Bharat Ratan Dr. Ambedkar and women Empowerment. (Remembering Dr. Ambedkar for women empowerment on his 135 Birth Anniversary falling 14April,2026) Compiler: Er. H. R. Phonsa, Jammu Contact 9419134060. Historical Back ground of Women enslavement. Considering sacrifices & contribution of women for the welfare of the family, in the early times of human history”, the families were Matriarchal as stated by Chins Knight in “ Engels was right”. A woman was not weaker than man, but during, menstruation, pregnancy & child birth she had to depend upon man. At times, her old parents orphaned brother -sister besides her own children lived with her so her husband ‘s support was needed, so society took the form of “Patriarchal”. When man became head of family, he tried to enslave woman and snatched all her powers to rule over family. In Vedic Period she reportedly enjoyed authority & respect in the family. The royal maids had liberty to choose their husbands in open “Sayambars (सयांबर)”.Revered Sita, Kunti, Damayanti, Darupati selected Rama, Pandu, Nala and Arjuna . But the Caste monster chased them constantly. Daropati disagree to marry Karma highly qualified and capable king of Anga, because he had low birth as a charioteer. Then no religious ceremony by man was complete without participation of his wife and Lord Rama made Sita’s presence felt in Ashawmegh Yagna , by keeping her metallic statue with Sri Rama. Such narrations of, fair side, got blackened by stories of rape and women chastity rupture by men of learning and boon awarders. Maharishi (Hermit) Gotama’s wife Ahalya chastity was out raged by “Moon, Indra dual gods and August Rishi” deceitfully.” Gautama rishi could not challenge culprits, instead cursed her to get converted into a rock for not defending her chastity. Similarly, chastity of Satyavati, a fisherman’s young daughter was reputed by Maharishi Prashar, promising that her virginity shall not be hurt. She mothered Ved Vyas Rishi, writer of Mahabharat epic story including the Gita. She later is reported to have married Shantnu, the Great grandfather of Kaurav and Pandav. (www.en.m.wikipedia). Indra’s (in Hindu mythology, the king of the gods) court apsara Menka was raped by Maharishi Vishavamitra, composer of Gyarti Mantra beside being guru of Lord Rama. Menka gave birth to Shakuntla, mother of Bharat. (www.apnapat.com). More such injustice with women is shown in Indian literature stories,. Which show little or no concern for the female’s honour by men in authority. Manusmriti verse (3/56) “Yater Narayen Pujante, Ramte Tater Devita (Where women are honoured, there the gods rejoice; where, on the other hand, they are not honoured, there all rites are fruitless.)”— (56) portrayed a woman is no less than gods and goddesses. But such praises get reduced to naught on further reading his sermons in Manusmriti, declared it having divine sanctions. It says” It is the very nature of women to corrupt men Verse 2(213); “Wife, son and slave –are without property. Whatever they may earn becomes the property of the man to whom they belong.” 8 (416. Rules like serving husbands faithfully even, if he is devoid of any good qualities verse 154 (5); a girl, a young woman, or even an old woman should not do anything independently, even in her own house Verse147 (5); A widow should be long suffering, until death, self restrained, and chaste( Abstain re marring ) and Women have no divine right to perform any religious ritual verse158 (5) ;but on getting pregnant by her forced rapes, non took the responsibility, she had to bear society’s curse single handily. In no circumstances she is allowed to assert herself independently, she has to be under the control of her father, husband or son respectively in her childhood, youth and old age including widowhood 151(5); Men may be lacking virtue, be sexual perverts, immoral and devoid of any good qualities, yet women must constantly worship and serve faithfully their husbands 5(157). So called Golden rule Of Gupta dynasty kings proved worst period for women, when Brahminical Rules & dogmas, codified against women were got strictly enforced. In Ramchariter Manas Goswami Tulsi Das Says in Arandkand salok –(9) “No body can be as vile as a woman, who for a moment’s enjoyment, does not understand the pains of hundreds of births. This epic contains still more verses to downgrade women, forgetting that the whole humanity is born from woman’s womb. The story of women suffering continues keeping of unmarried girls/ women in temples as “Dev- Dassies” , for the God’s service but were sexually abused some temple priests in the name of God’. It was ever condemned by right thinkers. Many devadasis’ latter enter prostitution, street begging, singing to earn livelihood. As per a report published in the Forward press November 2015 --- in 2007, Anti-Slavery International published a study on the practice of ritual sexual slavery or forced religious “marriage”. It found that 93 per cent of yoginis or devadasis were from the Scheduled Castes and 7 per cent from the Scheduled Tribes. As per report of The New Indian Express dated 28th Feb, 2020, there were 80,000 Devadasis in Karnataka in 2018, and their children continue protesting for help to get education. This is certainly gloomy face of India. Customs like Polygamy, polyandry, Sati, polyandry, Child marriage, illiteracy and discrimination on Sex basis including female infanticide had become their fate. Hard rules of religious peers forced widows to live a life of the hell on earth. All Bhagti Saints and many social reformers condemned such blemishing image of a woman and placed them in high esteem. They even adopted them as their disciples. Rise of Dr. Ambedkar: - With the rise of Social Polar Star from tatters in Maharashtra named Bhim,Bheeva later Dr. Ambedkar, women got their committed emancipator. Besides being rightfully called Father of Indian Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar was greatest freedom fighter, politician, academician, philosopher, thinker, economist, editor, writer, social reformer, revivalist of Buddhism and women emancipator. He blew bugle of meaningful fight against caste and sex-based discrimination. For the sake of universal human equality principles, the owner of 50,000 books in his personal library, burnt on 25th December 1927, in full public view, Manusmriti the main originator, spreader and supporter of inequality practises in Hindu Society. The book bonfire was performed by a Brahmin Sahasarbudhey, an associate of Dr. Ambedkar. This book did not show even slightest mercy to women and Shudras. Dr. Ambedkar said “Religion must mainly be a matter of principles only. It cannot be matter of rules. The moment it degenerates into rules, it ceases to be religion, as it kills responsibility, which is an essence of true religious act. “He made his life principle to speak, work & fight for the just cause of oppressed, depressed, exploited, illiterates, ill fed & ill-treated men & women. For doing so he did not care for his personnel life discomforts. His work of woman empowerment was difficult but result oriented. On March 19 & 20, 1927 he addressed a huge geathering of depressed classes, including women, and gave Clarion call to women to stand by him for liberation of themselves. He advised them to attend more to their development of mind and the spirit of self-help; He told his audiences that education was as necessary for development of women as was for men. He said, “As you are, so shall be your children”. While addressing largely attended Depressed Classes Women conference on 18-/9 July 1942, he said, “He measured the progress of a community by the degree of progress made by the women of that community. He advised, let every girl who marries, stand by her husband, claim to be her husband’s friend and equal and refuse to be his slave. He advocated avoiding early marriage and producing too many children. Give proper education to your children, so that they live a dignified life”. Government of India “Family Planning Programme (1952); Beti Bachao, Beti Parayo (2015) were fall out of the thinking of Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar. While chairing 4,5 ,6, 7(1942-45) Labour conferences, as Labour member of Viceroy’s Council Dr. Ambedkar advocated many labour welfare measures for labour including women. He proved himself as real Savoir of Labour Rights in India. He succeeded in providing equal wages for equal work for both male and female workers, grant of paid maternity leave to expecting mothers, banning night shifts in coal mines for women, provision of state Insurance for labour, grant of Dearness allowance, women and child labour protection, reduction of working hours from 12 to 8 hours with paid holidays, provision of provident fund, providing Indian factory act, establishing employment exchanges, provisions for labour welfare funds and many more. Baba Sahib said, “A Healthy Nation needs healthy mothers.” While strongly supporting proposed maternity benefits to women in Bombay Legislative Council in 1928 he said “---- It is in the interest of the Nation that the mother’s ought to get a certain amount of rest during the pre-natal period and also subsequently”. The Bombay Assembly had passed laws in August 1923 on the instance of S.K. Bole that all places like water bodies, dharmshalas, roads be opened for the Depressed classes people including women. Hindu Code Bill and Resign of Dr. Ambedkar, as the Law Minister: To strike last nail in the coffin of discrimination against Indian women, Dr. Ambedkar raised a new battle cry by finally submitting modified and revised Hindu Code bill to Constituent assembly on 11 April, 1947. This was under consideration since 1941 during British rule when its need was felt, but unmindful authorities for fear from Indian religious irrationals did not pursue it. He modified it on the suggestion of Pt. Nehru, despite Dr. Ambedkar’s apprehensions about its passing. This gave a great shock to the reactionary opponents in and outside of Parliament. The opponents to the Bills were mainly from the Hindu Mahasabha in and outside Parliament. Life threats were given to Dr. Ambedkar. But elite persons supported it. Justice Gajenderagadkar, an imminent Sanskrit Scholar, jurist & Judge of the Bombay High Court and later 7th CJI said, “IF DR AMBEDKAR GIVES US HINDU CODE BILL, HIS ACHIEVEMENT WOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A VERY ELOQUENT PIECE OF POETIC JUSTICE INDEED”. The Bill was not passed as framed by Baba Saheb Ambedkar due to its acute opposition, so the FIRST LAW MINISTER OF INDIA RESIGED creating a land mark history, attracting immediate attention of Union to wards women welfare, which was to be freed from caste and sex prejudices. The Bill was later passed in peace-meals manner, still all current progress of Indian women seen of Indian horizon is due smashing of saddest barrier on the road of women progress road. The Hindu Code Bill was later passed in peace-meals manner, still all current progress of Indian women seen of Indian horizon is due smashing of saddest barrier on the road of women progress road by the provisions of the same Bill. This Bill was later fall out of the following Acts and favouring women in India. The Hindu Women Right to Property Act of 1973: b) The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961: c) The Equal Remuneration Act of 1976: d) The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. e) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. f) The Medical termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. g) The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987. h) Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 h) The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. i) The Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994. j) Female infanticide prevention 1970 k) The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Protection and) Act, 2013). This Bill smashed the kitchen door to free Indian women to fly high in her worldly progress sky. Today no rank in high which Indian woman cannot occupy. She has enhanced the prestige of all Union posts by occupying it , including First Citizen of India and President of Union, Prime-Minister, Union Ministers, Lok Sabha Speakers Army Generals, astronaut’s, Doctors, Engineers, Vice Chancellors etc. Still there are many discrepancies in real progress of women as: Literacy (Men 80.88% Female 64.63% Employment 2022-23 (males 71% Females 23.5%) employment, still wide gap is in such facilities for rural and unban population women. Still entry of women (10-50 years age) is banned in Sabarimala temple despite HC and SC ruling to its contrary. Unabetted rape incidents. (NCRB, 2022) reported 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women were estimated 26,337 rape cases 2025.Also researchers indicates that between 35% and 71% of rape incidents in India remain unreported, a horrifying reality. Shortcoming in health facilities for women and pre- mature deaths of children was 26.6 per 1000 in 2024. Much has been done for women welfare and still more is needs to done to realize dreams of Bharat Ratan Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for women better health. Health mothers to give birth to health children is need of Nation. The best tributes to Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar on his 135th Birth Anniversary is to obey in letter and spirit Our Constitution and every Indian to work for eradication of disparities on the basis of caste, creed, sex, religion, colour, place of birth and economic tags of every Indian, to fulfil his dream of welfare and dignity of every Indian.