Jai Bhim (alternatively spelled Jay Bhim or Jai Bheem; ; pronounced or ) 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 (1904âÂÂ1939), 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).
In 1935, the slogan 'Jai Bhim' was coined by Babu Hardas L. N. (Laxman Nagarale), according to Ramchandra Kshirsagar in the book Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders. In 1938, Bhausaheb More, an activist of the Ambedkarite movement, held a meeting in Makranpur in Kannad taluka of Aurangabad district. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was also present. More told the people that, from now on, they should use only 'Jai Bhim' to greet each other. Suresh Ghorpade, a former judge and scholar of the Dalit movement, 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'."
Narendra Jadhav said, "The slogan of Jai Bhim was given by Babu Hardas. It is an important triumph for all Dalits. 'Jai Bhim' has become a symbol of struggle, it has become a cultural identity as well as a political identity, it also shows the relationship with the Ambedkarite movement, this utterance has become a symbol of all kinds of identities. I think 'Jai Bhim' has become the overall identity of the revolution," said Uttam Kamble.
In 1946, during birthday celebrations for Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, for the time in the presence of Dr. Ambedkar, Jai Bhim was proclaimed by Dalit Poet Bihari Lal Harit (1913âÂÂ1999) through a poem in Gandhi Ground, opposite Old Delhi Railway Station.