Gray’s Inn & FABO UK mark the Centenary of Dr Ambedkar’s call to the Bar

Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar spent two periods of his higher education in London. One was from October 1916 to October 1917 and the sec- ond from July 1920 to 1923. In 1916 he enrolled for his legal studies at the Gray’s Inn and at the same time as he enrolled at the London School of Economics for his PhD the- sis. But his education was interrupted as his scholarship ended and he had to go back to India. After saving enough money, and also bor- rowing from a friend,

he returned to London in July 1920 to complete his studies. After passing his examinations, Dr Ambedkar petitioned Gray’s Inn to be called to the Bar on 15 June. Gray’s Inn record of that period shows that “June 21, 1922, upon the Petition of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar to be called to the Bar, it is moved by Master Keogh and seconded by Master Wilson that he be called to the Bar” On 28th June 1922, it is recorded that, “It is ordered that ..Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar [amongst others]…be called to the Bar and they are hereby published Barristers accordingly”. 28 June 1922 is a very important day in Dr Ambedkar’s life. It marks 100 years of his being called to the bar. His legal training at the Gray’s Inn played a signif- icant role in his later life. To mark the centenary of this historic day, The Hon. Society of Gray’s Inn and the Federation of Ambedkarite & Buddhist Organisations, UK (FABO UK) organised an event at Gray’s Inn on 28 June, 2022 to mark this signifi- cant milestone.

The event started with a Buddhist prayer by Ven. Bhante Vijithvansa Thero.
In his welcoming address, Sam Hutchinson, Chief of the Staff, the Hon. Society of Gray’s Inn said that last year FABO UK had gifted a portrait of Dr Ambedkar to Gray’s Inn that is displayed at the Ambedkar Room at the Inn. Post that event many people, including Buddhists and Ambedkarites,