#Ambedkarites often say 'Jai Bhim' to greet each other & also to express their respects for Dr #BabasahebAmbedkar. This term was coined by Hardas Laxmanrao Nagrale aka Babu Hardas, a follower of Dr #Ambedkar . Read this thread on the #history of the greeting #JaiBhim
Babu Hardas was born at Kamthi near #Nagpur in 1904, and passed away at the young age of 35. He was a leader of the Independent Labour Party & a member of the CP and Berar legislature. He also organised the beedi workers.
Babu Hardas first coined #JaiBhim on 6 January 1935 in a letter to the Samata Sainik Dal. In his letter, Hardas asked the workers of the Dal, which was a volunteer force, to use 'Jai Bhim' instead of 'Ram, Ram.'
The greeting #JaiBhim became popular soon. In 1936-37, a Jai Bhim vyamashala (gymnasium) was started in Jalgaon with the assistance of the Samata Sainik Dal. These gymnasiums were also launched in neighboring Dhule.
Bhimrao Salunkhe, an activist from the area, used the term #JaiBhim in the Samata Sainik Dal's circulars. Many Dalits in Nashik used Jai Bhim on wedding cards.
The credit for popularising this greeting goes to Balkrishna Shivram 'Bhausaheb' More. The veteran #Ambedkarite J.V. Pawar, who is one of the founders of the #DalitPanthers, has written about this. More said #JaiBhim thrice in public in the presence of Dr #BabasahebAmbedkar
This was in a parishad (Aurangabad District Untouchables Conference) at Makranpur (East Khandesh) in 1938.
Pawar says that More hailed from Marathwada and later quit his govt job to work for the Scheduled Caste Federation. He later became its president for #Marathwada and was #Babasaheb's close aide.
More used the term Jai Bhim to hail Dr Ambedkar at the Makranpur parishad on 30 December 1938. More said they did not want to use 'Ram, Ram,' 'Namaskar' or 'Johar' as a greeting and hence would say 'Jai Bhim.' The around 5,000 people present at the meeting repeated this.
Remember, this conference was being held after the Yeola convention in 1935 where #Ambedkar had voiced his decision to convert.
On 13 October 1935, Ambedkar announced in the Mumbai Ilakha Dalit Parishad at Yeola in Nashik: ‘Mee Hindu Mhanun Janmala Aalo Aslo, Tari Hindu Mhanun Marnar Naahi.’ (I may have been born as a Hindu, but will not die as one). In 1956, Ambedkar and his followers embraced Buddhism
Thus, the use of #JaiBhim was a form of counter-culture and culture formation.
Humble Jai Bhim to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Hardas, Bhausaheb More and J.V Pawar!
Humble Jai Bhim to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Hardas, Bhausaheb More and J.V Pawar!
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