Ramabai Ambedkar

Ramabai was born in a poor family to Bhiku Dhotre (Valangkar) and Rukmini. She lived with her three sisters and a brother, Shankar Bikaji Dhotre, in the Mahapura locality in the village of Vanand, near Dapoli, Ratnagiri. Her father earned his livelihood by carrying baskets of fish from Harnai Bunder & Dabhol harbour to the market. Her mother died when she was young and, after her father also died, her uncles, Valangkar and Govindpurkar, took the children to Bombay to live with them in Byculla market. == Marriage ==

at Rajgruha, his residence in Mumbai in February 1934. From left – Yashwant (Son), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Smt. Ramabai, Smt. Laxmibai (wife of BR Ambedkar's elder brother, Anand) and nephew (Mukundrao Anandrao Ambedkar) and Dr. Ambedkar's favorite dog, Tobby. Ramabai married Bhimrao in 4 April 1906 in a very simple ceremony in the vegetable market of Byculla, Mumbai. Like her spouse, the exact birth year of Ramabai is not documented. Older records tell varied birth date and year. Dhananjay Keer states that she was married to Bhimrao when she was nine years old. At the time, Ambedkar was aged 15 and Ramabai was 9. They had five children – Yashwant, Gangadhar, Ramesh, Indu (daughter) and Rajratna. Apart from Yashwant (1912–1977), the other four died in their childhood.{{Cite book|title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|last=Gaikwad|first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath|publisher=Riya Publication|year=2015 == Death ==

Ramabai died on 27 May 1935 at Rajgruha in Hindu Colony, Dadar, Bombay, after a prolonged chronic illness. She had been married to Ambedkar for 29 years. == Credit by her husband ==

B. R. Ambedkar's book Thoughts on Pakistan, published in 1941, was dedicated to Ramabai. In the preface, Ambedkar credits her with his transformation from an ordinary Bhiva or Bhima to Dr Ambedkar. == Influence and in popular legacy ==

, Ram Nath Kovind, unveiling the statue of Ramabai Ambedkar, at Pune, in Maharashtra on 30 May 2018 Ramabai's life has been featured in the following: Movies, televisions and drama • Ramai, a 1992 drama directed by Ashok Gawali • Dr. Ambedkar, a Hindi television series aired on DD National. • Garja Maharashtra (2018–19), a Marathi television series aired on Sony Marathi. • Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar - Mahamanvachi Gauravgatha (2019), a Marathi television series airing on Star Pravah starring Shivani Rangole as Ramabai Ambedkar while Mrunmayi Supal portrayed the young version of the character. Books • Ramai, by Yashwant Manohar • Tyagawanti Rama Mauli, by Nana Dhakulkar, Vijay Publications (Nagpur) • Priya Ramu, by Yogiraj Bagul, Granthali Publication == See also ==