Last Updated:
Ramabai Ambedkar Birth Anniversary 2025:
Ramabai Ambedkar Birth Anniversary 2025: Statues of Dr BR Ambedkar and his wife Ramabai at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal, Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh. (Image: Shutterstock)
Ramabai Ambedkar Birth Anniversary 2025: History often shines its brightest spotlight on leaders, revolutionaries and changemakers, but behind many great figures stand unsung heroes whose contributions shape destinies. One such remarkable yet often overlooked figure is Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar, the devoted wife of Dr BR Ambedkar.
Known affectionately as Ramai or Mother Rama, she was the force that stood beside the architect of the Indian Constitution, offering steadfast support and encouragement through his lifelong struggle for equality and justice. Ramabai’s influence on Dr Ambedkar was profound. She stood by him through immense hardships, urging him to chase his academic aspirations despite the challenges.
Her belief in his potential played a crucial role in his journey, a fact that Dr Ambedkar himself acknowledged. He credited her with shaping his path and helping him realise his capabilities.
Born on 7 February, 1898, into a humble Dalit family, Ramabai’s early years were filled with challenges. Her father, Bhiku Dhatre Valangkar, toiled as a fish labourer, carrying heavy baskets from the Dabhol harbour to the market. She was the second of four siblings, Gorabai, Meerabai and Shankar.
Tragedy struck early when Ramabai lost her mother at a young age, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves. Their lives took another difficult turn with the death of their father, after which they moved to Mumbai to live with their uncles. Despite these hardships, Ramabai remained strong, a trait that would define her entire life.
In 1906, a nine-year-old Ramabai married the 15-year-old Bhimrao Ambedkar in a simple ceremony in Byculla. This union was not just a traditional arrangement but the beginning of an extraordinary partnership.
Even at such a young age, Ramabai proved to be a pillar of strength for her husband. She wholeheartedly supported his academic pursuits, understanding the significance of education in their fight against social injustices.
When Dr. Ambedkar left for higher studies abroad, Ramabai managed the household single-handedly, enduring the struggles of life in British India while living in extreme poverty. She bore the burdens of daily life, ensuring that her husband’s ambitions were not hindered by financial difficulties.
Ramabai and Dr Ambedkar had five children, four sons, Gangadhar, Yashwant, Ramesh and Rajratna, and a daughter, Indu. But life was not kind to them, as tragedy struck time and again. Only their son Yashwant survived into adulthood, while the others died in infancy. Despite these personal losses, Ramabai remained resilient, finding solace in her husband’s mission to uplift the oppressed.
Despite her quiet presence in the pages of history, Ramabai’s resilience was nothing short of extraordinary. She endured personal hardships and financial struggles with grace, ensuring that her husband’s dreams remained alive.
Sadly, her journey was cut short when she passed away on May 27, 1935, at the young age of 37, following a prolonged illness in Dadar, Mumbai.
Ramabai Ambedkar Birth Anniversary 2025: Lesser-known Facts About Her
- Ramabai was born into a poor Dalit family, the second daughter of Bhiku Dhatre Valangkar, a fish labourer and Rukmini.
- She lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her father and three siblings in Walang village.
- After her mother’s death, Ramabai and her siblings were taken in by their uncles and raised in Bombay.
- At the age of nine, she married a teenage Dr BR Ambedkar in a simple market ceremony in Byculla, Bombay, in 1906.
- Dr Ambedkar affectionately called her Ramu, while Ramabai referred to him as ‘Saheb.’
- While Ambedkar studied abroad, Ramabai endured severe poverty, living alone in British India without her husband.
- Ramabai and Ambedkar were married for 29 years until she died in 1935 after a prolonged illness.
- Ambedkar dedicated his book Thoughts on Pakistan to Ramabai, praising her “goodness of heart, nobility of mind, purity of character and her resilience in suffering.”
- Ramabai’s story has been depicted in various television series and films, including Ek Mahanayak Dr BR Ambedkar and Ramabai, a 2016 film by M. Ranganath, shedding light on the significant role she played in his journey.
- Ramabai’s life was one of quiet strength, sacrifice, and unwavering support, proving that behind every great leader, there often stands an equally great, yet unsung, hero.