Rang Layegi Hamari Fakamasti Ek Din – Dalit History Month in Canada

 

Rang Layegi Hamari Fakamasti Ek Din – Dalit History Month in Canada

The India Times of Canada has carried a story on ‘Dalit History Month’ which is observed in Canada and other countries by the dalit communities in the month of April every year. The story is going

viral not only in Canada and other countries but also in India. I thought of looking into the matter and share some more information on the subject for the larger interest of the concerned people and the stake holders.

This is for the first time the Province of British Colombia of Canada has officially proclaimed under the hand and seal of the Governor of British Columbia that "April is a significant month for Dalit communities and it includes the birth and death anniversaries of important Dalit leaders and social reformers in the movement against systemic discrimination based on castes, such as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Mangu Ram Mugowalia, and Sant Ram Udasi” The India Times story has termed the British Columbia

gesture as “The British Columbia proclamation not only recognizes these individuals but also acknowledges "the strength and resiliency of the Dalit community in overcoming hardships and advocating for social justice and equality for all". It is a matter of great satisfaction that the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the icon of the oppressed and suppressed not only in India but throughout the world, were active and awakened in carrying forward the mission and caravan of the visionary leader with a view to contribute positively to the establishment of a just world order on the basis of the cardinal principles and ideals of “Equality, Liberty, Justice and Fraternity’ so beautifully enshrined in the constitution of India. It also fully endorses to the very edifice of the aims and objectives of the UN and also the foreign policy of India based on the dictum of “Vasudaiva Katumbkam” – the whole world is one family for international peace and prosperity. The honoured dalit icons in the British Columbia proclamation on “Dalit History Month” are the flag bearers of India’s ‘Soft Power’ and as such “We the people of India’ must see these developments in this perspective. We stand for ‘Samrasta’ not only in India but throughout

the world.

The Administration of the Province of British Columbia deserves full admiration and appreciation for giving a lead to the international community in giving due recognition to the heroes who struggled throughout their lives to improve and transform the social order for the betterment of the society at large and spread the message of harmony and brotherhood. I recall that the City of Burnaby took the right decision a couple of years ago and declared April 14, birthday

of Babasaheb Ambedkar as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ and last year the Province of British Columbia followed suit in April 2021 and carry forward the tradition this year, 2022 too and pronounced the honour for the greatest son of India by declaring April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’. Besides the Administration of the British Columbia – an abode of people with diverse background as stated in the official proclamation, “a culturally diverse province comprising many peoples and communities”, the Indian community led by Chetna Association of Canada and social activists like Radio Jackey Gurpreet Singh among others did a good work in taking into confidence the Administration of British Columbia in declaring the month of April as  ‘Dalit  History Month ‘in honour of the sons of India – Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Babu Mangoo Ram Mugowalia and Sant Ram Udasi and also in supporting the proposal of April 14 as the International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN. Though the main proposal is awaiting decision of the Government of India yet it is matter great satisfaction that Chetna Association of Canada, Social activists Gurpreet Singh and media organs like the Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba of California could prevail upon their local interlocutors to honour the greatest son of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and other worthy dignitaries.

While I congratulate and admire them, I urge the Government of India to kindly look into the matter and make a demarche to the UN to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality in keeping with the diplomatic interaction and soft diplomacy. The sooner the better. We would remain and that is why I captioned this piece as “:Rang Layegi Hamari Fakamasti Ek Din’