Some Random Recent Events – As I Please

 

Some Random Recent Events – As I Please     

Ambedkarites meet to get united: - Some Ambedkarite intellectuals and awakened citizens met at Nakodar Road Ambedkar Bhawan on May 14 on a joint call by Retired IAS Khushi Ram, Retired IRS Dr. Jagtar Singh, Advocate and Social Activist Dr. Santokh Birdi, Social and Community Activist and a prominent businessman Thekedar Bhagwan Dass and NRI Activist OM Parkash Azad among others. The purpose of the meet as explained by Khushi Ram was to discussand consider the idea of floating an outfit of scattered and fragmented organizations and individuals pertaining to socially weaker sections of the society under the overall umbrella of Ambedkar Thought and Legacy with a view to get united to follow and pursue the lofty idea of Babasaheb Ambedkar – Educate, Agitate and Organize under the banner of ‘Bidhan Bachao - Loktantar

Jalandhar Meet of May 14

Bachao – Desh Bachao’. Khushi Ram and other speakers viz. Santokh Virdi, Bhagwan Dass, inter alia, endorsed the idea and underlined that the new organization would be a pan-Punjab. The roadmap given was to hold consultation meetings in various districts of Punjab as Jalandhar meeting was the second in the process after first in Chandigarh on May 4 and the third one was held in Patiala on May 16. Many prominent participants from various walks of life; Tilak Khinder from business, Prof. Balbinder Kumar, Sohan Lal and Dr. Gian Kaul, Prof Balbir Chander from academia, Retired IES M.S. Singh Virdi, Prithvi Raj, R.L. Sandhu, Retired IFS Satnam Singh, Ambassador Ramesh Chander from civil services, Community activists namely Ram Lal Dass, Chanan Wadala, Baldev Bhadwaj,Priya Ambedkar took active interest and participated in the interaction. Veteran Ambedkarite Lahori Ram Balley also spoke at the meeting.  The idea of launching an organization, non-political and non-governmental, to find and ensure due space for the socially weaker sections of the society both in the society and polity was widely accepted and appreciated.

Now the organizers led by Khushi Ram have circulated a concept note which, inter alia underlined the idea and said to make the ball rolling, “The idea behind the move is to bring our divided people and their multiple organizations closer to each other, pool our resources and efforts and take up and resolve the issues and problems of the society with one voice as a strong united force.” I responded and wrote to Khushi Ram on May 19, “Savidhan Bachao, Loktantar Bacho, Desh Bachao, no doubt, appears to be a catchy phrase or slogan but has, to my mind, agitational and confrontational connotation. We should avoid such a approach. Let us confine to simple and straight formulation “Matters of concern and interest to the socially and economically weaker sections of the society with a view to affirm and strengthen the ‘affirmative and empowerment’ intent of the constitution of India”, while giving my comments on the Note circulated b the organizers.

Let s see how things move forward. 

तू पहले बात फिर  बात का अंदाज़ पैदा कर;

फिर दुनिआ में तुझे  कोई नज़रअंदाज़ कर नहीं सकता। 

Buddha Purinima – May 16:- As usual like each consecutive year, Buddha Purinima – Vesakh was observed and celebrated with all solemnity at Sidharath Nagar (Bootan Mandi) Budh Vihar. The day has a special significance for me personally as my daughter Vaishali was born on Buddha Purnima Day in 1975. I generally tend to participate in such events in spite of the fact some of my friends who

run the show at the Vihar consider me a ’pseudo-Buddhist’.  Harmesh Jassal and Dr. Gian Kaul spoke about Buddha and Buddhism with good knowledge on the subject. I was invited, courtesy my friend and Master of Ceremonies Ram Lal Dass, to join in releasing the books – Bahujana De Nayak – Kanshi Ram written by Dr. Badri Naraian and translated by Dr. Paramjit Chumber and Dr. Harjinder Kumar and Mission Babasahib Da – a collection of songs written by Balwinder Puar. I also received a book, Chalo Budh Ki Aur – Behtreen Zindgi Ke Lye - as bonus in the process.  I would read these, in due course, and benefit.

बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि। धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि। संघं शरणं गच्छामि।

Public Talk on the Role of Journalists in Nation Building:- Bharat Vikas Parishad, an outfit of RSS, invited me to preside over a Public
Talk on the topical subject of role and contribution of media in nation building – challenges and solutions in conjunction with the Narad Jyanti on May 17 who is considered as the first journalist by them. The Chief Guest and the Lead Speaker on the occasion was Col. Jaibansh Singh, a media personality and also a defense and security analyst. Col. Singh spoke with clear mind and conviction

from the historical perspective and also the current situation of the national media with his personal experience as a former executive of the ANI, one of the renowned media organs of India. He dwelt on two important props of journalism - ‘disinformation or misinformation’ and ‘lack of information’ and added in all candidness that Arvind Kejriwal was an expert practitioner of the former and BJP of the latter referring to the recent elections in Punjab. He also added that there was no ‘Goddi Media’ in the country as the narrative is being built by the vested interests. In my brief remarks, as the Chair, I said that in any democratic country media played an important role in creating, molding and reflecting public opinion and that is why the British statesman Edmund Burke termed media as the Fourth Pillar or Estate of the democratic system. Referring to the assertion ‘Media can never be silent; that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak and speak immediately’ quoted Allama Iqbal:

“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

Ye Dastoor-e-Zuban Bandi Hai Kaisa Teri Mehfil Mein
Yahan To Baat Karne Ko Tarasti Hai Zuban Meri

Why does this custom of silencing exist in your assembly?
My tongue is tantalized to talk in this assembly

Journalist and Chief Editor of The Metro Encounter, Rakesh Shantidoot conducted the proceedings of the function aptly and ably as always and thoughtfully said that this talk cannot be complete if we didn’t mention and remember Babasaheb Ambedkar who launched and speared the Mook Nayak and Bhahiskrit Bharat in difficult times and circumstances. Advocate Bhupinder Singh, Senior functionary of Bharat Vikas Parishad while delivering the vote of thanks said that they would do their best to arrange such useful and informative talks on regular basis.

Before the Talk, we were received and conducted at Sarv Hitkakari Vidya Mandir now named after Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja, a school

established in 1983 for the benefit of the students from the socially and economically marginalized sections of the society. Both the Principal Madam and Sandeep Narang, the dedicated Swayam Sewak, were extremely kind and courteous.