- India observes December 6 as Mahaparinirvan Divas every year to mark the death anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who fought for economic and social empowerment of Dalits in the country.
- He was born on April 14, 1891, was an eminent jurist, social reformer and the minister of law and justice in the first cabinet of independent India.
- He was the first lawyer belonging to a backward caste and Rajgirh, his personal library was the world’s largest library with over 50 thousand books.
- He was the flag bearer of India’s Dalit Activism and was the only satyagrahi worldwide, who did Satyagraha for drinking water.
- He had also started fortnightly and weekly papers named ‘Excluded India’, ‘Mook Nayak’, ‘Janta’ to raise voice against the atrocities on Dalits.
- Around the world all Budhha paintings and statues have Buddha’s eyes closed, Ambedkar was the first person to make a painting of him with open eyes.
- He was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution’s 20-page autobiography, Waiting for a Visa, is used as a textbook at Columbia University.
- The Union government has decided to celebrate Mahaparinirvan Divas as part of the major commemoration of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
