OSMANIA.............DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR 491
Born in 1893, Dr. Ambedkar was educated at Satara and Bombay. After Graduating from the Bombay University, he went to the United States of America, for further studies, and received the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1917 at the young age of 24. After returning to India he served for some time as Finance Minister of the Baroda State and later as professor of Political Economy at Sydenham College, Bombay. Again, he went abroad, this time to England and enrolled himself for the Doctorate degree in Science at the London School of Economics. His, treatise, entitled ‘The Problem of the Rupee’ was acclaimed by Economist the World over.
The political career had started early, but his legislative career started when he entered the Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1926. He gave evidence before the Lothian Committee on Indian Franchise; Royal Commission on Indian Currency and many other important Committees and Commissions. Dr. Ambedkar has been a staunch supporter of all the down-- trodden people from the beginning of his career. Such people evoked his sympathy and he became the FounderPresident of the All India Scheduled Castes Federation. He was invited to attend the Round Table Conference at London
(1930-1932) to represent the scheduled Castes.
Dr. Ambedkar held the high office of Labour Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council from 1942-46. In 1947 when India became an independent country, he was taken in the Cabinet as Law Member. The respossibility of framing the India Constitution devolved upon him and the part played by him in this matter is well known.
Dr. Ambedkar is a voracious reader. He knows seven languages. He is an author of distinction and published several books. ‘What Congress and Gandhi Have Done For Untouchables’; ‘Annahilation of Caste’; ‘Federation Vs. Freedom’ ; ‘Pakistan and Partition of India’; ‘Ranade and Gandhi’; etc. are among them.
Mr. Chancellor, in presenting Dr. Ambedkar, I am presenting a person of great eminence, high attainments and distinguished services, one of the ablest lawyers, a preeminent legislator, a champion of the backward and down-trodden people of India. I request you now to confer the Degree of Doctor of Literature Honoris Causa on Shri B. R. Ambedkar.’