LESSON 3287 Thu 27 Feb 2020
from
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ashoka-6226.php
Ashoka (Piya Dasi)
“GREATEST EMPEROR ON EARTH!”
Another king from another kingdom who was given the title of ‘The
Great’. Asoka the Great was the last of the great Indian empire of
Maurya and he ruled from 269 BC. He too has great conquests and his
empire was almost the entire Indian sub-continent. He was a kind and a
good-hearted leader. After the bloody Kalinga War, he was so deeply
moved and pained by the suffering that he denounced his throne and all
his wealth and adopted Buddhism. Today, he is known as an important
champion of Buddhism and he preached the values of Buddhism and the
lesson from Buddha’s life to the people.
Ashoka Biography
Ashoka was the third emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty and ruled almost
the entire Indian subcontinent. This biography profiles his childhood,
life, reign, achievements and timeline
Quick Facts
Born: 304 BC
Nationality: Indian
Famous: Leaders Emperors & Kings
Died At Age: 72
Also Known As: Dharma Ashoka, Ashoka the Terrible, Asoka, Ashoka the Great
Born in: Pataliputra
Famous as: Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty
Family:
Spouse/Ex-: Karuvaki, Maharani Devi, Rani Padmavati, Tishyaraksha
father: Bindusara
mother: Shubhadrangi
siblings: Susima
children: Charumati, Jaluka, Kunala, Mahinda, Sangamitta, Tivala
Died on: 232 BC
place of death: Pataliputra
Ashoka, also known as ‘Ashoka the Great’, was the third ruler of the
Mauryan Empire and one of the greatest emperors of India who ruled
almost the entire Indian subcontinent. He is largely credited for
spreading Buddhism in many parts of the world. He grew up to become an
absolutely fearsome king with a vision to expand his empire
continuously, which stretched across the Indian subcontinent leaving
aside the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. However, it was
the conquest of Kalinga, seen as the bloodiest and most lethal, which
left him shattered and transformed him from a fierce vengeful ruler to a
peaceful and non-violent emperor. He built up numerous stupas across
his empire, and got many pillars constructed, the most significant of
them being the Ashoka Pillar, containing the Lion Capital of Ashoka
which is today India’s national emblem. In addition to this, his Ashoka
Chakra, inscribed on many of his relics (most prominent among which is
the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka Pillar), is at the centre of
the National flag of India. The reign of Ashoka is considered as one of
the most glorious periods in Indian history. Even though Buddhism faded
in India after his death, it continued to flourish and spread in other
parts, particularly in eastern and south-eastern Asia
Primis Player Placeholder
Childhood & Early Life
Ashoka was born as Devanampriya Priyadarshi Samrat Ashoka, in 304
BC, in Pataliputra (close to modern-day Patna), to the second emperor of
the Mauryan Dynasty, Bindusara, and Maharani Dharma.
The
grandson of the founder of Mauryan Dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya, he had
several half-brothers from his father’s other wives.
Born
into a royal family, he was good at fighting since childhood and
received royal military training. Besides, he was also excellent at
hunting, evident from his ability to kill a lion with only a wooden rod.
Accession & Reign
Considered a fearless and heartless military leader, he was deputed to curb the riots in the Avanti province of the empire.
He was appointed the Viceroy of Avanti province in 286 BC after suppressing the uprising at Ujjain.
He was called upon by his father to help heir-apparent Susima in
quelling a revolt at Taxila, which he did successfully, thereby becoming
the Viceroy of Taxila. He is also said to have handled and curbed a
second rebellion in Taxila later.
After his father
Bindusara’s death in 272 BC, a two-year long fierce battle broke out
between Ashoka and his half brothers. According to Dipavansa and
Mahavansa (Buddhist texts), he killed his 99 brothers, sparing just
Vitashoka or Tissa, to capture the throne.
While he ascended
the throne in 272 BC, he had to wait for four years for his coronation
in 269 BC to become the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire.
He
was supported by his father’s ministers, especially Radhagupta, who
played a major role in his victory and was appointed the Prime Minster
after Ashoka became the emperor.
He was constantly at war
during the first eight years of his reign, expanding his empire across
the Indian subcontinent, including Iran and Afghanistan in the West, and
Bangladesh and Burmese border in the East.
He was successful
in acquiring the Godavari-Krishna basin and Mysore in the south, though
the southernmost territories of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Sri Lanka
remained out of his reach.
Even though the predecessors of
Ashoka ruled over a vast empire, the kingdom of Kalinga on the northeast
coast of India (present-day Odisha and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh)
never came under the control of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka wanted to
change this and invaded Kalinga for the same.
The bloody war
at Kalinga left over 100,000 soldiers and civilians dead and more than
150,000 deported. This large-scale killing of humans sickened Ashoka so
much that he vowed never to fight again and started practicing
non-violence.
According to Buddhist sources, he was so
influenced by the teachings of Buddhism that he converted into a
Buddhist and made it his state religion.
He issued a series
of edicts that laid down the basic rules for formulating policies in his
empire. These were announced through edicts and inscriptions in local
dialects on pillars and rocks.
A number of Buddhist monks
were sent across India and other countries, like Afghanistan, Syria,
Persia, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia,
China, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma, to spread Buddhism.
Major Battles
He attacked Kalinga in 261 BC to further extend his Empire and
conquered it successfully, only to be shocked to see the massive
destruction caused in terms of both property and human lives.
Achievements
He is said to have built 84,000 stupas to store the relics of
Buddha and also as places of meditation, across South Asia and Central
Asia for Buddhist monks.
His ‘Ashoka Chakra’ or ‘the wheel of
righteousness’, widely inscribed on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor
(most prominent among them is the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka
Pillar), was adopted into the Indian flag.
The pillar edicts
or Ashokstambha, measuring 40 to 50 feet high, were erected in all
places bordering the Mauryan Empire, reaching as far as Nepal, Pakistan
and Afghanistan, although only ten of them survive to date.
He administered the construction of a sculpture of four lions standing
back to back, known as the Lion Capital of Ashoka, atop the Ashoka
pillar at Sarnath (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh). It is the national emblem
of India.
The Lion Capital can be found at the Sarnath
Museum, while the Ashoka pillar, also called Ashoka column, is still
intact at its original location.
He oversaw the construction
of ‘viharas’ or intellectual hubs – Nalanda University and Taxila
University, stupas – Dhamek stupa, Bharhut stupa, Sannati stupa, Butkara
stupa, Barabar Caves, Mahabodhi Temple, and Sanchi.
Personal Life & Legacy
While on exile in Kalinga for two years to escape his brothers’
enmity, he met and fell in love with its princess, Kaurwaki, as a
commoner, both unaware of each other’s real identities. The two later
married secretly.
While being treated for his injuries at
Ujjain, he met Vidisa Mahadevi Sakya Kumari (Devi), from Vidisha, whom
he later married. The couple had two children – son Mahendra and
daughter Sanghamitra.
Apart from Kaurwaki and Devi, he is
believed to have had many other wives too. Padmavati, Tishyaraksha and
Asandhimitra were some of them, with whom he had several children.
His children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra, played a major role in
establishing and spreading Buddhism in Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka).
Even though he motivated his people to follow Buddhist values and
principles, he permitted the practice of other religions as well, such
as Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Ajivikaism, and Greek polytheism, in his
empire.
He died in 232 BC, aged 72, as a stable and merciful king who cared for his people.
Savitribai Phule: Her humble character continues
to be printed in every text-book of Maharashtra, her revolutionary
reforms are remembered in every nook and corner of the country,
Savitribai Phule was a woman who strived against the odds. She had been
mocked, thrown eggs at, tomatoes and even stones by orthodox men but her
zeal to continue teaching girls never faded. She protested against ‘sati’,
sheltered orphaned children, embraced the untouchables, raised the bar
for women’s self-esteem and confidence, and campaigned against many
social ill-practices; a true redeemer. After the demise of her husband
Jotirao, it was Savitribai who took over responsibility of the Satya Shodhak Samaj,
a group which aimed to liberate social ideologies with regard to
untouchables and which was founded by Jotirao himself. She broke all
odds by being the first woman in Indian history to light up her
husband’s pyre. Savitribai Phule continues to remain an inspiration to
us all.
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/narayana-guru-9827.php
Narayana Guru
Nick Name: Nanu
Nationality: Indian
Famous:
Social Reformers
Spiritual & Religious Leaders
Died At Age: 72
Sun Sign: Leo
Also Known As: Shree Narayana Guru Swami
Born Country: India
Born in: Chempazhanthy, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Famous as: Spiritual Leader, Social Reformer
father: Madan Asan
mother: Kuttiyamma
Died on: September 20, 1928
place of death: Sivagiri, Kerala, India
Founder/Co-Founder: Alwaye Advaita Ashram
Narayana Guru, also known
as Shree Narayana Guru Swami, was a spiritual leader, saint and social
reformer from Kerala, India. He belonged to the Ezhava community
considered as ‘Avarna’ or belonging to the lower caste. He was a social
reformer and led a movement to end the injustices prevalent in the Hindu
caste-ridden society in Kerala. He believed in spiritualism, social
equality, freedom, and brotherhood. He dedicated his entire life to
promoting spiritual enlightenment. He is venerated as a saint and “Guru”
for his profound Vedic knowledge, poetic excellence, and his teachings
of tolerance and non-violence, which impacted a large population in
India as well as abroad. He was instrumental in laying the groundwork
for social and spiritual reform in Kerala. He believed that spiritual
and social growth could be attained by education and establishment of
learning centers. Thus, he built several temples, schools, and education
centers for the underprivileged. He dismissed the ‘Chaturvarna’ and the
beliefs attached to it. Many years after his death, he was commemorated
on an Indian postage stamp by the Indian government. The Sri Lankan
government also issued a commemorative stamp in his honor.
-
Narayana
Guru, lovingly known as ‘Nanu,’ was born on August 28, 1855, in
Chempazhanthy near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His father, Madan Asan,
was a farmer from the Ezhava community, and his mother was Kuttiyamma. -
He
was educated in the traditional gurukul system under the tutelage of
Chempazhanthi Mootha Pillai. His mother passed away when he was only 15
years old. -
At
the age of 21, he traveled to Travancore (modern-day
Thiruvananthapuram) to learn from the Sanskrit scholar Raman Pillai
Asan, who belonged to the Puthuppally Varanappally family. From him,
Narayana Guru learned the Vedas, the Upanishads, literature, and logic
rhetoric in Sanskrit. -
In
1881, he abandoned his studies and returned to his village owing to his
father’s ill health. He also set up a small village school to educate
local children, where he was known as “Nanu Asan.”
-
During
the 19th and early 20th centuries, casteism was the order of the day in
the Indian society. People from lower castes like the Thiyyas and
Ezhavas and the untouchable castes like Pulayars, Paraiyars and tribals
suffered at the hands of the Brahmins.
-
Even
Guru wasn’t spared of these atrocities, and hence as his first act of
protest, he erected the Siva idol at Aruvippuram in 1888. He built over
forty-five temples in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. -
He
even sanctified several non-traditional objects like a slab with the
inscriptions “Truth, Ethics, Compassion,” a vegetarian Shiva, a mirror,
and also a sculpture made by an Italian artist. -
He
preached about living with compassion and tolerance for each other. One
of his significant works, the “Anukampadasakam,” praises the teachings
of The Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, and Adi Shankara.
-
The
Vaikom Satyagraha was a social protest that began when people from the
lower castes rebelled against untouchability practiced in the Hindu
society of Travancore. -
Reportedly,
when an upper caste person stopped Narayana Guru on the way to Vaikom
Temple, his followers and supporters were agitated and thus sparked the
Vaikom Satyagraha. -
Guru’s
disciples Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker and Kumaran Asan wrote poems
disapproving of the incident. In 1918, another follower, T. K. Madhavan,
appealed to the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly for their right to enter
any temple without any discrimination based on caste. -
Protesters
like K. Kelappan and K. P. Kesava Menon formed a group and declared it
the ‘Kerala Paryatanam.’ Mahatma Gandhi also supported the movement, and
it snowballed into a mass movement. -
As
a result, the temple was opened to all, and three roads leading to it
were built for people of all castes. This protest played a significant
role in the Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936.
-
Narayana
Guru wrote several religious works like “Atmopadesa Śatakam” and “Daiva
Dasakam,” which are collections of spiritual poems and prayers.
-
He also translated texts like “Thirukural of Valluvar,” “Ozhivil Odukkam of Kannudaiya Vallalaar,” and “Ishavasya Upanishad.”
-
He
believed in and preached the maxim “One Caste, One Religion, One God
for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu). -
He
even propagated the non-dualistic philosophy of Adi Sankara, combining
it with the concepts of social equality and brotherhood.
-
Unfortunately,
very little is known about Narayana Guru’s personal life. However, it
is known that he married Kaliamma when he was about 27 years of age. He
did not live with his wife for long. -
The
visit to Pallathuruthy in 1927 was the final trip made by Narayana
Guru. His health was deteriorating, and he had several physicians caring
for him in his last days. -
He moved to Sarada Mutt in Sivagiri in 1928, and died on September 20 of the same year.
-
His
tomb is situated in Sivagiri, and every year September 20 is observed
as ‘Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi.’ His birth anniversary is observed as
‘Sree Narayana Jayanthi’ and both days remain public holidays in his
honor.
Dr B.R.Ambedkar thundered “Main Bharat Baudhmay karunga.” (I will make India Buddhist)
All Aboriginal Awakened Societies Thunder ” Hum Prapanch Prabuddha Bharatmay karunge.” (We will make world Prabuddha Prapanch)
B. R. Ambedkar
was an eminent leader, social reformer, scholar and jurist. Go through
this biography to learn in details about his life, career, works and
timeline.
B. R. Ambedkar
Nationality: Indian
Famous:
Quotes By B. R. Ambedkar
Humanitarian
Died At Age: 65
Sun Sign: Aries
Also Known As: Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Babasaheb Ambedkar
Born Country: India
Born in: Dr. Ambedkar Nagar
Famous as: Indian Jurist
Spouse/Ex-: Ramabai Ambedkar (m. 1906–1935), Savita Ambedkar (m. 1948–1956)
father: Ramji Maloji Sakpa
mother: Bhimabai Sakpal
children: Bhaiyasaheb Ambedkar
Died on: December 6, 1956
place of death: Delhi
Founder/Co-Founder: Buddhist Society of India, Independent Labour Party, Scheduled Castes Federation, Samata Sainik Dal
B.R. Ambedkar was a
leading activist and social reformer who dedicated his life, working for
the upliftment of the Dalits (the untouchables) and the socially
backward class of India. A messiah for the downtrodden, Ambedkar
continuously fought for the eradication of caste discrimination that had
fragmented the Indian society. Born in a socially backward family,
Ambedkar was the victim of caste discrimination, inequality, and
prejudice. However, fighting against all odds, he received higher
education, becoming the first ever untouchable to do so. After
completing his studies, he launched himself politically, fighting for
the rights of the depressed class and against the inequality practiced
in the society. He was a crusader of social equality and justice.
Academically trained as a jurist, he went on to become the first law
minister of free India and the framer or chief architect of the
‘Constitution of India.’ In his later years, he acted as a revivalist of
Buddhism in India. He converted to Buddhism, freeing himself of the
perils of caste differences and unfairness practiced by the Hindus.
-
Ambedkar
was born Bhimrao Ramji Sakpal on 14 April 1891, in Mhow, Central
Provinces, British India, to Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai. His
father served in the Indian army. Ambedkar was the last of the 14
children born to his parents. -
Belonging
to ‘Mahar’ caste and considered among the untouchables, he suffered
from socio-economic discrimination. However, due to special privileges
given to the children of parents serving the army, he received good
education. -
A
young Ambedkar faced a lot of problems during his school days but he
managed to overcome his problems. In 1897, he along with his family
moved to Bombay where he enrolled at ‘Elphinstone High School,’ becoming
the first ever untouchable to receive higher education. -
Completing
his matriculation degree in 1907, he enrolled at ‘Elphinstone College’
in 1908, once again creating history by becoming the first untouchable
to enter a university. He graduated from ‘Elphinstone College’ in 1912
with a degree in economics and political science. -
He
secured a job with the Baroda state government but did not continue his
job for long as he was awarded a ‘Baroda State Scholarship,’ which
provided him the opportunity to receive postgraduate education at
‘Columbia University’ in New York City. To pursue the same, he moved to
America in 1913. -
He
completed his MA in June 1915, majoring in economics, with sociology,
history, philosophy, and anthropology as other subjects of study. In
1927, he obtained a PhD in economics. -
Meanwhile,
in 1916, he enrolled for a bar course at ‘Gray’s Inn.’ However, due to
the termination of his scholarship, he had to return to India.
-
Upon
returning to India, he worked as the defence secretary for the Princely
State of Baroda. However, the work was not easy for him as he was often
ridiculed and castigated for being an untouchable. -
He
quit his job as the defence secretary and took up jobs as a private
tutor and accountant. He even established a consultancy business which
failed to flourish due to his social status. He finally landed a job as a
teacher at the ‘Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics’ in Mumbai. -
A
victim of caste discrimination, Ambedkar was inspired to uplift the
pitiable state of the untouchables in the society. Thus, with the help
of the Maharaja of Kolhapur, he founded a weekly journal called
‘Mooknayak’ which criticized the orthodox beliefs of the Hindus and the
reluctance of politicians to fight against the discrimination. -
Accumulating
enough wealth, he moved to London to complete his education. In 1921,
he received his master’s degree from ‘London School of Economics.’ Two
years later, he acquired his D.Sc. in economics. After completing his
law studies, he was admitted to the British bar as a barrister. -
After
returning to India, he started working as a legal professional in the
country. His passion for eradicating the practice of caste
discrimination led him to establish the ‘Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha.’
The main aim of the organization was to provide education to the
backward class. -
In
1925, he was appointed to ‘Bombay Presidency Committee’ to work under
the ‘All-European Simon Commission.’ The commission reports were
thrashed by the Congress which set up its own version of the
Constitution of free India. -
In
1927, he actively worked against untouchability. Instead of taking the
route of violence, he followed in the footsteps of Gandhi and led a
‘Satyagraha’ movement. He fought for the rights of the untouchables who
were denied access to the main water source and temples. -
In
1932, due to his rising popularity as a crusader, he received an
invitation to attend the ‘Second Round Table Conference’ in London. At
the conference, he demanded a separate electorate for the depressed
class, but his views were opposed by Gandhi. -
Finally,
he reached an understanding with Gandhi and settled for the ‘Poona
Pact,’ according to which a reservation was granted to the depressed
class in the regional legislative assemblies and Central Council of
States.
-
In
1935, he was appointed as the principal of the ‘Government Law
College,’ a position he retained for two years. The following year, he
founded the ‘Independent Labour Party,’ which went on to secure 14 seats
in the 1937 Bombay elections. -
In
1936, he published his book ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ in which he
ridiculed Hindu orthodox leaders and condemned the caste system
practiced in the country. Next, he came up with his work ‘Who Were the
Shudras?’ in which he explained the formation of the untouchables. -
As
soon as India became independent, he administered the transformation of
his political party into the ‘All India Scheduled Castes Federation.’
However, the party did not perform well at the 1946 elections, held for
the ‘Constituent Assembly of India.’ -
He
served as the minister for labour for the ‘Viceroy’s Executive
Council.’ He also served on the board of the ‘Defence Advisory
Committee.’ It was his dedication that earned him the chair of free
India’s first law minister. He also became the chairman of the drafting
committee of the ‘Constitution of India.’ -
The
Constitution drafted by him aimed at bringing about a social revolution
in the country and freeing it from any sort of discrimination. It
provided the citizens with freedom of religion, abolished
untouchability, advocated rights for women, and bridged the gap between
the different classes of the society. -
Other
than his role as the framer of the Constitution, he also helped
establish the ‘Finance Commission of India.’ It was through his policies
that the nation progressed both economically and socially. He
emphasized on free economy with a stable rupee. -
He
rejected the ‘Aryan Invasion Theory’ which describes the origin of the
Aryans outside the Indian sub-continent. He came to a conclusion that
the Aryans originally belonged to India. -
In
1951, following the indefinite stalling of the ‘Hindu Code Bill’ which
was proposed by him, he resigned from the Cabinet. He contested for a
seat at the ‘Lok Sabha’ but was defeated. He was later appointed to the
‘Rajya Sabha’ and remained a member of the ‘Rajya Sabha’ until his
death.
-
In
1906, he married Ramabai, who was just nine years old at the time. In
1912, the couple was blessed with a son named Yashwant. Apart from
Yashwant, they had four other children, who died in infancy. -
In 1935, Ramabai breathed her last when she succumbed to a long-term illness.
-
It
was while undergoing treatment for neurotic pain and lack of sleep that
he first met Dr. Sharada Kabir. The two eventually got married on April
15, 1948. Post her wedding, she renamed herself Savita Ambedkar. -
He
got converted to Buddhism after attending a convention of Buddhist
scholars in Sri Lanka. Inspired by their preaching, he wrote a book on
Buddhism. After his conversion to Buddhism, he founded the ‘Bharatiya
Bauddha Mahasabha’ (Buddhist Society of India) in 1955. He completed his
final work ‘The Buddha and His Dhamma’ in 1956. The book was published
posthumously. -
His
deteriorating health worsened further as he suffered from diabetes and
weak eyesight. He breathed his last in his home on December 6, 1956. -
Since
he had converted to Buddhism, a Buddhist-style cremation was organized
for him. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of thousands of
supporters, activists, and admirers. -
To
commemorate his contribution to the society, a memorial was constructed
and established. His birthday, celebrated as ‘Ambedkar Jayanti’ or
‘Bhim Jayanti,’ is a public holiday in India. -
In 1990, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honor, ‘Bharat Ratna.’
-
This
revolutionary, who fought against the untouchability practiced in
India, is popularly known as the chief architect of the ‘Constitution of
India.’
-
Ambedkar played a key role in the establishment of ‘Reserve Bank of India’ in 1935.
-
He had suggested the division of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar for better governance way back in 1955.
-
He wanted to sponsor Sanskrit as the official language of the Indian union.
-
Ambedkar contested the ‘Lok Sabha’ election twice, failing to win the election on both occasions.
-
His autobiography ‘Waiting for a Visa’ is used as a text book in the ‘Columbia University.’
-
He opposed the whole idea of reservation of jobs and constituencies and didn’t want the reservation system to exist at all.
-
He was the first Indian to complete a doctorate degree overseas.
-
Ambedkar was the one who insisted on reducing the working hours from 14 to eight hours a day in India.
-
He strongly opposed ‘Article 370’ of the Indian constitution which gave special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
-
He played a key role in forming the ‘National Employment Exchange Agency’ in India.
B. R. Ambedkar
Image Credit: �� BCCL
One of the greatest personalities ever born in India, Ambedkar was a
jurist, political leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian,
revolutionary, writer and much more. He was a revolutionary leader and
held forth on his views even if they went against the popular grain. He
also revived Buddhism in India, a legacy still seen in Dalit
communities, who’s cause Ambedkar championed throughout his life.
Ambedkar is also known as the Father of the Indian Constitution, on
behalf of which the nation celebrated Republic Day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dalits
List of SC/STs
Following is a list of SC/ST people organised by profession, field, or focus.
Inspirational Leader
Kanshi Ram, Founder of Bahujan Samaj Party
Academics
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanshi_Ram
www.bamcef.info/manyawar-shri-kanshiram-ji.php
B. R. Ambedkar, jurist, economist, politician and social reformer
Early life
Kanshi Ram was born on 15 March 1934 in Ropar district, Punjab, British
India. Some sources say his birthplace was the village of Pirthipur
Bunga and others that it was Khawaspur village. Although his family were
Ramdasia Sikhs, an untouchable sect, in Punjab at that time there was
relatively little stigma attached to being an untouchable.
After studies at various local schools, Ram graduated in 1956 with a BSc degree from Government College Ropar.
Career
Kanshi Ram joined the offices of the Explosive Research and Development
Laboratory in Pune[5] under the government’s scheme of positive
discrimination. It was at this time that he first experienced caste
discrimination and in 1964 he became an activist. Those who admire him
claim that he was spurred to this after reading B. R. Ambedkar’s book
Annihilation of Caste and witnessing what he perceived to be
discrimination against a SC/ST employee who wished to observe a holiday
celebrating Ambedkar’s birth.
Ram initially supported the
Republican Party of India (RPI) but became disillusioned with its
co-operation with the Indian National Congress. In 1971, he founded the
All India SC, ST, OBC and Minority Employees Association and in 1978
this became BAMCEF, an organisation that aimed to persuade educated
members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backwards
Classes and Minorities to support Ambedkarite principles. BAMCEF was
neither a political nor a religious body and it also had no aims to
agitate for its purpose. Suryakant Waghmore says it appealed to “the
class among the Dalits that was comparatively well-off, mostly based in
urban areas and small towns working as government servants and partially
alienated from their untouchable identities”.
Later, in 1981,
Ram formed another social organisation known as SC/ST Shoshit Samaj
Sangharsh Samiti (DSSSS, or DS4). He started his attempt of
consolidating the Dalit vote and in 1984 he founded the Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP). He fought his first election in 1984 from Janjgir-Champa
seat in Chhattisgarh. The BSP found success in Uttar Pradesh, initially
struggled to bridge the divide between Dalits and Other Backward
Classes[15] but later under leadership of Mayawati bridged this gap.
In 1982 he wrote his book The Chamcha Age (an Era of the Stooges) and
in it he used of the term chamcha (stooge) for SC/ST leaders who for
their selfish motives work for parties like the Indian National Congress
(INC) such as Jagjivan Ram or Ram Vilas Paswan and for Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) keeping in ethical context with Ambedkar’s book What
Gandhi and the Congress Have Done to the Untouchables to the politics of
Dalit liberation.[citation needed]
However, it was in 1986 when
he declared his transition from a social worker to a politician by
stating that he was not going to work for/with any other organization
other than the BSP. During the meetings and seminars of the party, Ram
stated to ruling classes that if they promised to do something, it would
pay to keep the promise, or else just accept that they were not capable
of fulfilling their promises.[citation needed]
After forming BSP
Ram said the party would fight first election to lose, next to get
noticed and the third election to win.[18] In 1988 he contested
Allahabad seat up against a future Prime Minister V. P. Singh and
performed impressively but lost polling close to 70,000 votes.
He
unsuccessfully contested from East Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency) in
1989 and came at fourth position. Then he represented the 11th Lok Sabha
from Hoshiarpur,[20] Kanshiram was also elected as member of Lok Sabha
from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. In 2001 he publicly announced Mayawati as
his successor.
In the late 1990s, Ram described the BJP as the
most corrupt (mahabrasht) party in India and the INC, Samajwadi Party
and Janata Dal as equally corrupt.
Proposed conversion to Buddhism
In 2002, Ram announced his intention to convert to Buddhism on 14
October 2006, the 50th anniversary of Ambedkar’s conversion. He intended
for 20,000,000 of his supporters to convert at the same time. Part of
the significance of this plan was that Ram’s followers include not only
untouchables, but persons from a variety of castes, who could
significantly broaden Buddhism’s support. However, he died on 9 October
2006.
Mayawati his successor said “Saheb Kanshi Ram and I had
decided that we will convert and adopt Buddhism when we will get
“absolute majority” at the Centre. We wanted to do this because we can
make a difference to the religion by taking along with us millions of
people. If we convert without power then only we too will be converting.
But when you have power you can really create a stir”.Death
Saheb was a diabetic. He suffered a heart attack in 1994, an arterial
clot in his brain in 1995, and a paralytic stroke in 2003.[25] He died
in New Delhi on 9 October 2006 of a severe heart attack at the age of
72. He had been virtually bed-ridden for more than two years. According
to his wishes, his funeral rites were performed according to Buddhist
tradition, with Mayawati lighting the pyre.His ashes were placed in an
urn and kept at Prerna Sthal, where many people paid their respects.
In his condolence message, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
described Ram as “one of the greatest social reformers of our time ..
his political ideas and movements had a significant impact on our
political evolution … He had a larger understanding of social change and
was able to unite various underprivileged sections of our society and
provide a political platform where their voices would be heard.” Under
Ram’s leadership, the BSP won 14 parliamentary seats in the 1999 federal
elections.
Bahujan Samaj PartyMayawatiBAMCEF
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAMCEF
BAMCEF
BAMCEF is an Indian charitable organization. It was founded in 1978 to
enlist the aid of the comparatively well-educated among the bahujans and
other communities of India who suffer discrimination. It has no
political or religious agenda, nor does it promote agitation to achieve
its goals.[6] BAMCEF is an acronym for “The All India Backward and
Minority Communities Employees Federation”. The term backward got its
significance from the Constitution of India, which divides the oppressed
and exploited Indians into categories on the basis of their
backwardness, namely: Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST),
Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Minority Communities.
BAMCEF
The All India Backward And Minority Communities Employees Federation
Formation
6 December 1978 (39 years ago)
Founder
Kanshi Ram
Founded at
BAMCEF Convention at New Delhi
Type
Social organization of educated employees[1]
Legal status
Active
Members
2 million[2]
President
Waman Meshram (Bharat Mukti Morcha faction[3])
B. D. Borkar (Mulnivasi Sangh faction[4][5])
Website
www.bamcef.info
www.bamcef.org.in
www.bamcef.co.in
bamcefmission.com
The origins of BAMCEF lie in an organisation for employees of repressed
communities that was established in 1971 by Kanshi Ram.[6] This became
BAMCEF at a convention held in Delhi in 1978, with an official launch on
6 December 1978, the anniversary of the death of B. R. Ambedkar.[7] The
ideology of BAMCEF is to fight the entrenched system of inequality that
divides Indian society, and to abolish the caste system.
History
As an employee of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in
Pune, Kanshi Ram realized that the formation of a bahujan bureaucracy
was important to serve Dalits’ interests. He set about forming a
federation, through which he worked his way up the bureaucratic
hierarchy. By identifying a few zealous officers, he was able to
influence lower-ranked staff.
The motto of this organisation was
‘Payback to society’, to inspire the Dalit bureaucrats to do their bit
for the Dalit masses. In this way, a continuous supply of intellectual
property, money and talent was ensured. Ram did not want to make BAMCEF
an employees’ union. He wanted it to become an organisation of educated
Bahujan employees: “the think tank, talent bank, and financial bank of
the Bahujan samaj”.
BAMCEF raised funds to promote their agenda
and for training.Kanshi Ram appointed state-level conveners as well as
mandal conveners to act as links between state and district levels.[10]
Suryakant Waghmore says it appealed to “the class among the indigenous
moolnivasi bahujans that was comparatively well-off, mostly based in
urban areas and small towns working as government servants and partially
alienated from their untouchable identities”.
Others established
the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4) in 1981. This
organization made an impact on people in North and South India. Later,
this group was led by Ishaan Singh Tomar. Before the formation of the
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), DS4 entered local elections in Delhi and
Haryana in the name of “Limited Political Action”. Later on, Ram
dissolved DS4 and formed BSP as a completely political wing.[12] This
caused strain within BAMCEF ranks.
In early 1986, BAMCEF split.
Kanshi Ram announced that he was no longer willing to work for any
organisation other than BSP. One element of BAMCEF, which was associated
with Kanshi Ram, became a shadow organisation to help BSP in electoral
mobilisation. Those remaining in BAMCEF after Ram’s departure registered
BAMCEF as an independent non-political organisation in 1987.
Khaparde was national president of BAMCEF from 1987 until his death on
29 February 2000. His successor was Waman Chindhuji Meshram.
Narendra Jadhav, Indian economist, writer and educationist
Gopal Baba WalangkarGrace Banu, Scheduled Caste and transgender
activist; first transgender in state of Tamil Nadu be admitted to an
engineering college
Nagraj Manjule, Marathi director
Pa.Ranjith,Flim writer,Director
Governance
Non-Inspirational Mis-LeaderRamnath Kovind,President of IndiaK. R. Narayanan, former President of IndiaInspirational Leader
Mayawati, Four time Chief Minister of Uttar PradeshAshok Tanwar,
President of Haryana Congress, former Member of
ParliamentNon-Inspirational Mis-LeaderRam Vilas Paswan, President of the
Lok Janshakti Party, eight time member of Lok Sabha
B. Shyam
Sunder, Founder of Bharatiya Bhim SenaDamodaram Sanjivayya, First
Scheduled Caste Chief Minister of an Indian state(Andhra Pradesh),
first SC President of Indian National Congress party(1962)Jagjivan Ram
(1908–1986), First Labour Minister of Independent India, former Deputy
Prime Minister of IndiaJignesh Mevani, Independent MLA from Vadgam
Gujarat, youth movement leader and activistMeira Kumar, First woman
Speaker of the Lok Sabha (2009-2014), Daughter of Jagjivan Ram.Jogendra
Nath Mandal, was one of the central and leading Founding Fathers of
modern state of Pakistan, and legislator serving as country’s first
minister of law and labour, and also was second minister of commonwealth
and Kashmir affairs.Krishna Kumari Kohli, Member of Pakistan SenatRam
Lal Rahi, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Four times MP from
Mishrikh in Sitapur district.
Literature
Madara
Chennaiah, the first poet in the history of Vachana literature who was a
cobbler.Namdeo Dhasal, Marathi poet and writer from
Maharashtra.Military
Immanuvel DevendrarMadurai Veeran, a folk hero of Arunthathiyar origin.
Music
Sumeet SamosGinni MahiAmar Singh ChamkilaKanth Kaler
Religion and reform
Gallela Prasad, the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Marampudi Joji, the
third Archbishop of Hyderabad.Rettamalai Srinivasan, SC/ST Activist,
politician, freedom fighter and founder of Paraiyar Mahajana
SabhaAyyankali, social reformerGiani Ditt Singh, Started Singh Sabha
Movement to bring SC/STs of Punjab to sikh-fold.Bhagu, a devotee of
KrishnaMangu Ram Mugowalia, started Ad-Dharmi movementRavidas, mystic
poet-saInt of the bhakti movementIyothee Thass, a prominent anti-caste
activist and a practitioner of Siddha medicine, a publisher, and writer
in Tamil, who is regarded as a pioneer of the Buddhist movement in the
Tamil region in the early twentieth century.
Sports
Vithal Palwankar, Cricketer
Kanshi Ram (15 March 1934 – 9 October 2006), also known as Bahujan
Nayak or Saheb, was an Indian politician and social reformer who worked
for the upliftment and political mobilisation of the Bahujans, the
untouchable groups at the bottom of the caste system in India. Towards
this end, Kanshi Ram founded SC/ST Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti
(DS-4), the All India Backward and Minority Communities Employees’
Federation (BAMCEF) in 1971 and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1984.
He ceded leadership of the BSP to his protégé Mayawati who has served
four terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Kanshi Ram
Founder and National president of the Bahujan Samaj Party
In office
14 April 1984 – 18 September 2003
Succeeded by
Mayawati
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Hoshiarpur
In office
1996–1998
Preceded by
Kamal Chaudhry
Succeeded by
Kamal Chaudhry
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Etawah
In office
1991–1996
Preceded by
Ram Singh Shakya
Succeeded by
Ram Singh Shakya
Personal details
Born
15 March 1934
Rupnagar district, Punjab Province, British India
Died
9 October 2006 (aged 72)
New Delhi
Political party
Bahujan Samaj Party
www.bamcef.info/manyawar-shri-kanshiram-ji.php
Early life
Kanshi Ram was born on 15 March 1934 in Ropar district, Punjab, British
India. Some sources say his birthplace was the village of Pirthipur
Bunga and others that it was Khawaspur village. Although his family were
Ramdasia Sikhs, an untouchable sect, in Punjab at that time there was
relatively little stigma attached to being an untouchable.
After studies at various local schools, Ram graduated in 1956 with a BSc degree from Government College Ropar.
Career
Kanshi Ram joined the offices of the Explosive Research and Development
Laboratory in Pune[5] under the government’s scheme of positive
discrimination. It was at this time that he first experienced caste
discrimination and in 1964 he became an activist. Those who admire him
claim that he was spurred to this after reading B. R. Ambedkar’s book
Annihilation of Caste and witnessing what he perceived to be
discrimination against a SC/ST employee who wished to observe a holiday
celebrating Ambedkar’s birth.
Ram initially supported the
Republican Party of India (RPI) but became disillusioned with its
co-operation with the Indian National Congress. In 1971, he founded the
All India SC, ST, OBC and Minority Employees Association and in 1978
this became BAMCEF, an organisation that aimed to persuade educated
members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backwards
Classes and Minorities to support Ambedkarite principles. BAMCEF was
neither a political nor a religious body and it also had no aims to
agitate for its purpose. Suryakant Waghmore says it appealed to “the
class among the Dalits that was comparatively well-off, mostly based in
urban areas and small towns working as government servants and partially
alienated from their untouchable identities”.
Later, in 1981,
Ram formed another social organisation known as SC/ST Shoshit Samaj
Sangharsh Samiti (DSSSS, or DS4). He started his attempt of
consolidating the Dalit vote and in 1984 he founded the Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP). He fought his first election in 1984 from Janjgir-Champa
seat in Chhattisgarh. The BSP found success in Uttar Pradesh, initially
struggled to bridge the divide between Dalits and Other Backward
Classes[15] but later under leadership of Mayawati bridged this gap.
In 1982 he wrote his book The Chamcha Age (an Era of the Stooges) and
in it he used of the term chamcha (stooge) for SC/ST leaders who for
their selfish motives work for parties like the Indian National Congress
(INC) such as Jagjivan Ram or Ram Vilas Paswan and for Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) keeping in ethical context with Ambedkar’s book What
Gandhi and the Congress Have Done to the Untouchables to the politics of
Dalit liberation.[citation needed]
However, it was in 1986 when
he declared his transition from a social worker to a politician by
stating that he was not going to work for/with any other organization
other than the BSP. During the meetings and seminars of the party, Ram
stated to ruling classes that if they promised to do something, it would
pay to keep the promise, or else just accept that they were not capable
of fulfilling their promises.[citation needed]
After forming BSP
Ram said the party would fight first election to lose, next to get
noticed and the third election to win.[18] In 1988 he contested
Allahabad seat up against a future Prime Minister V. P. Singh and
performed impressively but lost polling close to 70,000 votes.
He
unsuccessfully contested from East Delhi (Lok Sabha constituency) in
1989 and came at fourth position. Then he represented the 11th Lok Sabha
from Hoshiarpur,[20] Kanshiram was also elected as member of Lok Sabha
from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh. In 2001 he publicly announced Mayawati as
his successor.
In the late 1990s, Ram described the BJP as the
most corrupt (mahabrasht) party in India and the INC, Samajwadi Party
and Janata Dal as equally corrupt.
Proposed conversion to Buddhism
In 2002, Ram announced his intention to convert to Buddhism on 14
October 2006, the 50th anniversary of Ambedkar’s conversion. He intended
for 20,000,000 of his supporters to convert at the same time. Part of
the significance of this plan was that Ram’s followers include not only
untouchables, but persons from a variety of castes, who could
significantly broaden Buddhism’s support. However, he died on 9 October
2006.
Mayawati his successor said “Saheb Kanshi Ram and I had
decided that we will convert and adopt Buddhism when we will get
“absolute majority” at the Centre. We wanted to do this because we can
make a difference to the religion by taking along with us millions of
people. If we convert without power then only we too will be converting.
But when you have power you can really create a stir”.Death
Saheb was a diabetic. He suffered a heart attack in 1994, an arterial
clot in his brain in 1995, and a paralytic stroke in 2003.[25] He died
in New Delhi on 9 October 2006 of a severe heart attack at the age of
72. He had been virtually bed-ridden for more than two years. According
to his wishes, his funeral rites were performed according to Buddhist
tradition, with Mayawati lighting the pyre.His ashes were placed in an
urn and kept at Prerna Sthal, where many people paid their respects.
In his condolence message, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
described Ram as “one of the greatest social reformers of our time ..
his political ideas and movements had a significant impact on our
political evolution … He had a larger understanding of social change and
was able to unite various underprivileged sections of our society and
provide a political platform where their voices would be heard.” Under
Ram’s leadership, the BSP won 14 parliamentary seats in the 1999 federal
elections.
Bahujan Samaj PartyMayawatiBAMCEF
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAMCEF
BAMCEF
BAMCEF is an Indian charitable organization. It was founded in 1978 to
enlist the aid of the comparatively well-educated among the bahujans and
other communities of India who suffer discrimination. It has no
political or religious agenda, nor does it promote agitation to achieve
its goals.[6] BAMCEF is an acronym for “The All India Backward and
Minority Communities Employees Federation”. The term backward got its
significance from the Constitution of India, which divides the oppressed
and exploited Indians into categories on the basis of their
backwardness, namely: Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST),
Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Minority Communities.
BAMCEF
The All India Backward And Minority Communities Employees Federation
Formation
6 December 1978 (39 years ago)
Founder
Kanshi Ram
Founded at
BAMCEF Convention at New Delhi
Type
Social organization of educated employees[1]
Legal status
Active
Members
2 million[2]
President
Waman Meshram (Bharat Mukti Morcha faction[3])
B. D. Borkar (Mulnivasi Sangh faction[4][5])
Website
www.bamcef.info
www.bamcef.org.in
www.bamcef.co.in
bamcefmission.com
The origins of BAMCEF lie in an organisation for employees of repressed
communities that was established in 1971 by Kanshi Ram.[6] This became
BAMCEF at a convention held in Delhi in 1978, with an official launch on
6 December 1978, the anniversary of the death of B. R. Ambedkar.[7] The
ideology of BAMCEF is to fight the entrenched system of inequality that
divides Indian society, and to abolish the caste system.
History
As an employee of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory in
Pune, Kanshi Ram realized that the formation of a bahujan bureaucracy
was important to serve Dalits’ interests. He set about forming a
federation, through which he worked his way up the bureaucratic
hierarchy. By identifying a few zealous officers, he was able to
influence lower-ranked staff.
The motto of this organisation was
‘Payback to society’, to inspire the Dalit bureaucrats to do their bit
for the Dalit masses. In this way, a continuous supply of intellectual
property, money and talent was ensured. Ram did not want to make BAMCEF
an employees’ union. He wanted it to become an organisation of educated
Bahujan employees: “the think tank, talent bank, and financial bank of
the Bahujan samaj”.
BAMCEF raised funds to promote their agenda
and for training.Kanshi Ram appointed state-level conveners as well as
mandal conveners to act as links between state and district levels.[10]
Suryakant Waghmore says it appealed to “the class among the indigenous
moolnivasi bahujans that was comparatively well-off, mostly based in
urban areas and small towns working as government servants and partially
alienated from their untouchable identities”.
Others established
the Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS4) in 1981. This
organization made an impact on people in North and South India. Later,
this group was led by Ishaan Singh Tomar. Before the formation of the
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), DS4 entered local elections in Delhi and
Haryana in the name of “Limited Political Action”. Later on, Ram
dissolved DS4 and formed BSP as a completely political wing.[12] This
caused strain within BAMCEF ranks.
In early 1986, BAMCEF split.
Kanshi Ram announced that he was no longer willing to work for any
organisation other than BSP. One element of BAMCEF, which was associated
with Kanshi Ram, became a shadow organisation to help BSP in electoral
mobilisation. Those remaining in BAMCEF after Ram’s departure registered
BAMCEF as an independent non-political organisation in 1987.
Khaparde was national president of BAMCEF from 1987 until his death on
29 February 2000. His successor was Waman Chindhuji Meshram.
Narendra Jadhav, Indian economist, writer and educationist
B. R. Ambedkar, jurist, economist, politician and social reformer
Gopal Baba WalangkarGrace Banu, Scheduled Caste and transgender
activist; first transgender in state of Tamil Nadu be admitted to an
engineering college
Nagraj Manjule, Marathi director
Pa.Ranjith,Flim writer,Director
Governance
Non-Inspirational Mis-LeaderRamnath Kovind,President of India K. R. Narayanan, former President of IndiaIns
pirational Leader
Mayawati, Four time Chief Minister of Uttar PradeshAshok Tanwar, President of Haryana Congress, former Member of Parliament
Non-Inspirational Mis-Leader
Ram Vilas Paswan, President of the Lok Janshakti Party, eight time member of Lok Sabha
B. Shyam Sunder, Founder of Bharatiya Bhim Sena
Damodaram Sanjivayya, First Scheduled Caste Chief Minister of an
Indian state(Andhra Pradesh), first SC President of Indian National
Congress party(1962)
Jagjivan Ram (1908–1986), First Labour
Minister of Independent India, former Deputy Prime Minister of
IndiaJignesh Mevani, Independent MLA from Vadgam Gujarat, youth movement
leader and activist
Meira Kumar, First woman Speaker of the Lok
Sabha (2009-2014), Daughter of Jagjivan Ram.Jogendra Nath Mandal, was
one of the central and leading Founding Fathers of modern state of
Pakistan, and legislator serving as country’s first minister of law and
labour, and also was second minister of commonwealth and Kashmir
affairs.Krishna Kumari Kohli, Member of Pakistan SenatRam Lal Rahi,
Minister of State for Home Affairs and Four times MP from Mishrikh in
Sitapur district.
Literature
Madara Chennaiah, the first
poet in the history of Vachana literature who was a cobbler.Namdeo
Dhasal, Marathi poet and writer from Maharashtra.Military
Immanuvel Devendrar
Madurai Veeran, a folk hero of Arunthathiyar origin.
Music
Sumeet Samos
Ginni Mahi
Amar Singh ChamkilaKanth Kaler
Religion and reform
Gallela Prasad, the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.
Marampudi Joji, the third Archbishop of Hyderabad.
Rettamalai Srinivasan, SC/ST Activist, politician, freedom fighter and
founder of Paraiyar Mahajana SabhaAyyankali, social reformer
Giani Ditt Singh, Started Singh Sabha Movement to bring SC/STs of Punjab to sikh-fold.
Bhagu, a devotee of Krishnakant Chouriya
Mangu Ram Mugowalia, started Ad-Dharmi movement
Ravidas, mystic poet-saInt of the bhakti movement
Iyothee Thass, a prominent anti-caste activist and a practitioner of
Siddha medicine, a publisher, and writer in Tamil, who is regarded as a
pioneer of the Buddhist movement in the Tamil region in the early
twentieth century.
Sports
Vithal Palwankar, Cricketer
