Jai Bhim

Jai Bhim (alternatively spelled Jay Bhim or Jai Bheem; ) is a slogan and greeting used by followers of B. R. Ambedkar, an Indian politician, social reformer and first Law and Justice Minister of India. It refers to Ambedkar's given name Bhimrao. In 1935, Jai Bhim was conceived and developed by Babu L. N. Hardas (1904–1939), a staunch follower of Ambedkar, and the secretary of Samata Sainik Dal. However, its origin is obscure and may date as far back as 1818, well before Ambedkar's birth. Jai Bhim is also called as a slogan by some political parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Republican Party of India (RPI). History The slogan 'Jai Bhim' was given by Babu Hardas in 1935. It is recorded that Babu Hardas L. N. (Laxman Nagarale) himself gave the slogan of 'Jai Bhim' in Ramchandra Kshirsagar's book Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders. In 1938, a meeting was held at Makranpur in Kannad taluka of Aurangabad district by Bhausaheb More, an activist of the Ambedkarite movement. In this meeting, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was also present. In that meeting, More told the people that from now on, we will only say 'Jai Bhim' while greeting each other. Former Judge and scholar of the Dalit movement Suresh Ghorpade said, "The salutation 'Jai Bhim' started during Dr. Ambedkar's lifetime. Activists of the Ambedkarite movement used to call each other 'Jai Bhim' but some activists also directly salutated Dr. Ambedkar as 'Jai Bhim'."