Personalities who influenced Dr.B.R. Ambedkar the most
( Paying Revered
Tributes on 128thBirthday of Dr.Ambedkar falling on 14th
April,2019 )
By:-Er.H.R.Phonsa
The life storey
of Bharat Ratana Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao
Ambedkar is a saga of great struggles
and achievements. Dr Ambedkar used to compare himself with Moses, who ( Moses)
wanted to relieve the Israeli’s from forced labour and their unending servitude
so led his peoples to Palestine. Dr Ambedkar led his peoples to break the yoke
of religious, political social and economic barriers imposed by Hindu
un-natural laws framed against his peoples called Shudhars, Ati Shudras untouchables, Namashudras
etc. Dr Ambedkar catalogued, expanded and interpreted the code of laws of his
country. He was opposed to Mahatma Gandhi in many ways, still keeping in view
the Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions for
the Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi described him as a man who has carved out in society a unique position for himself and
he is not a man to allow himself to be
forgotten. Perhaps he was born to cut the age old caste shackles of his
peoples, which had reduced their life to even below of those of animals.
Life Sketch :-
Bharat Ratana Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on 14 th April 1891 at Mhow to revered
Subedar Major Ramji Sakhpal and Mata Bhimabai in Mahar Community. It is said that Mahars were
the rulers of Marashtra (Mahar + Rashtra ) but because of Hindu agony
and caste based values, they were
reduced to the level of Untouchables, Sudras, Ati sudra, whose only shadow was
considered enough to pollute an upper caste Hindu. He personally faced worst
type of caste hate Ambedkar worked over 18 hours a day and at times sky was his
roof and the earth his floor,. Bhimrao was married to Ramabai at the tender age
of 17 years when his spouse was only of 9 years. Mata Ramabai stood like a rock by her Sahib till
her death on May 27, 1935. Due to
handwork of duo father and son Bhimrao
earned world’s Highest academic Degrees
of D.sc ( London ); PhD and LL.D
(Columbia ); M.A ; D. Lit ( Osmania )
Bar –at- Law (London ) . Dr Ambedkar knew ten languages Marathi (mother
tongue), Hindi, English, Gujarati, Pali, Sanskrit, Bengali, Persian, French and
German. He could speak fluently seven languages. According to his autobiography
‘Waiting for a Visa'. Ambedkar wrote that he wrote Pali to English
Dictionary( Quora). Dr Ambedkar also
served on highly prestigious
positions as Labour member of Viceroy’s
Executive Council (1942-46 ) ; First Law Minister Of Independent India and
earned the distinction of selection as Chairman Of the Constitution
Drafting Committee to draft Constitution
for free India and is so called “ father Of Indian constitution.” Some
called him Mother of Indian Constitution as well. He proved an emancipator for
Dalits, a torch bearer for the liberation of slaves’ world over and an
insurmountable rock for his opponents. He contributed for the freedom of India British
India . He was highly
praised by those who understood his odious cause for the liberation of his
Dalit community persons, but also abused as traitor by those who never
appreciated his mission of life and wanted to maintain status-quo in social,
political, educational, economic and religious spheres even after independence.
He was for change and offer said” Consistency is a virtue of an ass”
It
is difficult to count the persons who influenced the life of a life long
student. Baba Sahib owned one of world’s biggest personnel libraries having
nearly 50,000 books. As Baba Sahib was an author of large number of Books,
essays and had attended many world class
Universities, researched in many museums, Libraries, remained in association
of many learned teachers ,politicians,
religious leaders so it is difficult to count or have details of all those
personalities who influenced the his life. A visit to him was a visit to to a
walking museum so said one of his biographer. It was therefore difficult to know about all
those great personalities who influenced
his life .An attempt here has been made to find out some personalities who directly or indirectly who influenced shaping of life of Bharat Ratna Baba Sahib Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s
life and personality.
Some of the Personalities who influenced
Dr. Ambedkar’s life the most:-
A)
Subedar Major Ramji Sakhpal (1849-1916AD): - Honesty,
Hard working, dedication, urge to get higher education , honesty and boldness in his conduct and to
work for elevation of his fellow untouchables was learned by Ambedkar from his
father subedar Major Ramji Sakhpal.
B)
Guru Ravidas(
1398-1540 AD):- Dr. Ambedkar held in high esteems Shri Guru Ravidas Ji. Perhaps the rationale
of equality, brotherhood, Republic democracy, socialist, individual dignity is
borrowed from the philosophy of Shri Guru Ravidas.
C)
Kabir
(1440-1518 AD) :- Dr. Ambedkar’s family belonged to the devotional path
shown by Sadguru Kabir ji a great Dalit Saint
Devotional songs of Kabir Ji were daily sung with love by the family,
which effected the tender mind set of child Bhimrao. Kabir Ji’s verses
including “Jat Pat Pushey Na koye, Har Ko Bhaje so Har Ka hoi” i.e Caste does
not decide your fate, but your devotion to Lord is supreme. Kabir Ji was taken
as Ambedkar’s Second Guru, first being Budha.
D)
Budha( 563-480
BCA):- The Budha philosophy influnced Ambedkar the most. He like Budha
revolted against Vedas, Upnishadas, un-natural Brahminical division of the humans. He studied Bhudha deepely, so like Budha he
always adopted just ways of his conduct negating Brahminical ways of salvation as religious rites,
rituals, religious ceremonies,and sacrifices . He was firm believer like Budha
that every individual was the maker or
spoiler of one’s destiny. Budha never proclaimed himself as God, Avtar or His
incarnation, so influenced the inner mind of Dr. Ambedkar. When he got
convinced that Hinduism was immune to reform. He brought back Buddha to India
E)
Jyotiba Phule(1827-1890 AD):- Jyotiba Phule
was the greatest Shudra of modern India, who made Hindu Untouchables conscious
of their slavery to the Upper Caste
Hindus. He gave the gospel that in India Social democracy was more vital than
independence from foreign rule. Phule started 18 school in Poona
F)
Booker T. Washington( 1856-1915): - During Dr.
Ambedkar’s American stay, he was influenced by the Constitution of U.S.A. and its fourteenth Amendment declaring freedom to Negroes. He was also
influenced most by the life of Booker T. Washington a great revolutionary,
educator reformer Negro leader, who founder and remained President of Tuskegee Institute, which
disseminated among Negroes the gospel of education of the head, heart and hand
and thus broke the barriers of bondage
through which Negroes were crushed for ages physically, educationally, mentally
, socially and spiritually. Booker T. Washington died in 1915 when Dr. Ambedkar
was in America
G)
John Dewey( 1859-1952): - John Dewey was his
mentor at Columbia University, whose philosophy helped shape Dr. Ambedkar
towards a critical analysis of the hard problems facing the society. He
advocated dynamic and pragmatic approach to drive the humanity out of the
troubles it was confronted with. Both criticized the old philosophers, who
advocated idealism and other obsolete things. John Dewey methods of inquiry had
influenced Ambedkar to deal with hard and painful situations. Both were
practical political scientists, so paid pointed attention to practical rather
than mere academic politics. Ambedkar learnt from Dewey’s emphasis on education
as means to change the world and not only to understand it. Both believed that
Education should be capable of creating human values having universal
application. Both established them selves on everyday life of an average man in
their respective country. Dr. Ambedkar association with John Dewey provided the basis
for a systematic study and analysis of
problems relating to politics, economics, society religion and history . Ambedkar
concluded that a society is equally if not more, aggressive and tyrannical than
the Government is based on deep study of these subjects.
H)
J.S. Mill ( 1806-1873): - Dr. Ambedkar
was greatly influenced from the writing of Mill,
a British philosopher, political economist, and civil servant. One of the most
influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely
to social theory, political theory, and political economy. He had
advocated freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of action. Mill’s
philosophy molded the political philosophy of Ambedkar.
I)
Justice Ranade ( 1842-1901):
- Life and work storey of Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, father of Indian
Socio- political revolution casted a great influence on Dr Ambedkar. Dr
Ambedkar was called upon to deliver 101 birth anniversary address of Justice
Ranade which fell on 18th January1940. Dr Ambedkar learnt about
Ranade, when he retrieved from the old papers of his father, a petition drafted
by Justice Ranade against banning recruitment of Mahars into Indian Army in
1892. Philosophy of Justice Ranade was summed up Dr. Ambedkar himself as
A) We should not hold
ideals purely imaginary.
B) In politics sentiments
and temperaments of the people are more important than intellect and theory.
C) In political negotiations the rule should
be what is possible, that does not mean that we should be content with what is
offered.
Why Ambedkar agreed with the terms of Poona
Pact of 1932 with Mahatma Gandhi and other Caste Hindus by sacrificing the
benefits of the Communal Award can be accessed from his above said political
philosophy.
I) Karl Marx (1818-1883AD):- Dr. Ambedkar was also immensely influenced by Karl Marx’s theory of class
struggle as he was aware of the
merciless exploitation of the poor all over the world. But in India
Crusader of Dalit
Education:-Ambedkar was convinced that education besides being means of live
hood was a powerful weapon to liberate the Dalits from ignorance and to
strengthen their fight against injustice and humiliation. He considered education as prequalification
for any organization and movement of Dalits. So he gave his Golden slogan to Dalits “Educate , Agitate and unite” To prepare his peoples to safe guard their
Human Rights through spread of his
message more effectively he started
Journals namely Mook Nayak( Leader of
the Dumb), Bahiskrit Bharat( Excluded India), Samta ( Equality) Janta (Peoples)
. He picked up lessons from the strong note
of Bernard Shaw ,” Honest education is dangerous to tyranny and
privilege; the system like Capitalist system kept in vogue the popular
ignorance, Churches which depend upon it for priestly authority, privileged
classes and ambiguous conquerors and dictators, who have to instill royalty
and romantic hero worship, all use
ignorance and education as underpinning for general faith in themselves as
rulers” So to negate the ill effects of
illiteracy of his peoples and to equip them with quality education he opened Mallind Mahavidhalaya Aurangabad(
Maharasthra, );Sidharath College Of
Commerce And Economics Bombay; and Siddhartha Law College Bombay. Ambedkar
built his house “Raj Girah” in Bombay
Gadge
Ji Maharaj (1876-1956) :- Gadge Baba’s the father of
Indian cleanliness Drive(Swachata Abhiyan) had a great influence on
the life of Dr. Ambedkar. Gadge Ji Maharaj advised Dr. Ambedkar to leave Hindu
religion as it was immune to reform, but at the same time not to join
Christianity or Islam. Gadge Baba dedicated
Sant Chokhamela Dharmashala, Pandharpur to Dr Ambedkar for his love for Dr
Ambedkar. This Dharmshalla ( Night Sheltter) was constructed Baba Gadge Ji from
the money he eaned from his work of
cleaning the villages where ever he went
to conduct Satsangs.
Words 2204
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