Ambedkar Jayanti

14 April

It marks Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthday who was born on 14 April 1891. Also known as Bhim Jayanti, it is an annual festival observed on 14 April to commemorate the memory of B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian polymath and civil rights activist.

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is widely regarded as the founder of the Indian Constitution.

Ambedkar Jayanti is also observed to commemorate the jurist’s commitment to combating societal ills like caste prejudice and injustice throughout his lifetime. He was a staunch opponent of the caste system, and he worked tirelessly to get it eliminated from society.

Dalits treat him as their God because he is one of the major reasons for the abolition of untouchability in India.

Ambedkar was master in 64 subjects and was proficient in 11 languages.

How is Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrated?

On Ambedkar Jayanti, it is a custom that the President, Prime Minister and leaders of other parties pay homage to his statue at the Parliament, New Delhi.

Ambedkar Jayanti Wishes

This Ambedkar Jayanti, let’s pledge to stand against discrimination and fight inequality.

Ambedkar Jayanti is a reminder for us that we are also the children of this country and we must fulfil our duties towards the country. Let us honour the hard work and sacrifices of the man who gave us the Indian Constitution.

He was the man who fought against discrimination and oppression. He was the epitome of confidence and dedication. Here is wishing you all a very Happy Ambedkar Jayanti.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar will always inspire us to dedicate our lives to making other people’s lives better. Warm wishes on Ambedkar Jayanti.

Quotes

1. I have always held that Knowledge is Power in every field of life. The Scheduled Castes will not attain their goal of freedom and liberty until they drink deep of all knowledge.
2. They cannot make history who forget history”.
3. The constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document, it is a vehicle of life and its spirit is always the spirit of the age.
4. Cultivation of the mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence.
5. For a successful revolution, it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice, necessity and importance of political and social rights.
6. A people and their religion must be judged by social standards based on social ethics. No other standard would have any meaning if religion is held to be necessary good for the well-being of the people.
7. “Political tyranny is nothing compared to the social tyranny and a reformer who defies society is a more courageous man than a politician who defies Government.”
8. “Law and order are the medicine of the body politic and when the body politic gets sick, medicine must be administered.”
9. Humans are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs to propagate as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die.
10. “Be Educated, Be Organised and Be Agitated”
11. “The sovereignty of scriptures of all religions must come to an end if we want to have a united integrated modern India.”
12. “I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity.”
13. “Life should be great rather than long.”
14. “So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.”
15. Equality may be fiction but nonetheless one must accept it as a governing principle.
16. “If I find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first to burn it.”
17. “Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence”.
18. “Political tyranny is nothing compared to the social tyranny and a reformer who defies society is a more courageous man than a politician who defies Government.”
19. A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of society.
20. “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
21. “If you believe in living a respectable life, you believe in self-help which is the best help”.
22. “We must stand on our own feet and fight as best as we can for our rights. So carry on your agitation and organize your forces. Power and prestige will come to you through struggle”.
23. “Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be a matter of rules. The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be a religion, as it kills responsibility which is an essence of the true religious act.”

History

Dr Ambedkar was born on April 14th 1891. Born into poverty, Ambedkar campaigned against the Indian caste system. He converted to Buddhism and is seen as a driving force in the surge of converts that saw many thousands of lower caste members become Buddhists.

Ambedkar was the first untouchable of India to pursue a college degree. He earned a law degree and doctorates for his studies in law, economics and political science, gaining a reputation as a scholar and campaigning for political rights and social freedom for the lowest in the caste system, the untouchables.

In 1927, Dr Ambedkar organised and led a march at Mahad, Maharashtra that eventually helped established equal rights for untouchable people who were not allowed to touch or taste the water of Chawdar Lake.

Dr Ambedkar died on December 6th 1956 and was posthumously awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’, India’s highest civilian award, in 1990.

TIMELINE

Ambedkar Jayanti DATES

Year	Weekday	Date	Name	Holiday Type
2017	Fri	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2018	Sat	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Gazetted Holiday
2019	Sun	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Gazetted Holiday
2020	Tue	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Central Government Holiday
2021	Wed	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Central Government Holiday
2022	Thu	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2023	Fri	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2024	Sun	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2025	Mon	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2026	Tue	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance
2027	Wed	14 Apr	Ambedkar Jayanti	Observance

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