Babasaheb Ambedkar was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and worked throughout his life to promote gender equality and protect the rights of girls and women. He recognized that women in India faced multiple forms of oppression and discrimination, including patriarchal attitudes, social customs, and legal barriers.

One of the most significant contributions that Ambedkar made towards protecting the rights of girls was through his work on the Hindu Code Bill. The bill was a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at reforming Hindu personal law, which governed issues such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Ambedkar recognized that the existing laws discriminated against women, particularly in matters related to property rights and divorce.

He worked tirelessly to draft and pass the Hindu Code Bill, which included provisions for women’s rights such as the right to own property, the right to seek divorce on certain grounds, and the right to inheritance. The bill faced strong opposition from conservative Hindu groups, who argued that it went against traditional Hindu values and customs. However, Ambedkar persevered and ultimately succeeded in getting the bill passed in parliament in 1955.

In addition to his work on the Hindu Code Bill, Ambedkar was a vocal advocate for women’s education and empowerment. He believed that education was essential for girls to break free from the cycle of poverty and oppression, and he worked to establish schools and colleges for girls across the country. He also advocated for the provision of scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to make education accessible to all girls, regardless of their socio-economic background.

Overall, Ambedkar’s work on women’s rights was an important step towards promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of girls and women in India. His vision of a just and equal society included the full participation and empowerment of women, and his contributions towards achieving this goal continue to inspire us today.

References

• Chitnis, K. (1994). Ambedkar on Women’s Rights. Economic and Political Weekly, 29(52), WS5-WS9. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/4401325
• Desai, N. (2016). Women’s Rights in India: An Overview. Social Action, 66(3), 209-225. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/26409936
• Mathew, G. (2015). Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Women’s Rights. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 3(4), 121-126. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308057283_Dr_BR_Ambedkar_and_Women%27s_Rights
• National Commission for Women. (2016). Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: A Champion of Women’s Rights. Retrieved from http://ncw.nic.in/pdfReports/Dr_BR_Ambedkar_A_Champion_of_Womens_Rights.pdf