Who is Dr br Ambedkar ?
- Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar (1891-1956) is considered the father of the Indian Constitution and is also the best known leader of the Dalits. Because Dr Ambedkar fought for the rights of the Dalit community.
- He was born into the Mahar caste, which was considered untouchable. The Mahars were poor, owned no land and children born to them also had to do the work their parents did.
- Dr Ambedkar was the first person from his caste who completed his college education and went to England to become a lawyer.
- Bhim Rao Ambedkar encouraged Dalits to send their children to school and college. He also urged Dalits to take on different kinds of government jobs in order to move out of the caste system.
- Ambedkar led many efforts of Dalits to gain entry into temples.
- Later in life he converted to Buddhism in his search for a religion that treated all members equally. Dr Ambedkar believed that Dalits must fight the caste system and work towards a society based on respect not just for a few but for all persons.
Why Dr BR Ambedkar is called ‘Modern manu’ ?
Dr BR Ambedkar is called Modern Manu because of Hindu Code Bill which he drafted. Dr Ambedkar drafted a radical and most progressive Hindu Code Bill which would have regulated the socio-religious laws of Hindus. It was bundle of several laws that aimed to modify and reform Hindu Personal Law in India. He aimed for broader individual liberty and equality of men and women in Hindu Social system.
Some of the radical and bold measure adopted in Hindu Code Bill for women included are as follows:-
- The property including both movable and immovable property should be acquired by a woman,
- the acquisition of property should be made by a woman before and after marriage even during by the widowhood from her parents or husband.
- Dowry system would be paid as a condition and consideration, the share of the property of each unmarried daughter shall be half that of each son and the share of each married daughter shall be one quarter of that of each son.
