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 stood by his friend always. Naval Bhatna was from a rich family and an intelligent student. The two discussed politics and social realities of India in detail. It proved very educative for both of them.
For Bheemrao U.S.A. was a lungful of freedom. For the first time in his life, he was breathing in free air. There was no trace of untouchability. No one asked to other about one’s caste. All were treated as equals. All the students sat together at the dinner tables and took helpings from the same serving bowls. It was a novel and pleasant experience for him to be treated as equal in every respect.
There were all kinds of freedoms but Bheemrao had little time or money to enjoy them. Drinking smoking, sight seeing or merry making were out for him. His wife had now one more child to bring up. So, out of the scholarship money he had to send some money to his wife who was taking care of the entire family which included Ramjirao’s second wife and her son.
Bheemrao had rationed his food intake. He would spend only one dollar which bought a cup of coffee, two pieces of bread or cake, a plate of fish or salad. He would eat only when he felt very hungry. Still he managed to save some money which he spent on buying second hand books from back alley shops. How serious he had become about learning is proved from that fact that three years later when he left USA he had piles of thousands of second hand books.
Inspite of miserly diet Bheemrao’s health was improving dramatically. Perhaps it was the magic of the atmosphere of freedom, equality and absence of caste hatreds which was proving kayakalpa tonic for him. In a short time Bheemrao grew into a muscular man like a boxer.
Even American students admired his stout body. They wanted to know the secret of his health. He attributed it to yoga exercises he used to do regularly. Many of the American students started learning yoga from him.
In the mornings their room looked like a yoga centre. Naval Bhatna would watch the scene greatly amused. Otherwise, the room mate always found Bheemrao bent over some book or the other or writing notes. Sometimes the mate would worry for Bheemrao and advise, “Man, are you trying to read yourself to death? All work no play makes one a dull boy. Let’s go sight seeing.”
Bheemrao would say, “I have come to USA to study. Not to make merry. I have no time or money for anything other than studies. You know my background and the importance of education for me.”
The only purpose he would go out for was to hunt for books at second hand book-shops.
The magic of the atmosphere of equality worked wonders with Bheemrao’s brain. It blossomed into a creative mind. Same Bheemrao who passed college examination in third division in India was now writing thesis and research papers besides scholarly essays at furious pace.
In 1915, Bheemrao’s research paper ‘Administration and Finances of East India Company’earned him the degree of M.A.
He submitted his thesis ‘National Dividend of India…’ to Columbia University on 10th June 1916 which later got him Ph.D. Degree.
He hungrily absorbed knowledge from great teachers of Columbia University like John Dois, Shotwell, Sellingman, Robinson, Franklin, Alexander, Badger etc. His academic progress was so impressive that the students and the professors of Arts faculty held a special meeting to honour Dr. Bheemrao Ambedkar for his brilliance and achievements in the academic field.
Meanwhile, India’s famed freedom struggle leader Lala Lajpat Rai had also arrived in USA on political mission to garner support for India’s freedom. He happened to hear about a promising Indian student named Bheemrao Ambedkar and wished to see him. They met in the Central Park.
Lalaji urged, “Bheemrao! You must return to India and join the battle for the independence against the British. The movement needs thinking youngmen like you.”
He heard the elderman respectfully but didn’t agree. Bheemrao could not disrupt his education. He explained his stand, “Sir, the untouchables of India are fighting their own separate war of independence from upper caste tyranny. If untouchables don’t get their basic human rights, then, if India gains political freedom, that freedom would be meaningless for all the lower castes. For an untouchable the education is his own freedom struggle which is more important than the freedom movement going on in India.”
Lala Lajpat Rai didn’t press. He knew the plight of the untouchables of India and understood the truth of what the youngman was saying.
Shopping Cart
