Ramabai Ambedkar
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Ramabai Ambedkar | |
|---|---|
 Ramabai Ambedkar | |
| Born | 1896 or 1897 |
| Died | May 27, 1935 |
| Other names | Ramai (Mother Rama), Ramu |
| Spouse | B. R. Ambedkar |
| Children | 5, including Yashwant |
Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar (1896/1897 – 27 May 1935) was the wife of B. R. Ambedkar,[1] who said her support was instrumental in helping him pursue his higher education and his true potential.[2] She has been the subject of many biographical movies and books. Several landmarks across India have been named after her. She is also known as Ramai (Mother Rama).
Early life
[edit]Ramabai was born in a poor family to Bhiku Dhotre (Valangkar) and Rukmini. She lived with her three sisters and a brother, Shankar, in the Mahapura locality within the village of Vanand near Dapoli Ratnagiri. Her father earned his livelihood by carrying baskets of fish from Harnai Bunder & Dabhol harbour to the market. Her mother died when she was young and, after her father also died, her uncles Valangkar and Govindpurkar took the children to Bombay to live with them in Byculla market.[3][unreliable source?]
Marriage
[edit]_Yashwant,_BR_Ambedkar,_Ramabai,_Laxmibai,_Mukundrao,_and_Tobby.jpg)
Ramabai married Bhimrao in 4 April 1906 in a very simple ceremony in the vegetable market of Byculla, Mumbai. Like her spouse, the exact birth year of Ramabai is not documented. Older records tell varied birth date and year. Dhananjay Keer states that she was married to Bhimrao when she was nine years old.[citation needed] At the time, Ambedkar was aged 15 and Ramabai was 9.[4][3] His affectionate name for her was "Rāmu", while she called him "Saheb".[5] They had five children – Yashwant, Gangadhar, Ramesh, Indu (daughter) and Rajratna. Apart from Yashwant (1912–1977), the other four died in their childhood.[6][7]
Death
[edit]Ramabai died on 27 May 1935 at Rajgruha in Hindu Colony, Dadar, Bombay, after a prolonged chronic illness. She had been married to Ambedkar for 29 years.[3]
Credit by her husband
[edit]B. R. Ambedkar's book Thoughts on Pakistan, published in 1941, was dedicated to Ramabai. In the preface, Ambedkar credits her with his transformation from an ordinary Bhiva or Bhima to Dr Ambedkar.
Influence and in popular legacy
[edit]
Ramabai's life has been featured in the following:
Movies, televisions and drama
[edit]- Ramai, a 1992 drama directed by Ashok Gawali[2]
- Bhim Garjana, a 1990 Marathi film directed by Vijay Pawar, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Prathama Devi.
- Yugpurush Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a 1993 Marathi film directed by Shashikant Nalavade, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Chitra Koppikar.
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a 2000 English film directed by Jabbar Patel, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Sonali Kulkarni.
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a 2005 Kannada film directed by Sharan Kumar Kabbur, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Tara Anuradha.
- Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar, a 2011 Marathi film directed by Prakash Jadhav, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Nisha Parulekar.
- Ramabai, a 2016 Kannada film directed by M. Ranganath, the role of Ramabai Ambedkar was played by Yagna Shetty.[8]
- Dr. Ambedkar, a Hindi television series aired on DD National.[citation needed]
- Garja Maharashtra (2018–19), a Marathi television series aired on Sony Marathi.[citation needed]
- Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar - Mahamanvachi Gauravgatha (2019), a Marathi television series airing on Star Pravah starring Shivani Rangole as Ramabai Ambedkar while Mrunmayi Supal portrayed the young version of the character.[9][10]
Books
[edit]- Ramai, by Yashwant Manohar
- Tyagawanti Rama Mauli, by Nana Dhakulkar, Vijay Publications (Nagpur)
- Priya Ramu, by Yogiraj Bagul, Granthali Publication[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Khajane, Muralidhara (15 April 2016). "The life and times of Ramabai Ambedkar". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ a b "'Ramai' portrays poignant and tragic life of Ramabai Ambedkar - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Manohar, Yashwant (2024). Ramabai. India: Pratima Publications. p. 51. ISBN 9788192647111.
- ^ "Relentless Struggle of Ramabai Ambedkar". www.nationalindianews.in. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "महापुरुषाची सावली". Loksatta (in Marathi). 3 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ Jogi, Dr. Sunil (2007). Dalit Samajache Pitamah Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar (in Marathi). Diamond Books. p. 50.
- ^ Gaikwad, Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath (2015). Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (in Marathi). Riya Publication. p. 186.
- ^ Khajane, Muralidhara (14 April 2015). "Remembering Ramabai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "Shivani Rangole to play Ramabai - Times of India". The Times of India. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "ही बालकलाकार साकारणार छोट्या रमाबाईंची भूमिका". loksatta.com. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
