Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ka janm 14 April 1891 ko Madhya Pradesh ke Mhow naam ke ek chhote se cantonment mein hua tha. Unka parivaar Mahar jaati se tha, jo us samay samaj mein achhoot maana jaata tha. Bhimrao ke pita Ramji Sakpal British Army mein Subedar the — ek pad jisme kuch samman tha, lekin jaati ke karan woh samman kabhi poora nahi milta tha. Maa ka naam Bhimabai tha, jo ek shaant, dharmik aur parivaar ke liye samarpit mahila thi.
Ambedkar parivaar mein 14 bachche the, jisme Bhimrao sabse chhote the. Unka bachpan kathin tha, na keval gareebi ke karan balki jaati ke bhedbhaav ke karan bhi. Jab Bhimrao school jaane lage, tab unhone dekha ki school mein bhi unke saath alag vyavhaar kiya jaata hai. Unhe classroom ke andar nahi baithne diya jaata tha. Unke liye bench nahi hoti thi — wo zameen par baithte. Jab paani peena hota, to kisi ‘uchch jaati’ ke teacher ko paani unke liye door se giraana padta. Unhe matka chhoone ki bhi ijazat nahi thi.
Itna sab hone ke baad bhi Bhimrao ne padhai chhodi nahi. Wo apne pita Ramji se prerit hote the, jo chahte the ki Bhimrao shiksha ke zariye apna aur apne jaise logon ka jeevan badlein. Bhimrao padhai mein hamesha tej the. Unhone Prathamik shiksha Satara mein aur baad mein Bombay mein prapt ki.
Unka school jeevan sangharsh se bhara tha. Jab dusre bachche khush thaali mein khaate, Bhimrao akela ek kone mein baith kar apna khana khaata. Fir bhi unhone har class mein apna dhyan sirf kitaabon par rakha. Unka vishwas tha — shiksha hi azadi ka raasta hai.
1896 mein unki maa Bhimabai ka dehant ho gaya. Bhimrao sirf 5 saal ke the. Maa ka pyaar, maa ki dekhbhaal aur maa ka sahara ek hi din mein chhin gaya. Uske baad Bhimrao andar se aur zyada shaant ho gaye, lekin unka mann aur bhi majboot bana. Unki parvarish unke pita ne ki, lekin Bhimabai ki kami kabhi poori nahi ho paayi.
1907 mein, Bhimrao ne matriculation (10th board) ka exam pass kiya. Ye un samay ke liye ek badi baat thi, kyunki ek achhoot ladka school pass kare — samaj ke liye yeh sochna bhi mushkil tha. Isi saal unki pehli shaadi bhi hui Ramabai se, jo unke jeevan ki ek mahatvapurna saathi bani.