Dr. Ambedkar informed Baroda officials through a telegram that he was arriving.It delighted Sayajirao Gaekwad. He knew about the progress of Bheemrao Ambedkar, his protege. And the protege, Dr. Ambedkar had rightly dedicated his thesis that got him Ph.D. degree from Columbia University to the Baroda king in the words—‘Dedicated to the king of Baroda, […]
Dr. Bheemrao Ambedkar had now decided to continue his higher education in England. He wanted to study law and economics. The knowledge of law was essential if he wanted to battle for the rights of the lower castes. The legal study in a British institution made more sense as the British were the colonial rulers
Bheemrao joined Columbia University. First, he stayed at Hartley Hall Hostel. Then, he shifted to Cosmopolitan Club where several other Indian students were staying. Finally, he moved to Livingston Hostel to share a room with another Indian Naval Bhatna, a Parsi.Living with Bhatna proved very useful for Bheemrao. They became friends for life and Bhatna
Bheemrao took admission in Elphinston College on 3rd January, 1908.The college was relatively a good experience for Bheemrao. Being a government college of a premier city untouchability was almost invisible. More so because the teachers were educated Indians or foreigners. And the students came from rich and upper class families of liberal outlook. So the
Bombay experience was not the only episode that troubled the soul of young Bheemrao. Everytime he interacted with people of other castes a new wound was inflicted on him.In one of those years some parts of Maharashtra suffered famine conditions. No rains came. Goregaon area was worst affected. The government departments started relief operations and
Sometimes Bheeva wondered if there could be a place on the earth where a Mahar boy were treated like a human being?One day Bheeva thought of Bombay (Mumbai) a big, very big city, the city of dreams, of rich, cultured and civilised people. There couldn’t be any untouchability there. He wanted to be there, just
One day a sympathetic teached decided to show the other boys that Mahar boy Bheemrao was as good as any of them. He asked Bheemrao to go to the black board and write the words he would dictate.Bheemrao felt elated at receiving the attention of the teacher. He got up and walked towards the blackboard
Meanwhile Bheemrao had grown up to the age when he must start learning letters. That was another worry for Ramjirao. There was no school in Dhapoli and the area around was upper caste dominated. No school there would admit a Mahar boy. If any school did, it would face the collective anger of entire upper
Army Subedar, Ramjirao came from Ambvade village of Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He was a Mahar by caste. He had joined the Indian Army in 1877 when India was under the colonial rule of the British.At the end period of his military service Ramjirao was stationed at Mow cantonment in Central Province (Madhya Pradesh). He
Returning successfully after his fast unto death to his native village Ralegan, social crusader Anna Hazare said that, apart from pursuing the issue of the Jan Lokpal bill, his next fights will be for decentralization of power and to bring about changes in the election system, so that voters get a right to say ‘no’
Anna’s immediate family is happy about the big battle that he has won against the government. In the words of Anna’s younger brother Maruti, who lives in a small two-room house with wife Kanta at Ralegan Siddhi—”Anna had succeeded in yet another fight against corruption. Just before leaving the village for Delhi, Anna had told
Social activists in India have worked towards uplifting standards of living and to combat communalism, female foeticide and for women’s empowerment. Some are working to combat drugs or alcohol abuse, AIDS and to promote education for the masses and ecological conservation. When Anna Hazare came out to protests against corruption many social activists joined his
Nothing had swayed public opinion as much as Anna Hazare’s historic fast against corruption at Jantar Mantar. It was as if the whole nation has found a voice in Anna Hazare.Marches, fasts, candlelight vigils were held across India. Anna Hazare’s fast had literally unleashed a people’s tsunami. The social media, especially Twitter, Facebook and individual
Power situation during 1985-86 became extremely critical. The farmers were unable to lift water from the wells in spite of its availability due to insufficient voltage to run pumps. The motors were getting burnt due to fluctuations and the crops were getting affected. There was scant response from the govt. in spite of continuous follow-up.
While the whole nation erupted in joy as veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare broke his 97-hour fast, the Bollywood tweeting brigade rolled up its sleeves and served a volley of messages saluting the 73-year-old.Filmmaker Pritish Nandy, who flew down to Delhi to participate in the protest demanding a stringent anti-graft bill, posted: “For the first time