B R Ambedkar Family Tree: The Story Behind The Constitution of India's Architect

Bhimrao Ramji "Babasaheb" Ambedkar, born 14 April 1891 in Mhow, Central Provinces, British India, was the principal architect of the Constitution of India (drafted 1947–49; adopted 26 November 1949) — and India's first Law and Justice Minister (1947–51). The most-prominent Dalit leader in modern Indian history; Bharat Ratna (1990, posthumous). He died 6 December 1956.

The Family's Roots: A Marathi Mahar (Dalit) Family

The Ambedkar family was from the Mahar caste — historically considered "untouchable" within the Hindu caste hierarchy — settled in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Father served in the British Indian Army.

His Parents

Father: Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal (1838–1913) — Subedar-Major in the British Indian Army; served at the Mhow cantonment in Central Provinces; deeply educated for his time despite caste barriers.

Mother: Bhimabai Murbadkar Sakpal (died 1896) — homemaker; died when Bhimrao was about 5.

His Siblings

Bhimrao was the 14th and youngest child of his parents — only five of the 14 survived to adulthood.

His First Wife: Ramabai

Ramabai Ambedkar (1898–1935) — married Bhimrao in April 1906 when she was 9 and he was 14 (per the custom of the time); died of a long illness in 1935.

Their Son

Yashwant Bhimrao Ambedkar (1912–1977) — only surviving child of Bhimrao and Ramabai; the four other children (sons and daughter Indu) died in infancy.

His Second Wife: Savita

Dr. Savita Bhimrao Ambedkar (née Sharda Kabir; 1909–2003) — Brahmin doctor (MBBS) who treated Bhimrao for diabetes; Bhimrao's second wife from 15 April 1948. They had no children.

The Ambedkar Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Marathi Mahar (Dalit) family; Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.

Father: Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal (1838–1913) — Indian Army Subedar-Major.

Mother: Bhimabai Sakpal (died 1896 when Bhimrao was 5).

Siblings: Bhimrao was the 14th child; only five survived to adulthood.

First Wife: Ramabai Ambedkar (1898–1935; m. April 1906).

Son: Yashwant B. Ambedkar (1912–1977) — only surviving child of Bhimrao and Ramabai.

Second Wife: Dr. Savita Ambedkar (Sharda Kabir) (1909–2003) — Brahmin physician; m. 15 April 1948.

Grandson: Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar (b. 1954) — Indian politician; head of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:

  • Born 14 April 1891, Mhow
  • Elphinstone College, Bombay (BA Economics & Political Science, 1912)
  • Columbia University, NYC: MA Economics (1915); PhD Economics (1927)
  • London School of Economics: MSc, DSc Economics; Gray's Inn (Barrister-at-Law, 1923)
  • Returned to India 1923; faced ongoing caste discrimination despite his qualifications
  • Founded Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924); the journal Mooknayak (1920); Bahishkrit Bharat (1927)
  • Mahad Satyagraha (1927): led Dalits to drink from the public Chavdar Tank
  • Round Table Conferences in London (1930–32) as Dalit representative
  • Poona Pact (1932) with Gandhi: agreement on reserved seats for Dalits
  • Chair, Constitution Drafting Committee: 29 August 1947 – 26 November 1949
  • India's first Law and Justice Minister: 1947–1951
  • Resigned over the Hindu Code Bill in 1951
  • Buddhist conversion: 14 October 1956 — converted to Buddhism with 500,000 followers at Nagpur, founding the modern Indian Buddhist revival movement
  • Died 6 December 1956, Delhi, age 65 (diabetes complications)
  • Bharat Ratna (posthumous): 1990

What the Sakpal-Ambedkar Family Story Teaches Us

A Subedar-Major father who served the British Army but defied caste discrimination at home. A mother who died when Bhimrao was 5. Fourteen siblings, of whom only five survived. A childhood-bride first wife who died of illness, leaving only one surviving child. A doctor second wife who tended to him until his death. A grandson who is now a working Indian politician.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Ambedkar story carries the same lesson. Some family records hold both extraordinary achievement and deep child mortality. The Ambedkar tree has a Constitution-drafting Father of India alongside 9 dead children and an early-widowed grandfather. Write down every chapter. The complete family record is the honest one.

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