Ambedkar Bhawan Bootan Mandi Jalandhar

 

 Ambedkar Bhawan Bootan Mandi Jalandhar

Ambedkar Bhawan is one of the land marks of Jalandhar situated on Nakodar Road (now Ambedkar Marg) at Bootan Mandi sandwiched by yet other sites dedicated to Babasaheb – Ambedkar Chowk (an important chowk on Bhagwan Mahabir Marg) and Ambedkar Park and also Ambedkar Government College at Bootan Mandi towards Satguru Kabir Chowk (Wadala Chowk). The followers of Babasaheb

very thoughtfully located Ambedkar Bhawan at a historical site where Babasaheb delivered in October 1951 an important speech in the run up to first elections in 1952 and also visited Seth Kishan Dass’s, an associate of Babasaheb, Chobara (Residence) at Bootan Mandi. It is pity that hardly any written information is available on this project (I purposely say it a project as I think it has yet to get completion as a spot of its standing and is still under-development) except some sketching information in a three page leaflet issued by Ambedkar Bhawan Trust which I could get from my friend Baldev Bhardwaj, a senior functionary of the Trust. Today, March 20, I visited Ambedkar Bhawan for a function of lying of foundation stone of Ramabai Ambedkar Hall with the grant given by MP Shamsher Singh Dullo about which I would write in the proceeding paragraphs. Let me complete the story of Ambedkar Bhawan as I have some personal knowledge of the period mid-1960s and information obtained and gathered informally from some of the stake holders.

I vividly remember as a youth in the formative years, the site of Ambedkar Bhawan was somehow acquired, claimed and occupied legally or otherwise in early 1960s by the community activists under the influence and encouragement by the leadership of the Republican Party led by Lahori Ram Balley and others like Piara Ram Dhanowali, Duni Chand Shahpuri, Charan Dass Nidhadak among others with the support of some of the Seths of Bootan Mandi and nearby villages engaged in leather business. I clearly recall joining the funeral procession of one RPI activist who died while under detention in the famous RPI Agitation sometime in 1964 who was cremated at the site. Later, the bare plot of land became a sought after venue of all important public meetings of RPI. I still recall clearly in the second half of 1960s, I heard leaders like Dadasaheb Gaikwad, B.D. Khobragade, B.P. Maurya, Shanta Bai Dani and also the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) among others and the missionary singer like Lal Chand Kamala and Badhan Qwalas to name a few. The site had by the end of 1960 become a rallying point of dalit politics and awakening in the region. Dr. Gian Kaul of Ambedkar Bhawan Trust told me that initially the registry of about 3 canals of land was done in the names of Lahori Ram Balley and Seth Karam Chand Bath. I can understand Balley Sahib, the community hero of the times and an intellectual face of the RPI, played a leading role in generating public funds and Seth Karam Chand Bath must have chipped in with financial support for the purchase and appropriation of the site. He further informed that later in 1972 Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was formed and subsequently the land title was transferred in the name of the Trust. The Trust also purchased and appropriated another 3 canals plus and as such now Ambedkar Bhawan has total area of about 6.5 canals, a fairly good plot to host an elegant and befitting memorial of the icon Babasaheb Ambedkar. The leaflet of the Trust further explained the porpose and activities of the Bhawan as, “The Trust was created in 1972 in fulfillment of the aims and objectives of the Ambedkar Mission Society already engaged whole-hog in spread and carry forward the Mission of Babasaheb. Over the year the Bhawan has become a nerve-centre of the activities pertaining to the community. It is a matter of great satisfaction.

It is almost fifty years since Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was formed. Over the years, under the dedicated and motivated guidance of one of its Founder Trustees and a leader of the community by his own right, Lahori Ram Balley, the project – Ambedkar Bhawan has come long way in establishing itself as a befitting tribute to the memory of Babasaheb and as a watchdog of the interests of the community and a just social order, the subjects dear to Babasaheb Ambedkar. But at the same time, it will not be fair if it is not realized that this important landmark of the community has not received the attention and development at the pace which was expected and desired. The Seths of Bootan Mandi and the followers of Ambedkar in the area and the people at the helm of the project may introspect and set the renewed pace of development. It is no criticism as I fully realize that our resources were limited, Ambedkar was unnecessarily and unjustly opposed or ignored by the Congress Party and other outfits till 1970s. Scheduled Caste Federation and Republican Party did their best to make the project a befitting one but later in the process, political ambitions and narrow agendas of leadership came to the fore and they parted ways which was detrimental to the progress of the project. People at the control of Ambedkar Bhawan could not rise to the occasion and engage the community with an open mind and agenda as required. Unfortunately, Ambedkar Bhawan was tagged with one section of political activists and Budhism and could not engage with wider audience. Again let me hastily add that it is no criticism but a feeble attempt to put the things in right perspective. It is matter of gratification to note that ever since Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was floated in 1972 the project register a facelift and progress. I understand well meaning people like Lahori Ram Balley on the lead and supported by other associates viz. Gian Singh Bal, R.C Paul, K.C. Sulekh, Dr. Ram Lal Jassi, Dr. Surinder Ajnat, Barkha Ram, Dr. Gian Kaul, Dr. Tarsem Sagar, Chanan Ram Wadala, Ram Lal Dass, R.P.S. Pawar, Baldev Bhardwaj, Harmesh Jassal, Sohan Lal, Dr. Rahul Balley, Dr. Rahul Jassi among others kept the ball rolling and turned the site into a functional and vibrant institution. One can understand the financial constraints. The followers of Babasaheb chipped in, both locals and from abroad to begin with. Of late, the Trust opened up a bit and started engaging with the establishment particularly dalit Ministers, MPs, MLAs for raising funds through grants available under the system and as such leaders like I.K. Gujral, K.S. Duggal, Parkash Singh Badal, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Pawan Tinu, Sushil Rinku, among other did their bit by providing funds over the years. But I must say with a sense of complaint that it was not enough and done only half

heartedly. Certainly, Babasaheb Ambedkar andthe project named after him deserved better not only be the dalits alone but by others too as Ambedkar belonged to India and the humanity at large. My immediate motivation to write this somewhat lengthy piece came from the noble act of providing good sum of Rs. 20 lakh  by MP Shamsher Singh Dullo from the MP fund, an appreciable job done thoughtfully. It was a matter of satisfaction that the stone laying ceremony for the Ramabai Ambedkar Yadgar Hall was performed by the Hon’ble MP Shamsher Singh Dullo himself on March 20 as an expansion of the existing excellent facilities at the Bhawan in which I was also invited. It was a good and solemn function. The other leaders, I hope, would take a que from this noble act of Dullo Sahib and follow suit to make Ambedkar Bhawan a vibrant and living monument for the benefit of the community and the society at large.  This blog will not be complete if I don’t make a mention of Ambedkar Mission Society and All India Samta Dal which operate from the Bhawan. Some activists like Janak Raj (Late) of SPEED

and Prof. Sandeep Mehmi and his associates run coaching classes for the aspirants of government jobs as value addition to the activities of Ambedkar Bhawan for the community development. A good library with good books is already in place. An imposing statue of Gautama the Buddha, in white marble, is an added attraction at the site. I take this opportunity to register my appreciation of the current management of Ambedkar Bhawan Trust under the patronage of the living legend Lahori Ram Balley Sahib.

All said and done, kindly allow me to add my humble suggestions: First to raise funds – The Trust may approach and invite CM Bhagwant Mann and request for a substantial grant an all due support to the project: Ambedkar Bhawan. Second - Invite all dalit Ministers and MLAs, numbering 36 on one occasion and the other and ask for grants of Rs.10 lakh from Ministers and Rs. 5 lakhs from MLAs. It seems the AAP government is inclined to appropriate Ambedkar and his legacy and they should be more than willing to join hands in making Ambedkar Bhawan a Centre of Excellence in the region. I think a pro-active approach is needed. Third – The Trust must be undertaking construction at the Bhawan in a planned way to main the aesthetics and meet architectural requirements. We should pay little more attention to these aspects. Fourth -  Not a pleasant one but general feelings of many.  Kindly avoid and stop bad elements, the self-appointed Thekedars, within, not to work for segregation and alienation of – the  Mecca of the community by bossing over and dictating that this or that person should not be invited and welcomed at the Ambedkar Bhawan as he or she does not conform and support their scheme of things. Jai Bhim – Jai Bharat.