Dare to Lift Yourself

135 years ago, in April 1891, a great nation-builder of India was born. His community faced tremendous discrimination, which he directly experienced—but instead of letting it defeat him, young Bhimrao chose to lift himself through education and noble values. Going on to study at some of the world’s most well-respected educational institutions, namely Columbia University and the London School of Economics, he equipped himself with doctorates, and more importantly, with knowledge and courage that served him to counter social injustice and fight for equal rights. As Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar gave shape to the values that guide our great nation to date—justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. He stood up for women, manual workers and the so-called backward communities, introducing changes that others had not been able to, before him.For him, education was the most powerful way to make a difference, self-respect was non-negotiable, and there was no substitute for hard work. This is evident in a letter he wrote to a student in the 1920s..My young friend, I am glad to learn that you are pursuing your studies with seriousness. Education is the only means by which you can rise. Without education, there is no freedom.Do not depend on others for your uplift. Depend upon your own strength.Study hard and cultivate your mind. Character is more important than anything else.You must remove from your mind any feeling of inferiority. Never think yourself less than others. Yours sincerely,B. R. Ambedkar.This personal correspondence is a very meaningful letter for any student, be it a student of a particular discipline or even a student of life! Dr. Ambedkar emphasises the importance of facing life head-on and making the best of it. He means business; his words are encouraging and authoritative! After all, here is someone who practised what he was preaching to the young student. His method is tried, tested, and proven to bring about transformation. One of the most powerful lines of the Bhagavad Gita has a similar take-home message. In the fifth verse of the sixth chapter, Krishna instructs Arjuna: उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: ||uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayetātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥOne should lift oneself by oneself; one should not lower oneself. The mind is one's friend, and the mind is one’s own enemy. It is due to this lesson in self-reliance, this push in the right direction, that Arjun went on to attain glory on the battlefield and, through his example, the Gita has helped countless people attain glory in their lives. While we need the support of others, and we definitely benefit from the company of the good, can anyone really spoon-feed us for life? For how long will we depend on others, and where will that take us? Will it strengthen us?Ambedkar learned this lesson early on in his own life, and he went on to promote education as a means of empowerment and evolution. Keep learning, he urged, keep striving—with your values intact—and you will get there. You have it in you. You are no less than any other.His words are as much for you and me as they were for the young friend to whom he addressed them. The lines of his short letter show us that our circumstances don’t define us—our determination, effort, clarity, and purpose do.

Dare to Lift Yourself

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