Dr. BR Ambedkar Death Anniversary 2024: What is Mahaparinirvan Din? Why do we observe it on December 6?

Dr. BR Ambedkar Death Anniversary 2024: Mahaparinirvan Diwas held on December 6 is the death anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar was an outstanding leader who played a vital role in shaping modern India. He was a jurist, economist, social reformer and politician.

As Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, Dr. Ambedkar worked tirelessly to ensure justice, equality and dignity for all citizens. His contribution to the Constituent Assembly laid the foundation for a democratic and inclusive India.

Dr. Ambedkar also served as the first Law and Justice Minister in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet, working on key legal reforms. He later embraced Buddhism, rejecting Hindu caste-based inequalities and became a guiding figure in the Dalit Buddhist movement, inspiring millions to fight for social equality and dignity.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas is a day to commemorate his extraordinary contributions and reflect on his vision for a just and equitable society.

Biography of Dr. BR Ambedkar

But have you ever wondered why his death is called Mahaparinirvana? Read it here:

Mahaparinirvana: Meaning

The state of Nirvana is one of the basic concepts of Buddhism. It signifies a person’s attainment of nirvana or freedom both during life and after death. Nirvana is achieved after death, or the release of the soul from the body after death, which is called Parinirvan in Sanskrit. The word “Parinibbana” in Pali means the achievement of Nirvana.

According to the Buddhist classic “The Mahaparinirvana Sutra”, the Buddha’s death at the age of 80 is regarded as the original Mahaparinirvana. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is often seen as anti-religious, but he embraced Buddhism. Declaring “I will not die as a Hindu”, he passed away on December 6, 1956, less than two months after converting to Buddhism. Furthermore, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s death anniversary is known as “Mahaparinirvana Diwas” as he was a revered Buddhist leader. Therefore, December 6 is said to be celebrated to commemorate the immeasurable contribution of Babasaheb Ambedkar to society.

Read | Mahaparinirvan Din 2024: 30+ Quotes to Share on Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar’s Death Anniversary

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Dr. BR Ambedkar’s contribution to India’s development

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was known for empowering the underprivileged, defending their rights and voicing their concerns. His significant contributions to national development include:

  • BR Ambedkar’s fight against untouchability was his greatest contribution to India. The seed was planted in him when he faced discrimination during his student days because he was a Dalit.
  • Ambedkar founded the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha in Bombay in 1924 to educate the untouchables and solve their problems.
  • Ambedkar worked hard to ensure that Dalits had access to the same water supply as the upper castes.
  • He launched a campaign against Hindu Brahmins in favor of untouchables entering temples.
  • On September 25, 1932, Ambedkar signed the Pune Treaty, which reserved seats in the legislature for the oppressed classes. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are their names.
  • He detested the Hindu caste system and spoke harshly against it in his book The Abolition of Caste.
  • Ambedkar practiced law. He helped draft the Indian constitution and later became the country’s first law and justice minister.
  • Ambedkar converted to Buddhism on October 14, 1956, along with about 500,000 of his supporters. He died on December 6 of that year.

List of books written by Dr. BR Ambedkar

Babasaheb fought against untouchability throughout his life. In 1990, India’s highest civil honor “Bharat Ratna” was posthumously awarded to Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Maharashtra government announced on the occasion of the 67th Nirvana Day of the main drafter of the Constitution that the project to build a world-class monument to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Indu Mill estate in Mumbai is about to be completed. .

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