Babasaheb Ambedkar – International Day of Equality

 

Babasaheb Ambedkar – International Day of Equality

I have been writing on the subject of International Day of Equality since June, 2015 in the run up to celebrate 125^th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar decided and observed by the Government of India under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi. It was proposed to the then EAM Sushma Swaraj to make a demarche to the UN to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality. The proposal was duly acknowledged by the then

Joint Secretary (UNES) of the Ministry of External Affairs vide his letter dated August 6, 2015. The stakeholders including the Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs and MLAs took the matter to PM Narendra Modi in November, 2015 in a Memorandum. Accordingly, for the first time, the birthday of the greatest son of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated at the UN in New York on April 14, 2016. The leader of the Indian delegation to the celebrations at New York, the then Speaker of Punjab Assembly, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal duly and rightly broached up the proposal of International Day of Equality in his address which was much appreciated and applauded by the international audience at the

function and the dignitaries sitting at the High Table representing the UN and the Indian PMI to UN. On return Speaker Atwal wrote and submitted his report of the function to PM Narendra Modi on May 3 ,2016 and urged him to make a demarche to UN to get April 14 as International Day of Equality. Since then we have been writing and reminding the EAMs, other important Ministers, MPs, politicians and others concerned of the proposal under intimation to PM and PMO. I, as an initiator of the proposal, have been personally taking up the proposal with the concerned authorities and stake holders both in India and abroad with a view not only to get much deserved honour and recognition to the Indian iconic figure but also to promote and strengthen India’s “soft power diplomacy’ in line with our successful initiatives on International Day of Non-violence and International Day of Yoga. As the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar is approaching in a few days time on April 14, I thought of making a short report on the subject with a sense of somewhat mixed feelings of both satisfaction and also a bit of regret.

Since June, 2015 when the proposal to declare April 14 as International Day Equality was made, enough water has flown in the Jamuna in Delhi and the Hudson in New York. The preceding narration has shown that how have we been following the proposal with the Government of India but without much response. Not that the Governments have not done anything with regard to Babasaheb and his legacy, political parties in India are falling on each other to own and claim Ambedkar, it is a well known fact. A Chennai based journalist, Pramit Bhattacharya has written recently in the Hindustan Times in an article ‘Ambedkar, Nehru and Atmanirbhar Bharat, “The birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar, due next week, has always been an important day in the calendar of dalit youth in India. Now, it has become an important day in the country’s political calendar. Like the ‘forgotten hero’ Subhas Chandra Bose, Ambedkar seems to have found new adherents with politicians of different hues vying for his legacy”. This is the visible ground reality. Some years ago in connection with the 125^th anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, RSS, the Gangotri of Hindu Thought and Culture and a vocal proponent of ‘Samrasta’ in the society, publish books and articles on the Ambedkar Thought in its official mouth-piece ‘The Panchjanya’ and subsequently got it printed in several other vernacular languages with a view to spread the thought and vision of Babasaheb. Government of India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi took many positive decisions to recognize the greatest son of India viz. i) declaring the house at Alipur Road in Delhi where Ambedkar lived and died on December 6, 1956 as a national monument and memorial – Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial, established Dr. Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath, in Delhi, purchased a house in London where Ambedkar lived as a student and declared it

a memorial, Ambedkar House, to honour the icon among other appreciable steps to provide a due and rightful space to Babasaheb. I think the political fraternity in India fully knows that Ambedkar himself is a potent force to carry the mission and vision of the leader and it will be just futile to ignore him and those who dare to side track the ground reality would do so at their own peril. It is not surprising and is rather a matter of satisfaction that PM Narndra Modi, speaking to party cadres and law makers of the BJP, declared the fortnight to celebrate Ambedkar in April, 2022 as “Samajik Nyay Pakhwada’- a Fortnight of Social Justice. These gestures of the Government of India and the organizations like RSS and others are appreciable and praiseworthy. Ambedkar deserved this full well. But I regret to add that it is not understandable as to why the Government is sitting tight on the proposal of International Day of Equality? The Government’s positive decision in this regard will have a much needed supportive and affirmative impact on the dalit psyche in India on one hand and enhancement and strengthening of India’s ‘Soft Power’ in diplomacy on the other and also carrying forward the UN goals of just world order based on equality.  It is expected of India, the largest democracy of the world and a dignified member of the comity of nations, to demonstrate its will to e the flag bearer of Equality. I leave it here. I am confident that the Government of PM Naendra Modi would revisit the issue and take a just and pleasant decision from which India would stand to gain immensely.

As I said the legacy of Babasaheb is a potent force own its own and would be difficult to keep t under the carpet any more. The world,

democratic, multi-cultural societies all over, is listening and watching it with interest. I intend to list here only a few examples and instances to make my point home. Ever since the proposal on April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN, was made in June, 2015, the stake holder and followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar living abroad chipped in and interacted with their local counterparts in this regard, I must say with a sense of satisfaction, that they could succeed in convincing the local authorities to honour the greatest son of India – City of Burnaby in Canada proclaimed in April, 2020 and declared  April14 as “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality” – Province of British Columbia of Canada followed suit and in April, 2021 and reaffirmed it again in April, 2022. In addition, British Columbia declared this year the month of April as “Dalit History Month” to honour the dalit icons Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Babu Mangooram Mugowalia and Sant Ram Udasi. The proposal to honour Babasaheb is catching up further. It is a matter of gratification to note that the State of Colorado of the USA has declared April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Equality Day’. We are in touch with the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar in other countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other leading countries in Europe in this regard and in turn they are urging and requesting their local interlocutors to honour the Indian icon and join hands in declaring April 14 as International Day of Equality. While I thank all, including the Government of India, for taking various steps to recognize and honour Babasaheb Ambedkar over the years, I take this opportunity to revisit the subject and very humbly urge the Government of PM Narendra Modi to kindly come forward and lead the band-wagon to own and honour the legacy of the greatest son of

the soil, Babasaheb Ambedkar. We may not be oblivious of the reality that Ambedkar is such a potent force that it would surface on its own. There is no point in delaying the process. Allma Iqbals poetic assertion aptly explains the glory of Ambedkar and I conclude this humble Tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar with this:

Nahin Minnatkash-e-Taab-e-Shaneedan Dastan Meri
Khamoshi Guftugu Hai, Be-Zubani Hai Zuban Meri

My story is not indebted to the patience of being heard
My silence is my talk, my speechlessness is my speech

Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri

Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the rose
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden

Urha Li Qumriyon Ne, Tootiyon Ne, Andleebon Ne
Chaman Walon Ne Mil Kar Loot Li Tarz-e-Faghan Meri

The turtle‐doves, parrots, and nightingales pilfered away
The garden’s denizens jointly robbed away my plaintive way