Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: why it is celebrated

Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: why it is celebrated

Why is it celebrated?

Ambedkar was a prominent figure in Indian history as well as a jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He devoted his life to fighting for the rights of women and labourers as well as to ending societal prejudice against untouchables, or Dalits. This day, which is frequently observed as a public holiday throughout the nation, is also known as Equality Day since the leader fought for equality and the just treatment of all Indian residents under the law throughout his life.

 

Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: why it is celebrated

History of Ambedkar Jayanti

1. The First Festivity in 1928: Social activist Janardan Sadashiv Ranapisay has been associated with organising the first-ever public celebration of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, which took place in Pune on April 14, 1928. This occasion signalled the beginning of a custom that Ambedkar’s supporters carried on in the years that followed.
2. Increasing Awareness: The celebration of Ambedkar’s birth anniversary got more recognition in the middle of the 20th century during the 1940s-80s as his impact grew. However, it was still not recognised as a public holiday.
3. Rise in Observance: Dr. Ambedkar received India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990 as a posthumous honour and the year 1990–1991 was proclaimed as the “Year of Social Justice.” Ambedkar Remembrance Day became more widely recognised as a result of these changes, and it was informally observed as a holiday in various states.
4. Recognition by the Central Government: The Central Government began to recognise the day on a larger scale in 2020. The exact date on which a national holiday was declared is unknown, however Central Government departments have been celebrating the day as a holiday in recent years.

 

Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: why it is celebrated

Significance –

1. Dr. Ambedkar has been associated with helping to draft the Indian Constitution, which embraces the values of justice, liberty, equality, and brotherhood. His contribution to this endeavour is widely acknowledged.
2. Ambedkar’s unwavering fight against social injustice and support of the rights of marginalised castes have had a significant impact on the development of social reforms and policy in India.
3. Dr. Ambedkar is known for his view that education can bring about change and for promoting the quest of knowledge as a method of achieving both social and economic mobility.
4. Dr. Ambedkar’s dream of an inclusive society is promoted by a number of events planned on this day, which is also observed as a festival of equality.
5. His legacy acts as a guiding light, inspiring ongoing initiatives to build a society that is more just and inclusive.

Ambedkar Jayanti 2024: why it is celebrated