Importance Of 'We The People’: PM Modi Extols BR Ambedkar In Lockdown Extension Speech

Today marks the 129th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar who is the principal architect of the constitution of India. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the visionary on Ambedkar Jayanti during his address to the nation and said that Ambedkar’s life inspires us to face the difficulties in life courageously and persevere.

Mumbai: Buddhist monks clean the premises of Chaitya Bhoomi on the eve of B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary, in Mumbai, April 13, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Today marks the 129^th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar who is the principal architect of the constitution of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the visionary on Ambedkar Jayanti during his address to the nation this morning.  He invoked Ambedkar and the reference to ‘we the people' in the constitution and said that the solidarity shown by the nation in its fight against coronavirus is a testament and a true acknowledgment of Ambedkar’s vision for the nation. He also said that Ambedkar’s life inspires us to face the difficulties in life courageously and persevere. Born as the youngest among 14 children in the military cantonment town of Mhow, (Madhya Pradesh) on April 14, 1891, Ambedkar was a visionary, who was central in shaping modern India. Since he belonged to a caste that was considered untouchables, his early life was rife with incidents of caste discrimination. This had a great impact on him, and he dedicated his life to the empowerment of the Dalit. His original surname was Ambavadekar but was changed by his teacher Mahadev Ambedkar in the school records as he was very fond of him. At the time, he became the only untouchable to be enrolled in Elphinstone High School in 1897 after his family moved to Bombay. Ambedkar was also the first Indian to pursue an Economics doctorate degree abroad. While practicing law, he had begun working towards the upliftment of the Dalit community of India.  He also started a newspaper called Mooknayaka (leader of the silent) in 1920 to highlight caste atrocities.  Ambedkar is known for his plans for his ‘modern’ vision of India and made significant contributions to create the ‘State’ of India. In 1951, he established the Finance Commission of India and took him 2 years and 11 months to draft out the Indian Constitution. Social justice was an important aspect for him and he worked tirelessly for social equality and outlawing discrimination based on caste. One of the biggest changes that Ambedkar brought about was the idea of caste. He passionately believed in individual freedom and openly criticized the caste society. As a rebellion against caste Ambedkar converted to Buddhism and was responsible for the largest religious conversion in the world because his supporters too turned to Buddhism as it did not preach caste or segregation. His accommodation at 10, King Henry’s Road in Camden, where he lived as a student of the London in 1921- ‘22 now functions as a museum. Recently India successfully stopped the decision to close the house due to a breach of planning norms for the residential area. Other leaders also paid their respect today to Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. The President Ram Nath Kovind wrote on Twitter, “Our nation's icon and Chief Architect of the Constitution, he strived for a society based on justice and equity. Let us all take inspiration from his vision and values, and resolve to imbibe his ideals in our lives," The President also paid floral tribute to Ambedkar at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Tributes to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. Our nation’s icon and Chief Architect of the Constitution, he strived for a society based on justice and equity. Let us all take inspiration from his vision and values, and resolve to imbibe his ideals in our lives.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 14, 2020

Home Minister Amit shah also paid a floral tribute to Ambedkar.

बाबासाहेब अम्बेडकर जी की जयंती के शुभअवसर पर उन्हें पुष्पांजलि अर्पित की। pic.twitter.com/BddW9jy0n9

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 14, 2020

The Congress advised party workers to reach out to the poor on Ambedkar Jayanti while adhering to all precautionary norms and posted a series of Tweets on Ambedkar and his vision for India. Rahul Gandhi also shared a message on twitter regarding Ambedkar.

My tributes to the great social reformer & chief architect of our Constitution, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Ji on his Jayanti.

डॉ. बाबासाहेब अम्बेडकर जी की जयंती पर सादर नमन।#IAmAmbedkar pic.twitter.com/zKTmmFx690 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 14, 2020