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Bharat Rattna Baba Sahib Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Born: April 14th,1891 - Parinibbana: Dec.6th,1956 Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born in India in 1891 in the Mahar caste. As a member of the “Untouchable” caste, Ambedkar suffered considerable discrimination during his childhood. Being an untouchable, no barber would cut his hair and he could not sit in the classroom alongside his caste Hindu classmates nor participate in their games as his touch was polluting. He was not allowed to study as it is the language of the Hindu religious scriptures. Despite these obstacles, Ambedkar rose to acquire highest educational qualifications in the topmost universities of the world: M.A. and a Ph. D in 1916 from Columbia University, New York; a D. Sc in Economics from London School of Economics and a Bar-at-Law from Grays Inn, London both in 1923. After completing his education, Dr. Ambedkar devoted his entire life to securing human rights for the over 200 million Dalits (formerly referred to as untouchables). In 1947, when India gained independence from Britain, Dr. Ambedkar, as Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee was responsible for drafting India’s constitution. He secured the human rights of the millions of untouchables by abolishing untouchability and by enshrining equality in the constitution of India. He also ensured the constitution made adequate protections/safeguards for the development of the disadvantaged ex-untouchables. Dr. Ambedkar also held the position of first Law Minister of independent India. Dr. Ambedkar was an author of a number of books and articles and edited four journals during his 40 year crusade to raise the voice of the untouchables, namely, Mooknayak (leader of the dumb),, Janata (The People) and Prabuddha Bharat (Enlightened India). Bahishkrit Bharat (Ostracized India) The crux of Dr. Ambedkar’s human rights struggle centered on: Self Respect, Self Help. In 1956, Dr. Ambedkar and a significant number of his followers converted from Hinduism to Buddhism. Dr. Ambedkar’s struggle for the human rights of over 200 million Dalits has left an important legacy for social justice in India |
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THE GREAT REVOLUTIONARY
BABU MANGOO RAM MUGOWALIA
Dr. Ronki Ram
I congratulate you and highly appreciate your concerted efforts for celebrating the Birth anniversary of Babu Mangoo Ram Mugowalia, the Prophet of Dalit Struggle in Punjab in the early 1920s. He was one of the very few Dalit visionaries who correctly realized that the real salvation of the downtrodden lies in their total social and cultural transformation. For that only liberation from the colonial masters would no be sufficient. He was of the firm opinion that unless and until a systematic and all embracing struggle against the Brahminical orthodoxy based on the Hindu Shashtric principle of purity/pollution is launched, the national struggle against the British rule would not serve the real interest of the millions of the Dalits, who had been subjected to all kids of marginalities and oppression for centuries. In fact, Dalits were the double victims: of the British rule as well as of the Upper castes of their own country. It was this thinking that looks him to organize the Ad-Dharm Movement in Punjab at a time when Mahatma Gandhi was also getting actively involved in the national liberation struggle in India. Babu Ji gave his people a new religion (Ad-Dharm) to believe in, Gurus (Rishi Valmiki, Guru Ravi Dass, Maharaj Kabir, and Bhagwan Sat Guru Nam Dev) to worship, a symbol (Soham) to display, and a slogan (Jai Guru Dev) to greet each other. He and his movement inculcated a sense of dignity and confidence among the Dalits of Punjab who since have been actively pursuing the cause of Dalit liberation both within the country and abroad wherever they have settled. I once again congratulate you and the entire <ambedkartimes.com> tribe for celebrating this Great Dalit Revolutionary of the20th century.