December 6 is the death anniversary of BR Ambedkar, best known for being the architect of the Indian constitution and for his struggle against untouchability in the Indian society. Ambedkar passed away in 1956, when he was 65 years old.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Here are 9 facts you need to know about this great man, who made the Indian constitution possible. 

1. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow ( currently in Madhya Pradesh). He belonged to the Mahar caste, considered as untouchable and dalit. A young Ambdekar faced blatant discrimination in school. 

2. Ambedkar's father served in the Indian army and his ancestors had worked with the East India Company.

3. Ambedkar was a student par excellence. He had degrees in law and economics from iconic places like the Columbia University and the London School of Economics. 

4. He was the first Union Minister of Law and Justice in the Nehru government.  

5. Ambedkar wrote a short autobiography called Waiting For a Visa in 1935-36. It chronicled his experience with untouchability, including his struggles after he returned to India and started working in Baroda. 

6. While working in Bombay at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, he faced hostility from colleagues for being from a lower caste. 

7. Ambedkar strongly spoke out against Manusmriti for justifying caste discrimination and untouchability and even burnt its copies. 

8. In 1936, Ambedkar formed Independent Labour Party, to give a voice to the downtrodden. 

9. In 1942, he formed the Scheduled Castes Federation. However, his party had very limited electoral success.

10. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the constitution drafting committee. 

11. He resigned as the Union Law Minister when his Hindu Code Bill failed to pass in the Parliament. 

12. Ambedkar was the man behind the setting up of the Finance Commission of India. His ideas were also used when the Reserve Bank of India was founded. 

13. He was fervently against Article 370, which grants special status for Jammu and Kashmir. 

14. He converted to Buddhism in 1956 along with his wife.

15. He suffered from severe diabetes towards the end of his life.