Babasaheb Ambedkar was born in a Mahar family. Though the Mahars formed a leading community among the depressed classes, they were not spared by the caste Hindus. In his childhood. Ambedkar noticed how people of his community were contemptuously branded as untouchables, how they were ill-treated, humiliated and exploited.
Babasaheb refused to accept meekly this unjust treatment. He wanted his people to be aware of their rights and fight for their honour. United under his dynamic leadership, they realised that no one could help them gain their rightful place in society except themselves. As he told them, rights are to be
earned, not given