We understand that there are millions of facts and interesting things kept hidden from Dalit-Bahujans. Here, we present 10 facts about Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar you might not have read before.

From Ghosts to Cars – 10 Cool Facts About Babasaheb Ambedkar You Didn’t Know

1) Food

He did not have taste for any particular diet, rich or oily

He preferred simple food like plain food and plain rice

The favourite of all he relished arhar and masoor dal

He was an expert cook, so at times he used to cook himself

His meals included one/two chapatis, little dal, curd and seasonal vegetables. At times he took Chicken and Fish.

2) Dress

He was a person who chose comfort over fashion.

In summers, he wore dhoti, Kurta and pyjama. Sometimes White shirt, lungi and chappal

In winter, he wore the woollen shirt, coat, sweater, and muffler. Sometimes shawl and overcoat

On special occasions, he preferred woollen/cotton shirt, hat and a cap

3) Books

Books were his best friends and he was of the opinion that “Everyone should invest at least 10% of his income on purchasing books”

As told to Nanak Chand his favourite books were:

Life of Tolstoy

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

He had an eidetic memory. During last years of his life, he could recollect size, colours and chapters from the books he had read during his stay at Columbia

4) The Artist

Babasaheb also had a great liking for Art. He was of the opinion that “everyone should love harmony in music and beauty in art”

He had a great desire to be a painter so that he could paint a portrait of Lord Buddha.

5) Gardening

Babasaheb had a great interest in gardening from his school days. From the days when as a small kid he did not like studying, he would work in the garden.

His garden at 22, Prithivi Raj Road, where he stayed as a Labour Minister, was commented by Daily Mail as the BEST and PICTURESQUE.

 6) Pet Animals

Babasaheb was a Pet lover, especially a dog lover. He would bring dogs from farthest corners of the country. He had kept many dogs in Bombay and Delhi.

In his early years, he also had pet deer.

Babasaheb Ambedkar was so close to a dog named Tobby that when he died, Babasaheb mourned for days.

7) Library 

Books were the greatest part of his life and for them, his house at Bombay ‘Rajgriha’ was specially designed and redesigned to suit his liking where he could store his vast collection of books

From 1924 to 1934, his library had become one of the biggest in Bombay.

Later, he had a massive collection of more than 50,000 books and his was the most extensive private collection in India.

8) Fountain Pen and Stationary

He had and irresistible fascination to possess big and outsized varied types of the fountain pen. Among the best were used by him which included parker, Sheaffer and Waterman.

Babasaheb also had a golden pen which was given to him by someone from England, which he kept very carefully.

His stationary needs were attended by

• In Bombay: Thacker and Co. John
• In Delhi: Dhoomimal Dass stationary at Connaught Place

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9) Cars

Babasaheb possessed two cars.

One in Bombay which served him during his early years to attend courts as an advocate and legislative assembly session.

The second one was in Delhi, which was an old mobile model purchased from Rafi Ahmed Kidwai. It was used to attend parliamentary sessions, Ashok Buddha Vihar.

Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) flag always fluttered on the Bonnet.

10) Fun fact on Ghost and Spirits

On July 22, 1942, when Babasaheb took in-charge of Executive Councillor in New Delhi (Labour Ministry), he was searching for the house, but there was no place which could accommodate his vast collection of books. After a lot of searching, he selected 22, PrithiviRaj Marg, New Delhi.

The watchman of the house said that the big house was a haunted house and had remained untenanted even by English man for several years. The CPWD engineer also discouraged him.

Babasaheb said that “he had been fighting with all sorts of ghost and spirits in India since his entry into politics. So, let him have his new experience also into this matter”.

The house was thus repaired and all surroundings were replanted. Rows of flowers blossomed all around. The house was thus known for its beauty and it attracted many visitors and the building was once filmed by an American lady.

Sometimes, Babasaheb himself used to flower plants at this house.

~ From “Little known facts of Dr Ambedkar by Nanak Chand Rattu” & “My Experience & memories of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar by Shankranand Shastri”

Compiled By – Saransh Gautam

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