highlights
Ambedkar wrote in a letter to a friend, his son and family members have become angry on his second marriage.
Dr. Sharda Kabir became close to him when she was treating him for leg pain in Mumbai.
His second wife Sharda was given the name Savita after marriage, she was a Saraswat Brahmin from Maharashtra.
When Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to marry Dr. Sharda Kabir, a Saraswat Brahmin woman, it not only angered his son but also his family members. Also the atmosphere in Maharashtra became tense. Brahmins also protested. He did not approve of this marriage for a high caste Brahmin woman. In anger, rapid telegrams were sent to the then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel asking him to stop this marriage at any cost.
It has been described in detail in Dr. ML Parihar’s book Babasaheb Ambedkar Life and Mission. It is written in the book that not only the Brahmins of Maharashtra but many organizations were also sending telegrams to the Home Minister regarding this. The opponents were busy raising this issue through the newspaper. Sardar Patel was in a confusing situation, because after all this was a personal matter between two individuals.
Why did Patel get upset over this?
Angered by this, he wrote in the letter, How can I stop such nonsense. The efforts of conservative people across the country to stop this marriage in the name of caste and religion were not successful. Although even before this, a well-educated Brahmin woman, impressed by Dr. Bhimrao, had proposed marriage to him, but then Dr. Ambedkar had refused her.
When Dr. Ambedkar’s first wife died, he decided that now he would spend his life as a widower. He did this for 14 years. Around the year 1947, Baba Saheb became very troubled with diabetes and blood pressure. Problems in legs started increasing. The problem increased to such an extent that he was advised serious treatment. Mumbai’s doctor Sharda Kabir started the treatment.
Doctor Savita was a Marathi Brahmin.
She belonged to an elite Marathi Brahmin family of Pune. From such Brahmin families, who were called Chitpavan Brahmins, i.e. the most noble Brahmins. Savita was very adept in studies. After her initial studies from Pune, she did MBBS from Mumbai.
However, after starting medicine, Dr. Savita also thought that she would remain unmarried. When she was treating Dr. Ambedkar, she was 38 years old. However, she did her work so well that she gained recognition as a skilled doctor.
There was an age difference of 18 years between both of them
During treatment, she came close to Ambedkar. Although there was a difference of 18 years in the age of both. Actually she was working in Dr. Malvankar’s clinic in Mumbai. Ambedkar was undergoing treatment there. However, a section of Ambedkar’s supporters still says that he got trapped in the conspiracy of some people to get him married to Dr. Savita Kabir.
What did Ambedkar write in the letter to his friend
Ambedkar also felt that if there was a doctor in the house, he would be taken better care of. Dr. Ambedkar wrote to his friend Kamalkant Chitre, he is marrying Dr. Savita because it is not possible to find such a woman in the Dalit society, that is why I have chosen a Saraswat Brahmin woman as my future wife.
In another letter he wrote to Kamalkant, one of my colleagues is provoking my son Yashwant and his family. I do not feel that I am committing any crime by taking the decision of marriage as per the need of the hour.
When Ambedkar got married, not only Brahmins but a large section of Dalits were very angry. Ambedkar’s son and close relatives also did not like this marriage. The marriage remained sour.
first marriage at a young age
Babasaheb’s first marriage took place in 1906. Baba Saheb was then 15 years old and his first marriage was with Ramabai. Ambedkar’s studies continued after marriage. He went to England to study barristership. After returning, he became actively involved in the upliftment of Dalits. Had five children from his first wife. Only the elder son Yashwantrao survived for a long time.
The children could not even study much. Yashwantrao could also get education only till matriculation. However, later Yashwant formed the Republican Party of India. Also became MLA. Baba Saheb was very busy. Couldn’t pay much attention to family responsibilities. Ramabai died in 1935 after a long illness. Baba Saheb did not even think about marriage for the next 13 years.
During treatment, Dr. came close to Savita and married her.
When he was busy drafting the Indian Constitution in the late 1940s, health complications began to emerge. Couldn’t sleep. Neuropathic pain started in the legs. Insulin and homeopathic medicines could provide relief to some extent. He went to Bombay for treatment. Doctors advised that he now needs a companion who is not only proficient in cooking but also has medical knowledge, so that he can take care of him.
The marriage took place the day after Ambedkar’s birthday.
Since Dr. Savita was treating him in a very dedicated manner, he also came close to her. The closeness grew to such an extent that he proposed marriage to Savita. When she agreed, they both got married on 15 April 1948 at Ambedkar’s residence in Delhi. At that time Baba Saheb was 58 years old and Dr. Sharda was 40 years old. That marriage took place as per the rules of civil marriage. After marriage, Dr. Sharda Kabir was named Dr. Savita Ambedkar. On this occasion, Ambedkar had invited only 16 friends.
Came close to Ambedkar during treatment
After this many kinds of talks and controversies started. Many things were said. Brahmins raised questions on Ambedkar’s Dalit politics and ideology. A section of angry Dalits said that nothing wrong could have happened. Had Baba Saheb found only a Brahmin woman for marriage?
Some said that this is a conspiracy of Brahmins. Some scoffed. Many of his followers believed that whatever Baba Saheb does, he does it thoughtfully. Baba Saheb is more thoughtful and intelligent, so he must have done the right thing.
Baba Saheb’s thoughts about his wife
Leaving aside the controversies, there is no doubt that Dr. Savita Mai (later she came to be known as Mai) looked after Ambedkar with complete devotion till her death. She remained engaged in his service. Even Ambedkar himself praised his dedication and service. When he wrote his book “The Buddha and His Dharma”, it was published for the first time without a preface. Baba Saheb rewrote its preface on 15 March 1956.
The book was to be republished with a new preface. He wrote in an emotional tone how he got help from his wife. After Ambedkar’s death, angry close friends and followers put pressure on the publisher to remove this role. In this way, those feelings which he had written about his wife could not be revealed to the people. This came to light in 1980, when Punjabi Buddhist writer Bhagwan Das published his role as a rare role.
When allegations were leveled against the second wife after Ambedkar’s death
However, after his death, Ambedkar’s sons and close relatives accused Savita Mai of not taking care of him. He was separated from the Ambedkar movement. He confined himself to his farmhouse in Mehrauli in Delhi.
Later, young republican leaders Ramdas Athawale and Gangadhar Gade again brought the Ambedkar movement back into the mainstream. However, as they grew older, they separated again. He wrote a memoir on Baba Saheb “Babasahebnchaya Sahwasat”. Contributed to the film made on him. Savita Mai died in 2003 at the age of 94 in JJ Hospital, Mumbai.
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Tags: Ambedkar, Ambedkar Jayanti, BR ambedkar, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Love Story
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 14, 2024, 08:16 IST