th September 1932, Dr Ambedkar and Gandhiji reached an understanding, which became the famous Poona Pact. According to this Pact, in addition to the agreement on electoral constituencies, reservations were provided for untouchables in Government jobs an legislative assemblies. The provision of separate electorate was dispensed with. The Pact carved out a clear and definite position for the downtrodden on the political scene of the county. It opened up opportunities of education and government service for them and also gave them a right to vote.
Dr. Ambedkar attended all the three Round Table Conferences in London and each time, forcefully projected his views in the interest of the 'untouchable'. He exhorted the downtrodden sections to raise their living standards and to acquire as much political as possible He was of the view that there was no future for untouchables in the Hindu religion and they should change their religion if need be In 1935, he publicly proclaimed." I was born a Hindu because i had no control over this but I shall not die a Hindu.”.
After a while Dr. Ambedkar, organised the Independent Labour Party, participated in the provincial elections and was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly. During these days he stressed the need for abolition of the 'Jagirdari' system, pleaded for workers' Fight to strike and addressed a large number of meetings and conferences in Bombay Presidency. In 1939, during the Second World War, he called upon Indians to join the Army in large numbers to defeat Nazism, which he said, was another name for Fascism.
In 1947, when India became independent, the first Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, invited Dr. Ambedkar, who had been elected as a Member of the Constituent Assembly from Bengal, to join his Cabinet as a Law Minister Dr. Ambedkar had differences of opinion with the Government over the Hindu Code Bill, which led to his resignation as Law
Minister.
The Constituent Assembly entrusted the job of drafting the Constitution to a committee and Dr Ambedkar was elected as Chairman of this Drafting Committee. While he was busy with drafting the Constitution, India faced several crises. The country saw partition and Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
In the beginning of 1948, Dr. Ambedkar completed the draft of the Constitution and presented it in the Constituent Assembly. In November 1949. this draft was adopted with very few amendments Many provisions have been made in the Constitution to ensure social
justice for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes.
Dr Ambedkar was of the opinion that traditional religious values should be given up and new ideas adopted. He laid special emphasis on dignity, unity, freedom and rights for all
citizens as enshrined in the Constitution.
Ambedkar advocated democracy in every field: social. economic and political. For him social Justice meant maximum happiness to the maximum number of people.
On 24 May 1956. on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, he declared in Bombay, that he would adopt Buddhism in October On October 14, 1956 he embraced Buddhism along with many of his followers The same year he completed his last writing 'Buddha and His Dharma'.
Dr. Arnbedkar's patriotism started with the upliftment of the downtrodden and the poor. He fought for their equality and rights. His ideas about patriotism were not only confined to the abolition of colonialism, but he also wanted freedom for every Individual. For him freedom without equality, democracy and equality without freedom could lead to absolute dictatorship
On 6th December 1956, Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar attained 'Mahaparinirvan'.
In 1990, Dr.B,R,Ambeokar. the chief architect of our Constitution, was bestowed with Bharat Ratna. The same year Dr Ambedkar's life size portrait was also unveiled in the Central Hall of Parliament. The period from 14th April 1990-14th April 1991 was observed as'Year of Social Justice' in the memory of Babasaheb, the champion of the poor and the downtrodden.
His Last Message
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar paid a last visit of his life to Agra City on 18th March 1956. During this visit, he addressed a huge public meeting in which he said "EDUCATED PEOPLE HAVE DECIVED ME".
'"For the past 30 years, I am struggling to secure political rights for you people. I have got for
you reserved seats in Parliament and in State Assemblies. I have got for you proper
provisions for education of your children. Today, we can progress. It is now your duty to continue the struggle untidily for removal of educational, economic and social in-equality. For this purpose, you will have to be prepared for all sorts of sacrifices and even to shed your blood".
"If somebody invites you In his place, you may go willingly. But you must not to there by putting your own hut on fire. If that king quarrels with you some day and drive you out of his place, where will you go? If you want to sell out yourselves you may do so but not at the cost of destroying your organization. I DO NOT HAVE ANY DANGERS FROM OTHERS, BUT I FEEL DANGER FROM OUR OWN PEOPLE".
"I am more worried for the landless labourers of the villages. I could not do much for them, I cannot Bear their sufferings and plights. The main reasons for their sufferings is that they do not have land. Therefore they are victims of Humiliations and atrocities. Unless and until they have land, they cannot emancipate themselves I'll struggle for it. If government puts any hurdle in it I will lead these people and will also give a legal bat for them. but I SHALL TRY TO SECURE LAND FOR THE LAND LESS",
"Very soon I will embrace the religion of lord Buddha. It is a progressive religion. It is based on EQUALITY, LIBERTY AND FRATERNITY. I could search this religion through efforts of many years. Now I will become Buddhist very soon. Then as an untouchable I will not be able to like with you. But as a real Buddhist I will continue to struggle for your welfare I will not tell you to become Buddhist with me. I do not want BLIND FOLLOWERS. Only those who desire to take refuge in this great religion may embrace Buddhism, so that they remain in this religion with firm convictions and observe its code of conduct.
"Buddhism is a great religion. The founder of this religion Tathagat Buddha has propagated this religion and due to its good aspects it could reach every nook and corner of India. After Its great fame, this religion became extinct In 1213 AD. There are many reasons for this. One of the reasons is also that the Buddhist Monks became addicted to Living luxurious and restful life. Instead of moving from place to place for propagation of the religion, they started taking rest In Vihars And Indulging In Writing, books In praise (of Kings). Now for reestablishing this religion, they will have to work hard. They will have to move door to door. We have very few monks in the society. Therefore, the common good people should also propagate the religion and perform its rights".
'There is some progress in education in our society. By acquiring education some people have to the higher positions. But these EDUCATED PEOPLE HAVE DECEIVED ME, I was hoping from them that after acquiring high education they would serve the society. But what I am seeing is that a crowd of small and big clerks has gathered around, who is busy in filling their belly Those who are employed in government services. It Is their duty that they should contribute willingly 20th part of their salary to the cause. Then only the society will progress. Otherwise only one family will improve. The boy who is educating in a village to entire society has expectation from him One educated social worker can prove a boon for them.
My appeal to the students is that after acquiring education. Instead of doing some clerical job, he should serve his village or locality people by which, exploitation and injustice arising out of ignorance can be stopped Your emancipation lies In the emancipation of the society.
Today my position is like a bi pole. Supporting a huge tent. I am worried about when this pole will not be there. I am not keeping good health. I do not know, when I will go away from you I am not finding any young man, who will protect the Interest of these crores of helpless and hopeless people When I think that though I am so highly educated, a Brahmin who Is cleaning the utensils in kitchen considers mean untouchable, what will happen to the crores of my brethren’ I feel that if some young man comes forward (to take up my responsibility) will happily go away.
My final words of advice to you is educate, Agitate and organize, have faith in yourself, with justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle the battle to me if, matter of jay. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom It is a battle for the reclamation of the human personality.
The Ambedkar Trust is following all the above guidelines pronounced by our Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. We work to fulfill his directions and expectations of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and we prove that we developed the poorer sections of society The education, which imparted knowledge and employment. These two areas provided us social status and little capacity to serve the society and doing the same.
We also invite the like-minded people and well wishers to help our endeavour. |
