Champion of the Dalits, BR Ambedkar, honoured with Google doodle on 124th birth anniversary

Google has honoured the BR Ambedkar, considered the father of the Indian Constitution, with a doodle on his 124th birth anniversary today.

Ambedkar, born in 1891, was an accomplished jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who led the campaign against social discrimination against untouchables, Dalits and women. Popularly known as Babasaheb, he was part of India’s independence movement as well.

Born to a ‘untouchable’ family in rural Madhya Pradesh, Ambedkar believed that education was the only way for the community to receive equal rights.

He championed equal rights for women and once said,  “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress that women have achieved.”

Until his death, Ambedkar received doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics and worked with Mahatma Gandhi to fight for equality and justice for the Dalits.

He ensured during the during the drafting of the constitution Dalits were given equal rights, untouchability was abolished and the communities were considered a part of the electorate in India’s diverse political system.

In 1947, he was asked to be the first Law Minister of India.

In 1956, disillusioned by Hinduism,  he converted to Buddhism and many Dalits followed him. He died in December 1956. His funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of supporters.