December 06

Born in 1891, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a pioneering Indian jurist and economist who challenged the rigid caste system and fought for social justice. As principal architect of the Indian Constitution, he drafted key provisions guaranteeing fundamental rights and equality for all citizens. Ambedkar earned doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, becoming a leading voice in academic and political circles. He served as India's first Minister of Law and Justice, advocating land reform and labor rights. Ambedkar also converted to Buddhism and inspired the Dalit Buddhist movement as a path to social liberation. His lifelong struggle against discrimination has made him a revered figure in modern India.

Born in Martinique in 1925, Frantz Fanon was a psychiatrist whose firsthand experiences with colonial racism shaped his groundbreaking writings. After serving in the Free French forces during World War II, he studied psychiatry in France and practiced on the island of Martinique. His book 'Black Skin, White Masks' explored the psychological effects of colonialism on identity. In Algeria, he joined the National Liberation Front and wrote 'The Wretched of the Earth,' a seminal work on decolonization and revolutionary violence. Fanon's analysis of oppression and liberation influenced anti-colonial movements worldwide. He died in 1961, but his legacy endures through his profound contributions to postcolonial theory.