Two tall-tales on B.R. Ambedkar

Myth making is an integral part of political science and politics, especially when it comes to immortalising famous personalities. To keep the memories of notable people alive, we share stories about them, and their remarkable messages and acts. Sometimes we create stories and myths about them. Though those tall tales are not real, they have the capacity to carry the message of the leader to the people. Those stories and myths make a leader’s message easily comprehensible to the masses and drive them towards certain goals. They help in starting the conversations about their leaders. The following are two of my favourite tall tales about B.R. Ambedkar narrated by Kannada poet Siddalingaiah (the first story is from his autobiography ‘Ooru Keri’ and the second was found in the book ‘Another India’, where Chandan Gowda claims that it was shared with him by Siddalingaiah). 

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When Ambedkar was a boy, he had no place in his house to study. So he would go to a faraway tree, sit on top of it, and study. He knew how to climb a tree but not to climb down. So he would crash down, his books falling with him. There was an ash pit around the tree. His body and clothes would be covered in ash. The boys would tease him and call him “Boodi (ash) saheba”. Ambedkar then took the vow: “I may be Boodi Saheba now, but I will be Babasaheba in the future”. He eventually did become Babasaheba. 

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A foreign reporter arrived in India to interview major political figures. He decided to visit Gandhi first. But Gandhi was already asleep when he got there. He then went over to Nehru’s house. But Nehru has gone to sleep. He visited Sardar Patel next. But Sardar Patel had also fallen asleep by then. It was past midnight when the reporter arrived at Ambedkar’s house. But Ambedkar was wide awake and working away at his desk. The reporter asked him, “All the other leaders are already asleep. How is it that you are still awake?”. Ambedkar replied, “Those leaders have already awakened their people. They can now afford to sleep peacefully, But my people are yet to awaken. So I have to stay up and keep working. 

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These tall tales are not just myths, but they contain very important messages in them. They immortalise and also humanise the leaders, and its important to share more and more such stories.