Last few days of Baba Saheb Ambedkar: How he clung to Buddhism till his last breath

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's tumultuous life full of struggles and achievements came to an end on 6th December 1956. However, the days immediately preceding his death were not spent bed-ridden but were full of activity. The personal assistant of Ambedkar Nanak Chand 3 -4 December: The night of 3rd December Ambedkar was planning about a programme slated for 16th December later that month. The night of 3rd December he gave finishing touches to the book " Buddha and Karl Marx" 4 December: The next day he attended Rajya Sabha, where he debated for the last time and came home. Upon returning wrote a letter to Sridhar Mahadev Joshi and Acharya Prahlad Keshav Atrey inviting them to join Republican Party and help provide meaningful opposition to the Congress party.

The Last Day: The night of 5th December Babasaheb was fuming at his wife Dr. Savita Ambedkar as she had not returned from the market after an inordinate time. She was accompanied by Dr. Mavlankar, who had come from Mumbai. Dr. Ambedkar was alone the whole day as Nanak Chand Rattu had gone to the office. She had not returned even after dusk. Rattu also returned from the office, but Savita didn't. Ambedkar was constantly enquiring about her from his servants and his anger was palpable. Finally, she returned at 8.00 PM but Ambedkar's anger did not abate.

Meeting with the Jain delegation: In the evening, some members of the Jain delegation came to meet him. Although furious by the insouciant conduct of his wife, he kept a lid on his anger and met the delegation calmly and talked to them. While talking to the delegation he was checked up by Dr. Malvankar after he returned along with Savita Ambedkar. The delegation presented to him a copy of the book "Jain and Buddha". He also accepted their invitation for the next day i.e. 6th December.

The Last Night: After meeting the delegation. Ambedkar was leg-pressed by Rattu, who also applied oil to his head. For dinner, he ate only a little bit of rice and was visibly feeling better. He began chanting Buddham Sharnam Gachchami and the chant grew louder, it was accompanied by his finger tapping on the sofa. Later he asked Rattu to play the record of the song on a Radiogram. He worked on the Introduction of the book Buddha and his Dhamma to Rattu (He had finished writing the book) and later slept with it.

The Morning of the Mourning. When in the morning Savita Kabir approached her husband, she found that he was unresponsive and something was amiss. Rattu tried to bring him to life but his attempts drew a blank.

Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the messiah of the downtrodden had left the world. The news of his death spread instantly and everyone rushed to 26 Alipur Road. The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also paid his last respects to the departed messiah and remarked that " Dr. Ambedkar will be remembered as a symbol of revolt against the oppressive features of the Hindu Society. His virulent opposition to these oppressive features had kept people's minds awake."

Along with the birth anniversary on the 14th of April, Dr. Ambedkar is also remembered on his death anniversary on December 6th of every year. Various organizations and ministries organize programs remembering him. The government has also built a memorial at 26 Alipur Road., the place where he breathed his last.

The memorial has been built in the shape of a book, which symbolizes his erudition and it would be a fitting tribute to the great man if we disseminate his ideas to the masses.