Bhimrao Ambedkar: The Boy Who Asked Why
Why do I have to sit separately in a corner of the classroom? Why can’t I drink water from the tap like other children? Why do the teachers never touch my books?The ‘whys’ shout louder in little Bhim’s head as he grows up, trailed constantly by the monster of untouchability.
They catapult him into a lifetime of struggle for equality. They shape the remarkable ideas that are the cornerstone of the Indian Constitution, which he drafted as India’s first Law Minister.The Boy Who Asked Why follows the life of an extraordinary man, ‘Babasaheb’ Bhimrao Ambedkar, who energised the struggle against caste prejudice.
His fiery speeches and writings urged Dalits to protest against the inhumanity they suffered, and continue to suffer. This straightforward telling, visualised with quirky imagination, brings to children a man whose story will raise their awareness of discrimination — leading them, perhaps, to ask their own whys.
Download the teaching guide here.
Age: 6 and up
Language: English
Format: Hardcover, Paperback
Number of Pages: 32
Publisher: KitaabWorld
Author: Sowmya Rajendran
Dimensions: 8.5" x 9.5"
"Young Bhimaro does not understand why he is not allowed to sit at a school desk or drink from the same water tap as the other children. His search for answers to all his “whys” leads him on a quest that culminates in his becoming the first Law Minister in India and a writer of the country’s Constitution. Beautiful and vibrant illustrations bring to life the story of one of India’s most important social justice fighters. (Grades K-3)". - South Asia Book Award 2016 Honor Book
"The Boy Who Asked Why is a picture book biography with the potential to ignite in young readers their own questions in the pursuit of justice and the inspiration to read more about the lives of other influential leaders from around the world." - The Classroom Bookshelf, A School Library Journal Blog