The history of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s association with Vadodara is a profound narrative of both institutional support and systemic struggle. In 1915, long before education loans became a modern trend, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III provided Babasaheb Ambedkar with a financial assistance package of Rs 26,000 to pursue higher studies at Columbia University in America. This agreement came with a specific stipulation: Babasaheb Ambedkar was required to serve the Baroda State for ten years upon his return. While archival documents show that the state initially tracked this assistance as a loan, researcher P.G. Jyotikar notes that Sir Sayajirao eventually issued orders to write off the debt, effectively transforming the financial burden into a historic scholarship.
Upon his return to Vadodara to fulfill his service bond, Ambedkar was appointed as a Probationer Officer, but his tenure was marked by deep-seated social prejudice. Despite his elite education, he faced severe discrimination from his colleagues; even his subordinates would throw files onto his desk to avoid physical contact. Outside of the office, his living situation was equally fraught, as he was forced out of a Parsi inn in Fatejgunj due to his caste. These dehumanizing experiences at the hands of those who failed to understand the vision behind his education deeply impacted Ambedkar, ultimately leading to his decision to leave Vadodara and the state service prematurely.
The turning point of this journey occurred in September 23, 1917 at Kamatibaug, under a banyan tree now known as Sankalp Bhoomi. Before leaving the city, Ambedkar took a solemn vow (Sankalp) to dedicate his life to the upliftment of the oppressed classes—a moment Professor Jagdish describes as the catalyst that gave his mission a new direction. Today, this site is revered as the Second Dham in the four major pilgrimages for his followers, situated between his birthplace in Mhow (First Dham), the site of his conversion to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur (Third Dham), and his final resting place at Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai (Fourth Dham).
No Comments