5 Agencies That Dr. Ambedkar Enabled For Indian Women That Empowered Them
On April 14, 1891, a great man by the name of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar aka Dr. B. R. Amedkar was born. He was one of the most ideal thinkers of the time that uplifted and empowered Dalits as well as fought for women’s rights. If I had to use today’s terms to describe him, I would say that Dr. Ambedkar was a true feminist – in every sense of that word. The man believed that women should fight the regressive religious practices, regressive mentality of society, and become independent. In fact, his contribution to women’s empowerment in India is immense and unparalleled. So, today, on Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti, I’m once again here to remind you all what a feminist looks like – because in this day and age we can learn a lot from his thinking (especially, after how our society has been constantly dictating every aspect of a woman’s life in the recent times).
Here’s a list of things Dr. Ambedkar enabled:
1. Voting rights
If there is one thing that Dr. Ambedkar knew all too well the fact that all human rights are universal and being inclusive was the key to progress. He wanted women to participate in all aspects of life – especially politics. And to ensure women’s participation, he rooted for the right of working women and ensured that they could vote.
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2. Questioned regressive religious practices
Dr. Ambedkar openly challenged regressive practices and encouraged women (majorly from the Dalit community) to fight against such practices. He urged these women to not change practices and not offer pubescent girls to gods in temples where they’ll become “sexually available for community members”.
3. Property rights
Dr. Ambedkar always had the intention to provide agency to women via freedom of choice, which in turn led to their empowerment. And this idea was what led to the Hindu Code Bill. The bill granted women ‘absolute right’ to sell property while they were alive, and after her death, it would go to someone in her husband’s family. The bill ensured that women not only owned property but decided what they wanted to do with it.
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4. Right to divorce
In the Hindu Code Bill, Dr. Ambedkar added two path-breaking clauses – the restitution of conjugal rights and judicial separation. This clause allowed women the right to choose and the freedom to legally file for a divorce.
5. Idea of equality
His ideas of an equal society paved the way for many more changes that empowered women. Being inspired by Dr. Ambedkar, many other pro-women acts were also then passed like The Equal Remuneration Act (1976) and The Dowry Prohibition Act (1961).
The economist always envisioned a society that was built upon liberty, fraternity, and equality. And he believed that feminism was the key to strengthening them.
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