Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar
{{short description|Indian politician and social activist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Prakash Ambedkar
| image = Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|05|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bombay, Bombay State, India
| residence = {{•}} 129, Rajgruha, Hindu colony, Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
{{•}} B-17, Patil Heritage Bhosale Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra
{{•}} Akola, Maharashtra
| nickname = Balasaheb Ambedkar
| education = Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Laws
| alma_mater = St. Stanislaus High School
Siddharth College of Law, Mumbai
| office = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| term_start = {{start date|1999|10|10|df=yes}}
| term_end = {{end date|2004|02|06|df=yes}}
| successor = Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre
| constituency = Akola
| office1 =
| term_start1 = {{start date|1998|03|10|df=yes}}
| term_end1 = {{end date|1999|04|26|df=yes}}
| constituency1 = Akola
| predecessor1 = Pandurang Pundalik Fundkar
| office2 = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| constituency2 = Maharashtra
| term_start2 = {{start date|1990|09|18|df=yes}}
| term_end2 = {{end date|1996|09|17|df=yes}}
| party = {{ubl|Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi
(since 2019)}}
| profession = Advocate, Politician, Social worker
| spouse = {{Marriage|Anjali Ambedkar|1993}}
| children = Sujat Ambedkar (son)
| website = {{Facebook | id = PrakashAmbedkar.Official | name= PrakashAmbedkar | link= no }}
| nationality = Indian
| relatives = See Ambedkar family
| footnotes =
| parents = {{ubl|Yashwant Ambedkar|Meera Ambedkar}}
}}
Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar (born 10 May 1954), popularly known as Balasaheb Ambedkar, is an Indian politician, writer and lawyer.{{Cite web |last=Chitnis |first=Purva |date=2024-06-15 |title=After poll drubbing that saw Dalits 'shift to Congress', Prakash Ambedkar's VBA has tough road ahead |url=https://theprint.in/politics/after-poll-drubbing-that-saw-dalits-shift-to-congress-prakash-ambedkars-vba-has-tough-road-ahead/2132606/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} He is the president of political party called Vanchit Bahujan Agadi.[http://www.parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13MH19.htm Biographical Sketch of Member of 13th Lok Sabha] He is a three-time Member of Parliament (MP).[http://bhimraoambedkar.com/2011/01/29/prakash-ambedkar-grandson-dr-babasaheb-ambedkar/ Prakash Ambedkar son of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar] He was a member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha of India{{Cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/lssnew/Members/former_Biography.aspx?mpsno=18|title=Lok Sabha|access-date=18 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195959/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/members/former_Biography.aspx?mpsno=18|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and twice represented the Lok Sabha constituency of Akola, Maharashtra. He has served in both houses of the Indian Parliament.
Personal life
Prakash Ambedkar is the grandson of Indian politician Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and Ramabai.{{cite news |last1=Biswas |first1=Soutik |title=BR Ambedkar: The unknown details of how he piloted Indian constitution |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65175711 |publisher=BBC |date=10 April 2023}} His father's name is Yashwant Ambedkar (Bhaiyasaheb) and mother's name is Meera. The Ambedkar family are followers of Buddhism.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Vemulas-mom-brother-embrace-Buddhism-on-Ambedkar-Jayanti/articleshow/51832628.cms|title=Vemula's mom, brother embrace Buddhism on Ambedkar Jayanti |work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-10-10}} He has two younger brothers Bhimrao and Anandraj and a sister Ramabai who is married to Anand Teltumbde. Prakash Ambedkar is married to Anjali Maydeo and they have a son named Sujat.{{Cite news|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/home-minister-prof-4574062-NOR.html|title=होम मिनिस्टर प्रा. अंजली मायदेव : महिला आघाडीची जबाबदारी|work=divyamarathi|access-date=2018-10-10|language=mr}}
Activities
File:CM KCR, Prakash Ambedkar infront of 125 feet Ambedkar Statue in Hyderabad.jpg
Prakash Ambedkar has organised mass rallies at the national level, including in response to the Riddles march case, Rohith Vemula suicide case, Ambedkar Bhavan demolition case, Una flogging incident and 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case.{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/maharashtra/who-is-prakash-ambedkar/362402|title=जानें महाराष्ट्र बंद का आह्वान करने वाले प्रकाश अंबेडकर कौन हैं?|date=2018-01-03|work=Zee News Hindi|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.navodayatimes.in/news/khabre/rally-against-maharashtra-government-by-prakash-ambedkar/69335/|title=दोषियों पर अगर नहीं होगी कार्रवाई, तो हिंदुओं में भी पैदा होंगे हाफिज सईद : प्रकाश अंबेडकर|website=www.navodayatimes.in|language=hi|access-date=2018-10-10}}
Prakash Ambedkar is noted for having designed the political strategy known as the Akola Pattern of political organising to appeal to all excluded masses, including Dalits, Muslims and other excluded peoples.{{cite news |last1=Kamble |first1=Swati |title=Despite political setbacks in India, Dalit voices grow stronger |url=https://theconversation.com/despite-political-setbacks-in-india-dalit-voices-grow-stronger-117055 |publisher=The Conversation |date=21 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Wankhede |first1=Harish S. |title=Prakash Ambedkar and the Future of Dalit Politics in Maharashtra |url=https://thewire.in/politics/prakash-ambedkar-future-dalit-politics-maharashtra |publisher=The Wire |date=1 Jan 2019}} The Akola Pattern is named after the Akola district of Maharashtra where Prakash Ambedkar's political party is based.
In 2017, together with his son Sujat, Prakash Ambedkar relaunched Prabuddh Bharat (Enlightened India), the newspaper his grandfather Dr. B. R. Ambedkar founded in 1956.{{cite news |last1=Shantha |first1=Sukanya |title=Ambedkar's Newspaper 'Prabuddh Bharat' is Back in a New Avatar |url=https://thewire.in/caste/ambedkars-newspaper-prabuddh-bharat-is-back-in-a-new-avatar |publisher=The Wire |date=16 April 2018}} Prakash Ambedkar has also been working to archive editions of the original Prabuddh Bharat from the 1950s, after copies were lost in the controversial demolition of the Buddha Bhushan printing press in 2016.
Prakash Ambedkar has also worked to preserve his grandfather's legacy as architect of the Indian Constitution and has been quoted as saying "The country will survive only if the Constitution survives."{{cite news |title=India survives, if Constitution survives: Prakash Ambedkar |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/india-survives-constitution-survives-prakash-1927665 |publisher=Deccan Herald |date=30 March 2018}}
Prakash Ambedkar attracted controversy and criticism after he threatened the Times Now anchor Anand Narsimhan to physically harm the anchor by saying that he would think what he could do to him if the governance gets changed.{{cite web |title=Hum Tumhari ***** Maarenge!!! This is how grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar has openly threatened Times Now Senior Editor Anand Narasimhan on camera |url=https://www.nagpurtoday.in/hum-tumhari-maarenge-this-is-how-grandson-of-dr-br-ambedkar-has-openly-threatened-times-now-senior-editor-anand-narasimhan-on-camera/06080741|publisher=Nagpur Today|access-date=2019-03-04}}{{cite web |title=Bhima-Koregaon arrests: Prakash Ambedkar threatens Times Now Senior Editor Anand Narasimhan - WATCH |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/bhima-koregaon-arrests-prakash-ambedkar-threatens-times-now-senior-editor-anand-narasimhan-watch/237061|publisher=Times Now|access-date=2019-03-04}}
In June 2023, Ambedkar defended the historical significance of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's 50-year rule, urging people not to resort to abuse. Ambedkar made this statement while visiting the Aurangzeb memorial in Khuldabad, Aurangabad District. His visit coincided with arrests and clashes in the state related to social media posts praising Aurangzeb. Ambedkar questioned the notion of erasing history and asked, "What's wrong with visiting the Aurangzeb memorial? He was a Mughal emperor who ruled here for 50 years."{{Cite web |date=2023-06-17 |title=Instead of abusing Aurangzeb, we should be aware of history: Prakash Ambedkar |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/instead-of-abusing-aurangzeb-we-should-be-aware-of-history-prakash-ambedkar-8669737/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Shoumojit |date=2023-06-20 |title=Uddhav downplays ally Prakash Ambedkar’s tributes at Aurangzeb’s tomb |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/uddhav-downplays-ally-prakash-ambedkars-tributes-at-aurangzebs-tomb/article66990021.ece |access-date=2023-10-29 |issn=0971-751X}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lok13/biodata/13MH19.htm Parliament Biography]
- [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/meet-of-political-parties-dalit-leaders-to-mark-75-years-of-poona-pact/363297/ 75 Years of Poona Act]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambedkar, Prakash Yeshwant}}
Category:Nominated members of the Rajya Sabha
Category:Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra
Category:Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh politicians
Category:People from Akola district
Category:Politicians from Mumbai
Category:Lok Sabha members from Maharashtra
Category:20th-century Indian Buddhists
Category:21st-century Indian Buddhists