Rattibha

#JaiBhim
Babasaheb Ambedkar is one of the greatest thinkers ever!
The architect of the Indian Constitution was undeniably a GENIUS!
A thread 🧵celebrating this icon who said "Cultivation of the mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence"

As a member in the viceroy’s council from 1942 to 1946, Dr Ambedkar was instrumental in bringing about several labour reforms.
He changed working hours from 12 to 8 in 1942.
He also introduced DA, medical leaves & periodic revision of pay.
📸@roundtableind

Babasaheb studied for two PhDs in his career in addition to his qualification as a lawyer 🤯
His PhD dissertation in Economics at @LSEnews was titled ‘The Indian Rupee’. A few years ago, @stefeich unearthed a first edition of this work with Ambedkar’s original dedication!

The archivists @LSEnews have maintained a copy of Babasaheb's application to the school from 1916!

Between 1920-23, Ambedkar's academic achievements are nothing short of EXTRAORDINARY!
1. MSc & DSc in Econ from London
2. Published books on monetary policy & fiscal policy. - 3. Completed the book that gave him his PhD @Columbia
4. Was admitted to the bar!

Scholar par excellence Babasaheb Ambedkar didn't merely study at @Columbia; he devoured knowledge!
In 3 years, he completed an astounding 60 courses: 29 in Econ, 11 in History, 6 in Sociology, 5 in Philosophy, 4 in Anthropology, 3 in Politics, plus Elementary French & German!

When asked about the the reason for his determination, Babasaheb reportedly said "poverty and want of time required him to finish his studies as early as possible and hence the dogged and ceaseless persistence" 🫡

Another fascinating and a painful story in all of this is that Dr. Ambedkar lost a manuscript of his original thesis due to the ship being torpedoed when it was returning to India!
So, he prepared a fresh draft! 👇

Babasaheb Ambedkar was an institution builder and accomplished more in one lifetime than most could ever dream of!🫡
He founded 4 newspapers, established a trade union & the People's Education Society!!

As a lawyer, Babasaheb represented social reformer Raghunath Dhondo Karve when the latter was accused of obscenity.
Obscenity charges were based on the fact that his monthly magazine Samaj Swasthya covered topics such as sex education

When BR Ambedkar successfully completed his matriculation examination in 1907, he received a copy of the book 'Bhagwan Gautam Buddhache Charitra' as a gift from the author, Krushnarao Arjun Keluskar.
This marks a pivotal moment in shaping Ambedkar's thoughts about Buddha.

Navayana is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s anti-metaphysical interpretation of Buddhism.
The independent publishing house Navayana Publications that focuses on the issue of caste from an anti-caste perspective derives its name from Babasaheb's idea.
@navayanabooks' logo shows two buffaloes kissing! .
The logo is "inspired by an excerpt from" Kannada writer Dr. Aravind Malagatti’s autobiography "Government Brahmana" navayana.org… journals.sagepub.com

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

navayana.org/about/?v=7516f…

Babasaheb was a fierce opponent of the caste system.
In fact, he converted to Buddhism in 1956 & did so in Nagpur at a place now called Deekshabhoomi.
The city of Nagpur commemorated this event by unveiling a stupa in 2001. The train connecting Nagpur to Gaya (where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment) is hence called the Deekshabhoomi Express.

BSP leader Kanshi Ram had announced that he would convert to Buddhism (along with 50 million supporters) on 14th October 2006 - the 50th anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar's conversion.
His plans died with him five days before on 9th October 2006.

In the year 2000, director Jabbar Patel directed Babasaheb's biopic that starred Mammootty in the titular role, & Sonali Kulkarni as Ramabai.
It is said that the film originally was planned in 1989, but Patel wanted to do thorough research on Babasaheb before directing the movie and it took 10 years for the film to be released in English. The commercial release only happened 2000!

Babasaheb Ambedkar was a prolific scholar (Duh!).
His complete works are collected into 40 volumes, yes 40 volumes!!
You can find ALL of it here: 👇drambedkarwritings.gov.in

drambedkarwritings.gov.in/content/index.…

Babasaheb's fiery work "Annihilation of Caste" was written for a 1936 meeting of "Jat Pat Todak Mandal" a group Hindu caste-reformers.
However, the group withdrew their invitation after seeing the contents of this work! Consequently, Ambedkar published the work himself!

Dr. BR Ambedkar about Savarkar & Jinnah:
"Strange as it may appear, Mr Savarkar & Mr Jinnah instead of being opposed to each other on the one nation versus two nations issue are in complete agreement about it.
Both agree, not only agree but insist that there are two nations in India—one the Muslim nation & the other Hindu nation"

Recently, there was a lot of discussion about the role of rights. Here's Babasaheb talking about rights:
"(...) rights are protected not by law but by social and moral conscience of the society. (...) But if the fundamental rights are opposed by the community, no Law, no Parliament, no Judiciary can guarantee them in the real sense of the world"

In his editorial for Bahiskrit Bharat in July 1927 Babasaheb Ambedkar wrote:
“If Tilak had been born among the untouchables, he wouldn't have raised the slogan ‘Swaraj is my birthright’, but he would have raised the slogan ‘annihilation of untouchability is my birthright’”

Throughout his writings Babasaheb Ambedkar quoted several people in the epigraph (or otherwise).
Here is a selection of some these quotes.
"Know Truth as Truth and Untruth as Untruth” - Buddha (Writings & Speeches Vol. 1, pp.23)

“He that WILL NOT reason is a bigot He that CANNOT reason is a fool He that DARE NOT reason is a slave” -- H. Drummond (Writings & Speeches Vol. 1, pp.23. "Annihilation of Caste with Reply to Mahatma Gandhi")

"The distance you have gone is less important than the direction in which you are going today.” — Tolstoy (Writings & Speeches Vol. 1, pp.279, "Federation versus Freedom, Kale Memorial Lecture")

“More brain, O Lord, more brain! or we shall mar, Utterly this fair garden we might win” (Writings & Speeches Vol. 8, From the title page of “Thoughts on Pakistan”)

“It may be your interest to be our masters, but how can it be ours to be your slaves ?” — Thucydides
(Writings & Speeches Vol. 9, From the title page of " What Congress and Gandhi Have Done to The Untouchables")

(Writings & Speeches Vol. 9, pp. 433)

Symbiosis Society’s Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum is located in Pune.
Savita Ambedkar initially wanted the museum to be in Mumbai/Delhi, but didn't get any response.
The museum has Ambedkar's personal belongings donated by "Maisaheb" Savita Ambedkar. symbiosis-ambedkarmemorial.org