Ambedkar Family Tree: Exploring Babasaheb’s Legacy in 2025

Table of Contents

The Roots of Jay Bhim

Imagine standing at Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai, with 5 lakh Jay Bhim chanters honoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Babasaheb, the father of India’s Constitution. The Ambedkar family tree isn’t just names—it’s a saga of courage, from a Mahar Dalit boy to a global icon. Who was Ambedkar son? What’s Ambedkar daughter name? Who is Rajratna Ambedkar? Where’s Ambedkar house? How’s the Ambedkar family now?

Let’s trace the Ambedkar family, from Babasaheb’s parents to Ambedkar grandson, and see why it matters today.

Who Was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?

Born April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar faced caste’s sting as a Mahar Dalit. With a Ph.D. from Columbia and law degrees from London, he led the 1927 Mahad Satyagraha, wrote Annihilation of Caste (1936), and drafted India’s 1949 Constitution, banning untouchability (Article 17). His 1956 Buddhist conversion with 500,000 followers—80% of Maharashtra Dalits are Buddhist (2011 Census)—sparked Jay Bhim. “I like liberty, equality, fraternity,” he said. By 2024, 5 lakh people visit Chaitya Bhoomi yearly.

The Ambedkar family tree starts with his roots, shaping his fight. Let’s meet his family.

The Ambedkar Family Tree: First Generation

Parents: Ramji and Bhimabai Sakpal

Ramji Maloji Sakpal (1838-1913): Babasaheb’s father, a Subedar-Major in the British Army, instilled discipline. A Mahar from Ambadawe, Ratnagiri, he pushed education despite caste barriers. He retired in 1894, moving to Satara (Rattu, 2017).
Bhimabai Sakpal (d. 1896): Babasaheb’s mother, from Murbadkar’s family in Thane, raised 14 children. She died when Bhimrao was five, leaving a void. Her strength shaped his resolve (Gaikwad, 2016).

Siblings

Ramji had 14 children; only five survived: sons Balaram, Anandrao, Bhimrao, and daughters Manjula, Tulasa. Balaram’s wife, Laxmibai, and Anandrao’s nephew, Mukundrao, were close to Babasaheb. Meerabai Sakpal, Ramji’s sister, cared for young Bhimrao (Rattu, 2017).

Second Generation: Babasaheb’s Wives and Children

First Wife: Ramabai Ambedkar (1898-1935)

Married in 1906 at age 15, Ramabai, from a poor Mahar family, supported Babasaheb’s studies abroad. She managed their Mumbai home, Rajgriha, despite poverty. Her 1935 death hit hard; Babasaheb called her “my rock” (Rattu, 2017).

Second Wife: Savita Ambedkar (1909-2002)

A Brahmin doctor, Sharada Kabir, married Babasaheb in 1948, becoming Savita (Maisaheb). She cared for his health—diabetes, joint pain—and supported his 1956 Buddhist conversion. Post-1956, some followers accused her of neglect, but a Nehru-led probe cleared her. She died in 2002, honored by Dalits (Savita, 1990).

Children

Babasaheb and Ramabai had five children: Ambedkar son names—Yashwant (1912-1977), Gangadhar, Ramesh, Ambedkar daughter name—Indu, and Ambedkar son name—Rajratna. Only Yashwant survived past childhood; the others died before age two, a heartbreak Babasaheb mourned (Rattu, 2017). Savita had no children.

Yashwant Bhimrao Ambedkar (1912-1977): The only surviving Ambedkar son, also called Bhaiyasaheb, was a Buddhist activist and second president of the Buddhist Society of India (1957-1977). A Maharashtra legislator (1960-1966), he edited the Janata newspaper. He married Meerabai, continuing the Jay Bhim fight (Gaikwad, 2016).

Third Generation: Yashwant’s Family

Yashwant and Meerabai had four children: three Ambedkar grandson—Prakash, Bhimrao, Anandraj—and one daughter, Rama.

Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar (b. 1954): The eldest Ambedkar grandson, called Balasaheb, is a lawyer and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president. A three-time MP (Akola, 1998-1999; Rajya Sabha, 1990-1996), he launched the Akola Pattern, uniting Dalits and Muslims. Married to Anjali Maydeo, he has a son, Sujat, a VBA activist. In 2024, he clashed with Amit Shah over Babasaheb’s legacy (PTI, 2024).
Bhimrao Yashwant Ambedkar: A Buddhist activist, Bhimrao is VBA’s acting president and is married to Darshna. Their daughter, Hritika, is a great-granddaughter (Gaikwad, 2016).
Anandraj Yashwant Ambedkar: Leader of the Republican Sena, Anandraj is married to Manisha. Their sons, Sahil and Aman (b. 2002), are great-grandsons (Gaikwad, 2016).
Rama Yashwant Ambedkar: Babasaheb’s granddaughter, married to scholar Anand Teltumbde, a Dalit rights advocate (Gaikwad, 2016).

Meerabai, Yashwant’s wife, was the third president of the Buddhist Society of India, cementing the family’s Buddhist legacy (Gaikwad, 2016).

Fourth Generation and Beyond: Rajratna Ambedkar and More

The Ambedkar family tree extends to great-grandsons and beyond, including Rajratna Ambedkar, often confused with Babasaheb’s son.

Who is Rajratna Ambedkar? Rajratna Ashok Ambedkar (b. 1982) is not Babasaheb’s direct descendant but a great-grandson of his brother, Anandrao. A socio-political and Buddhist activist, he’s the fifth president of the Buddhist Society of India (2015- now). Named after Babasaheb’s son Rajratna (d. 1926), he initiated 10,000 into Buddhism in Delhi (2022). Married to Amita, he has a daughter, Prisha. He’s also MD of Ambedkar International Trade Activities Pvt. Ltd. and secretary at the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok (brambedkar.in, 2019).
Other Great-Grandsons: Sandesh Ashok Ambedkar (Anandrao’s line) and his wife Charushila have a son, Yash. Akshay Dilip Ambedkar and Akshata Dilip Ambedkar (Anandrao’s line) are also great-grandchildren (Gaikwad, 2016).
Direct Line: Hritika Bhimrao Ambedkar (Bhimrao’s daughter), Sahil and Aman Anandraj Ambedkar (Anandraj’s sons), and Sujat Prakash Ambedkar (Prakash’s son) carry Babasaheb’s bloodline (Gaikwad, 2016).

Ambedkar House: The Family’s Heart

Ambedkar house is iconic. Rajgriha, Mumbai, built in 1934, housed Babasaheb’s 50,000-book library, India’s largest private collection (Rattu, 2017). Named “the king’s home,” it hosted Janata Press and Buddhist meetings. In 1942, Babasaheb moved to 22, Prithvi Raj Marg, Delhi, for his 50,000 books, adding flower rows (Rattu, 2017). Today, Rajgriha is a memorial, drawing 5 lakh yearly (2024). “Rajgriha is Jay Bhim’s soul,” says activist Medha Patkar (2024).

Ambedkar Family Now: 2025 Snapshot

Ambedkar family now thrives in politics, activism, and Buddhism:

Prakash Ambedkar: VBA’s 7% vote share in 2019 (ECI) and the 2024 Shah clash keep him central. His son Sujat relaunched Prabuddh Bharat (2017) (PTI, 2024).
Rajratna Ambedkar: Leading Buddhist conversions, Rajratna’s 2022 Delhi event drew 10,000 (brambedkar.in, 2019).
Others: Bhimrao, Anandraj, and Rama continue Dalit advocacy. Hritika, Sahil, and Aman are emerging voices (Gaikwad, 2016).

In 2025, with 15 caste attacks (2023) and 20% rural dropouts (2024), the family’s Jay Bhim fight endures. “They’re Babasaheb’s torch,” says Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd on X (2024).

Case Study: Rajgriha’s Role (1934- Now)

Rajgriha, built in 1934, was Babasaheb’s base for Janata and Buddhist talks. Yashwant and Prakash lived there, hosting rallies. In 2016, its Prabuddh Bharat press was demolished, sparking protests led by Prakash (PTI, 2016). Today, a memorial with 5 lakh visitors (2024), Rajgriha symbolizes the Ambedkar family’s resilience. “It’s where Jay Bhim was born,” says historian Ramachandra Guha on X (2024).

Myths and Clarifications

Myth: Rajratna is Babasaheb’s Son. Rajratna Ambedkar is Anandrao’s great-grandson, named after Babasaheb’s son (d. 1926) (brambedkar.in, 2019).
Myth: Large Family Now. Only Yashwant’s line—Prakash, Bhimrao, Anandraj, Rama, and Anandrao’s descendants like Rajratna survive (Gaikwad, 2016).
Truth: Modest Roots. The Ambedkar family faced poverty; Rajgriha was for books, not luxury (Rattu, 2017).

Why This Matters in 2025

The Ambedkar family tree isn’t just history—it’s hope. With 15 caste attacks (2023) and 93% informal workers (2017), Prakash’s VBA, Rajratna’s Buddhist push, and Hritika’s generation fight on. The 125-foot “Statue of Social Justice” in Vijayawada (2024) and the 450-foot “Statue of Equality” planned for Mumbai (2026) honor Babasaheb’s kin (PTI, 2024). “Their tree grows justice,” says scholar Aakash Singh Rathore (2023).

Conclusion: A Tree of Justice

The Ambedkar family tree—from Ramji Sakpal to Ambedkar son Yashwant, daughter Indu, grandson Prakash, and Rajratna Ambedkar—is a Jay Bhim saga. Ambedkar house Rajgriha, with 5 lakh visitors (2024), holds their hearts. The Ambedkar family now, led by Prakash and Rajratna Ambedkar, fights the caste’s shadow, 15 attacks in 2023. Babasaheb’s Constitution, not bloodlines, is their gift. On Ambedkar Jayanti, April 14, chant Jay Bhim, read Annihilation of Caste (₹249, Amazon.in), and ask: “How will I grow justice?” Share on X @Jaybhimworld, visit Rajgriha, and keep the Ambedkar family’s tree thriving.