# Savita Ambedkar

Dr. Savita Ambedkar (née Kabir; 27 January 1909 – 29 May 2003) was an Indian physician, and social activist. In 1948, she married B. R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India and Dalit icon. In 1956, she and B. R. Ambedkar converted from Hinduism to Buddhism.
Savita Ambedkar inspired B. R. Ambedkar, helping him medically and editorially while he wrote his books. B. R. Ambedkar credited her in the preface of his book The Buddha and His Dhamma for extending his life by many years. Ramabai Ambedkar, B. R. Ambedkar's first wife had died in 1935.

## Early life and education

Savita Ambedkar was born Sharada Krishnarao Kabir on the 27 January 1909 in Bombay in a Saraswat brahmin family. Her mother's name was Janaki and her father's name was Krishnarao Vinayak Kabir. Her family hailed from the Dorle village, located in Ratnagiri Tehasil of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. Later, her father migrated from Ratnagiri to Bombay. On the Sir Rao Bahadur S. K. Bole Road, near the "kabootarkhana" (pigeon house) in Dadar West, the Kabir family had rented a house in Sahru's house in Matruchaya.
Savita's early education was completed in Pune. In 1937, she completed her MBBS degree from Grant Medical College, Bombay. When her studies were completed, she was appointed as a first class medical officer in a major hospital in Gujarat. However, after some months of illness, she left her job and returned home. Six of her eight siblings had inter-caste marriages. At that time, it was against the societal norms of India. Savita said, "Our family did not oppose inter-caste marriages, because the whole family was educated and progressive."

## Career and meeting with Ambedkar

At Bombay's Vile Parle, lived a doctor named S.M. Rao who had close links with B. R. Ambedkar. When in Mumbai, he would often visit the doctor. He was introduced to Dr. Sharada Kabir by Dr. Rao on one such visit . Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was then the Labor Minister in the Viceroy's Executive Council.They engaged in discussions regarding the empowerment of women and Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism in this meeting.
They would meet again in the consultation room of Dr. Mavalankar. In 1947, the strenuous work of writing the Indian Constitution had taken a toll on Dr. Ambedkar's health. He was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. While he was under medical treatment, Dr.Sharada and Dr.Ambedkar exchanged correspondence. Their interests concerning literature, society and religion overlapped and this led to discussions regarding the same. Taking into account his deteriorating health, Dr.Ambedkar was advised to hire a caretaker. In a letter addressed to Bhaurao Gaikwad dated 16 March 1948, Dr.Ambedkar wrote that he feared hiring a female nurse might cause a scandal. After the death of Yashwant's mother (Ramabai), he had decided not to marry. Considering the present situation, he realised that he had to re-evaluate his prior decision.

## Marriage

On 15 April 1948 Sharda Kabir married Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar. She was 39 and he was 57. After their marriage, she was popularly called "Mai" (mother) by his followers. As registrar for marriage, Rameshwar Dayal, Deputy Commissioner, was called in Delhi. This marriage was completed as a Civil Marriage under the Civil Marriage Act. Among those who attended this occasion were Rai Sahab Puran Chand, Mr Macy (Private Secretary), Neelkanth, Ramkrishna Chandiwala, Estate Officer Meshram, nephew of Chitre, his wife, Sharda Kabir's brother. Also Home Secretary Banerjee On 28 November 1948, the newly married couple, the then governor-general of India, C. Rajagopalachari, invited them for the Sneh Bhoj and greeted them. After marriage Sharda adopted the name 'Savita'. But Ambedkar used to call her "Shārū" in old name, which was a word of "Shāradā".
After marriage, Ambedkar's health kept steadily getting worse.She continued her care of her husband with full devotion till his death. Ambedkar mentioned the help he received from wife in a book written on 15 March 1956, in a book The Buddha and His Dhamma.In this preface, he mentioned that Savita Ambedkar increased his age by 8–10 years. After Ambedkar's death, his close associates and followers removed this role from this book. The Bengali Buddhist author Bhagwan Das published his preface as a "rare preface".

## Conversion to Buddhism

On Ashok Vijaya Dashami (The Day on which Buddhism was accepted by Emperor Ashoka Maurya) 14 October 1956, Savita Ambedkar accepted Buddhism along with her husband Bhimrao Ambedkar in Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. She was given the initiation of Buddha's Dhamma by the Burmese Bhikkhu Mahastavir Chandramani giving Three Jewels and Five precepts. After this, B. R. Ambedkar himself initiated Buddhism by giving 500,000 followers of Three Jewels, Five precepts and twenty-two pledges. This oath took place at 9 a.m.. Savita Ambedkar became the first woman to accept Buddhism of this conversion movement.

## Allegations and contradictions

Many People from Delhi came to meet B. R. Ambedkar at 26, Alipur Road, where Ambedkar was in residence. It wasn't possible for everyone to get a glimpse of Dr. Ambedkar as he was sick. Savita Ambedkar had dual obligations while taking care of him, in addition to being a doctor.
After the death of Babasaheb Ambedkar in December 1956, some Ambedkarites blamed Savita Ambedkar for killing him. They separated her from the Ambedkarite movement by describing her as a Brahmin. She took herself up to his farmhouse in Mehrauli in Delhi. Till 1972, she was living in Delhi. The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru formed a committee to investigate the matter, and that committee released her from the charges after the investigation.

## Repatriation with the Dalit movement

Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athavale and Gangadhar Gade brought her back to the mainstream Ambedkarite movement. The young activists of Dalit Panthers movement treated Mai with respect. She played an important role in the movement about the book Riddles in Hinduism. Her role earned her respect and got rid of the misunderstanding of Dalits. Later on, she was separated from him as she grew older. Babasaheb Ambedkar was given the 'Bharat Ratna', the highest civilian award, it was accepted by Savita Ambedkar honoured by the then President Ramaswamy Venkataraman on 14 April 1990. It was his centenary birth anniversary. This award ceremony was held at the Darbar Hall / Ashok Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

## Death

Savita Ambedkar became lonely after her husband's death. Later, she rejoined the Dalit movement for some time. On 19 April 2003, she suffered difficulties in breathing, and was admitted to J.J. Hospital. She died on 29 May 2003 at the age of 94 at J.J. Hospital in Mumbai.

## Writings

She wrote a memorable and autobiographical Marathi book titled "Dr. Ambedkaranchya Sahwasat" (English: In companionship with Dr. Ambedkar). She also contributed to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar film. Mrinal Kulkarni played the role of her in this film.