Jagjivan Ram (known popularly as Babuji) was born in Chandwa in Bihar to a Dalit family. His father was in the British army but later left it and acquired farming land in his native place.
He pursued his schooling at the nearby town of Arrah where he faced discrimination for the first time. He was considered ‘untouchable’ and had to drink water from a different pot. Jagjivan Ram protested against this by breaking the pot. The principal then had to remove the separate pot from the school.
In 1925, Jagjivan Ram met scholar Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and was greatly inspired by him. On Malaviya’s invitation, he joined the Banaras Hindu University.
Even at the university, Jagjivan Ram faced discrimination. This inspired him to protest against such social boycott of a section of society. He also organised the scheduled castes to protest against injustice.
After his stint at BHU, he joined the University of Calcutta from where he secured a B.Sc. degree in 1931.
He was noted by Subhas Chandra Bose because of his organisational skills. In 1935, he assisted with the formation of the All-India Depressed Classes League. He joined the Congress Party where he was appreciated as a brilliant spokesperson for the Depressed Classes.
In 1935, he proposed at a session of the Hindu Mahasabha that drinking water wells and temples be open to untouchables.
He took part in the freedom movement as well and was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement.
When Jawaharlal Nehru formed the provisional government, Jagjivan Ram became its youngest minister. After independence, he was appointed the country’s first labour minister.
He also became India’s Deputy Prime Minister when Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister after the Emergency.
1) He was instrumental in the foundation of the All India Depressed Classes League 2) He appeared before the Hammond Commission at Ranchi and demanded, for the first time, voting rights for the Dalits 3) He was arrested, for his active participation in the Quit India Movement launched by the Indian National Congress.
The above statements best describe:
a) Anant Laxman Kanhere b) Babu Genu c) Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar d) Jagjivan Ram
