Ambedkar’s Passion for Education—Overcoming Historical Deprivation and Ensuring Provision for the Deprived

Abstract

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is one of the greatest leaders and intellectuals of India. Although, extensively contributed in social, political and religious spheres of nation, he was conveniently ignored by the academic and reduced him into merely Dalit leader. In the changed time and circumstances, as thoughts, writings, speeches and work of Dr. Ambedkar increasingly becoming relevant, the great deal of interest is being shown by the present scholarship worldwide, in his life and mission. Dr. Ambedkar, a crusader of social justice, while fighting for Dalits to get their rightful place in society with equal status and progress, gave message to educate themselves and their children to liberate from social slavery. Importantly, out of sixty-five years of life span, Dr. Ambedkar spent almost forty years in education as a researcher, scholar, teacher, academic administrator and builder of educational institutes. Dr. Ambedkar severely criticized the educational policy of British, it being socially exclusive and of which benefits remained confined to small section of society particularly urban elites and upper caste. He pleaded for education of Dalits and asked the British to take special measures to protect their educational interest. Importantly, at the same time, he also pleaded with the British for free and compulsory primary education for all.