Ambedkar Jayanti is observed in India on 14 April in honour of Dr. BR Ambedkar. He was a freedom fighter, civil rights activist, and the father of the Indian Constitution.
Dr. Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891, in Madhya Pradesh, in a Dalit family. At that time, people of his caste were not treated well, and many considered them to be “untouchables”. He became one of the first in his community to get a college degree.
He went on to study Economics and other subjects at Columbia University and the London School of Economics. He also held a Law degree and practised in high court.
He exhorted the Dalit community to get educated and established an institution for their welfare. He also published many periodicals.
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He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1990. Indian postal services have released several stamps dedicated to Ambedkar Jayanti and to the scholar himself. In 2015, on his 125th birth anniversary, the government issued limited-edition coins of the denominations of Rs.10 and Rs.125.
Ambedkar Jayanti is primarily celebrated at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai and Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur. National leaders pay tributes to this great scholar and activist at the site of his statue in Indian Parliament. The day is celebrated as ‘Gyan Din’ in Maharashtra.
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FAQs
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Is Ambedkar Jayanti a national holiday?
It is not a national holiday but a public holiday, and it is optional; over 25 states in India have declared it as a public holiday.
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How is Ambedkar Jayanti celebrated in Mumbai?
His followers congregate from all over Maharashtra at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, where he was cremated. They hold huge processions, and there are speeches given by Dalit leaders.
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Why did Dr. Ambedkar convert to Buddhism?
Dr. Ambedkar was distressed by the unfair treatment meted out to Dalits. He wanted to get out of the caste system, and hence, he and many of his followers converted to Buddhism.
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Has Ambedkar Jayanti been observed internationally?
The UN celebrated it from 2016 to 2018, and Canada in 2020. Various Canadian states have also observed it as the ‘Day of Equality’. Google released a doodle in 2014, and Twitter launched an emoji as a tribute to him in 2017.
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Why is he referred to as a polymath?
Dr. Ambedkar was proficient in 11 languages, and had master’s degrees in 64 subjects, making him one of independent India’s most prolific scholars..
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