Mahaparinirvan Diwas
Why in news ?
Recently, Prime Minister paid homage to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
Who was Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar?
- Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages) orator, a scholar, and thinker of comparative religions.
- He was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).
- He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India’s first Law Minister.
- He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the new Constitution.
Contributions:
- He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board.
- In 1926, the Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to throw open the tank to all communities. Earlier, the untouchables were not allowed to use water from the Mahad tank.
- He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
- In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhi, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
Buddhism
- It is one of the world’s largest religions and originated 2,500 years ago in India.
- Buddhists believe that human life is one of suffering, and that meditation, spiritual and physical labor, and good behavior are the ways to achieve enlightenment, or nirvana.
- It originated in India in 563–483 B.C.E. with Siddhartha Gautama, and over the next millennia it spread across Asia and the rest of the world.
Shift to Buddhism:
- He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill.
- He converted to Buddhism in 1956.
- He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
Source –The Hindu
