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B. R.

Ambedkar:Bodhisatva Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar 14 April 1891 6


December 1956), also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader,
Buddhist activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific
writer, economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and a revivalist for Buddhism in
India. He was also the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution.
Born into a poor Mahar (considered an Untouchable caste) family, Ambedkar spent
his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna
the categorization of Hindu society into four varnas and the Hindu caste system.
He converted to Buddhism and is also credited with providing a spark for the
conversion of hundreds of thousands of untouchables to Theravada Buddhism.
Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian
award, in 1990.
Opposition to untouchability:As Ambedkar was educated by the Princely State of
Baroda, he was bound to serve it. He was appointed as Military Secretary to the
Gaikwad but had to quit within a short time. Thereafter he tried to find ways to make
a living for his growing family. He worked as a private tutor, as an accountant, and
established an investment consulting business, but it failed when his clients learned
that he was an untouchable. In 1918 he became Professor of Political Economy in the
Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Even though he was
successful with the students, other professors objected to his sharing the same
drinking-water jug that they all used.
.At this hearing, Ambedkar argued for creating separate electorates and reservations
for untouchables and other religious communities.In 1920, he began the publication
of the weekly Mooknayak (Leader of the Silent) in Mumbai with the help of Shahaji
II (18741922), Maharaja of Kolhapur.
Ambedkar went on to work as a legal professional. In 1926 he successfully defended
three non-Brahmin leaders who had accused the Brahmin community of ruining
India and were then subsequently sued for libel.

Swami Vivekananda: Swami Vivekananda, known in his pre-monastic life as


Narendra Nath Datta, was born in an affluent family in Kolkata on 12 January 1863.
His father, Vishwanath Datta, was a successful attorney with interests in a wide range
of subjects, and his mother, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, was endowed with deep devotion,
strong character and other qualities. A precocious boy, Narendra excelled in music,
gymnastics and studies. By the time he graduated from Calcutta University, he had
acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects, especially Western philosophy and
history. Born with a yogic temperament, he used to practise meditation even from his
boyhood, and was associated with Brahmo Movement for some time.
Awareness of Lifes Mission: After establishing the new monastic order,
Vivekananda heard the inner call for a greater mission in his life.
Founding of Ramakrishna Mission: Soon after his return to Kolkata, Swami
Vivekananda accomplished another important task of his mission on earth. He
founded on 1 May 1897 a unique type of organization known as Ramakrishna
Mission, in which monks and lay people would jointly undertake propagation of
Practical Vedanta, and various forms of social service, such as running hospitals,
schools, colleges, hostels, rural development centres etc, and conducting massive
relief and rehabilitation work for victims of earthquakes, cyclones and other
calamities, in different parts of India and other countries.

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