Bridging Divides: Ambedkar's Legacy and the Pursuit of Social Harmony

It's vital to remember that Ambedkar's primary focus was on achieving social justice and equality within India. His concerns about potential divisions were rooted in his deep commitment to national unity.

- GOPAL GOSWAMI

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's life and work remain a powerful testament to the struggle for social justice in India. While his experiences with the caste system deeply shaped his perspective, a closer look reveals a complex figure whose legacy can inspire unity and collaboration in the ongoing pursuit of equality.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow (now Dr. Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh, experienced a childhood marked by the social stigma of the Mahar caste, considered "untouchable" at the time.

CHILDHOOD AND SURNAME

• Born as Bhimrao Ramji Sakpal, his family hailed from Ambadawe town in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.

• His father, Ramji Maloji Sakpal, was a Subedar in the British Indian Army.

• Bhimrao faced severe discrimination in school due to his caste. He and other "untouchable" children were segregated, not allowed to sit inside the classroom, and often denied necessities like water.

• His original surname was Ambavadekar, reflecting his ancestral village.

However, his Brahmin teacher, Krishnaji Keshav Ambedkar, who was fond of him, changed his surname to Ambedkar in the school records.

EDUCATION AND SUPPORT

• After completing his matriculation, he attended Elphinstone College in Bombay (now Mumbai), becoming the first from his community to do so.

• A significant turning point came when Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad III of Baroda recognized his potential and awarded him a scholarship in 1913 to pursue higher studies in the United States at Columbia University.

• He excelled at Columbia University, earning his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics.

• Further support came from the Maharaja of Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, who also provided financial assistance for Ambedkar's further studies in London at the London School of Economics and Gray's Inn for law.