The nation celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 but many may not know what hardships the Chief Architect of Indian Constitution Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar went through whie pursuing higher studies at London School of Economics.
As per the records at the State Regional Archive in Prayagraj reveal, apart frpm other hardships, Baba Saheb had even sought financial assistance during his studies at London from Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj.
A letter written by Ambedkar dated 4th September, 1921 bearing his address as ‘C/o 10 King Henry Road, Chalk Farm, London’ and addressed to Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj mentions “My Dear Maharaja Saheb, As desired by you, I am placing my financial difficulties before you in the hope of getting some relief. I am forced to approach you.”
In the letter Ambedkar further wrote “When I left India I had calculated the total cost I would have to incur for my four years. Here in London and according to the prevailing rate of exchange I found that I had not enough funds for my purposes.”
Further, in another letter written to Prof Edwin Seligman of Columbia University, dated 10th February 1922, Dr Ambedkar wrote “My Dear Prof Seligman. Having lost my manuscript of the original thesis, when I went back to India in 1917, I have written out a new thesis titled ‘The Stabilization of the Indian Exchange’ which I hope with your permission to submit for the Ph.D at Columbia.’
In the handwritten letter Ambedkar further mentions, ‘I hope to be at Columbia for the same sometime in December end. In the meanwhile may I know if you can arrange to have my manuscript read by some member of the Economics faculty of Columbia. I am also aiming to have it published in the university studies and I can assure you that it will be a publication for which there will be a very large scale demand. It is a burning question of the day and I believe that I have treated it in a thorough going manner.’
Professor Edwin Seligman was BR Ambedkar’s doctoral advisor at Columbia University.
Further, the Regional Archives also has a copy of the first edition of “Bahishkrit Bharat” (Boycotted India), a fortnightly periodical published in Marathi and founded by Dr BR Ambedkar in 1927, which served as a platform to address the grievances of the ‘untouchables’ and advocated for their rights, particularly during the Mahad Satyagraha, shows his relentless efforts for upliftment of Dalits.
The first page of the inaugural edition cites the Dalit atrocities going on at the then Pune Training College, where separate arrangements were made for the oppressed class for having meals. The editorial of the inaugural edition penned by Dr Ambedkar crticizes the act as inhuman.
A copy of the inaugural issue of the historic publication is preserved in the state regional archive in Prayagraj.
According to Director UP State Archives, Lucknow Amit Agnihotri, Dr BR Ambedkar, architect of Indian Constitution has a rich legacy, largely preserved in State Archives, Gujarat. Records pertaining to Dr Ambedkar have been brought in from State Archives, Gujarat as well as National Archives.
