tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41922054453483687902024-03-18T09:03:09.100+03:00diplomatic titbitsit is a blog of a retired diplomat who would tend to write, personal views, on contemporary social, cultural and other matters of interest and concern.ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.comBlogger647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-52585766671060731192024-03-08T17:18:00.004+03:002024-03-08T17:19:29.724+03:00It is time to remind – International Day of Equality<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It is time to remind – International Day of Equality<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I wrote on the proposal to declare April 14, birthday of
Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality in my blog on</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwCMVzvcuD7bgqw-lqtqhwkxfj7XCafaMGcaipSVB2VHwwY6XOORnQHT1WdRTMTQxTAjjvBJ_sf9r2x9C9DkUhP-eQd2YaPmKCDq5yVWWffu5YLGIkUE4nLH1EwM6WHgOnvDoibMHoewUSDmsJxSQGta8lrFJ1Rc3DL7yXfzx9hX3eW8pV95qF3F61nM/s250/ambedkar%20statue.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwCMVzvcuD7bgqw-lqtqhwkxfj7XCafaMGcaipSVB2VHwwY6XOORnQHT1WdRTMTQxTAjjvBJ_sf9r2x9C9DkUhP-eQd2YaPmKCDq5yVWWffu5YLGIkUE4nLH1EwM6WHgOnvDoibMHoewUSDmsJxSQGta8lrFJ1Rc3DL7yXfzx9hX3eW8pV95qF3F61nM/w323-h400/ambedkar%20statue.jpg" width="323" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
September 11, 2023 which may be accessed at: <a href="https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/09/rising-profile-of-bharat-international.html"><span style="line-height: 115%;">https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/09/rising-profile-of-bharat-international.html</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Nothing much has happened since then and we stand there; where
we were with regard to the proposal on International Day of Equality. From day
one since June, 2015 when the proposal was made to the EAM Sushma Swaraj, I
have tried my every best to avoid becoming this initiative political and
partisan as Babasaheb Ambedkar is a national icon, one of the greatest sons of
India in the contemporary times. His thought and legacy with regard to equality
and fraternity not only in India but the world at large is well respected and
recognized in the civilizes societies conforming to the objectives of the UN to
bring about a ‘just and equitable world order’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>India is fully committed to these lofty ideals. As such, the proposal on
International Day of Equality fully fits in the policy framework of India’s
‘soft and cultural diplomacy’, I believe. It is time for the Government of
India to revisit the subject and take an early decision to make a demarche and
bring the proposal on the High Table of the UN. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Of late, some of the young
politicians and social activists have started taking note of the proposal on
International Day of Equality and rightly so though the main stream political
parties are still are blissfully ignorant and sitting tight. GOI is absolutely,
tight lipped in spite of the fact they don’t leave any opportunity to own
Babasaheb Ambedkar for their own motivated agendas. One of my latest</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkf4NmOJgBZV7hXdVdPC8ydDqLVe_zkbVpjkdXytuH7_LyxT-Way79xg6QJk8-VdSBbyI34KmxhrLeTnvWSmzFc7ZA3CChHQYjR6L9XHykWFl1Vi6BH1XOVnjmaJrEIZwxR7ZW7ychstVrP8W2SXypPbMuo4471mTA_6TjlSoYyitpMGg4rJ7oOY5UhY/s600/rinku%202.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkf4NmOJgBZV7hXdVdPC8ydDqLVe_zkbVpjkdXytuH7_LyxT-Way79xg6QJk8-VdSBbyI34KmxhrLeTnvWSmzFc7ZA3CChHQYjR6L9XHykWFl1Vi6BH1XOVnjmaJrEIZwxR7ZW7ychstVrP8W2SXypPbMuo4471mTA_6TjlSoYyitpMGg4rJ7oOY5UhY/w400-h300/rinku%202.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> facebook
posts of mine would tend to provide the flavor of the changing mood of the
public in this regard and here I quote, “<span face=""Segoe UI Historic","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-language: PA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks Hon'ble MP Sushil
Rinku ji for extending your unconditional and unreserved whole hearted support
to the Proposal on declaring April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as the
International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN. The proposal is
resting with the GOI since June, 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: PA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You have been mentioning about the proposal
at various public occasions which I appreciated very much. But of late you have
given it a new dimension by saying that the proposal should become a mass
movement by bring it to the public domain by the politicians and followers of
Babasaheb. I recall that you expressed yourself fully on November 14, 2023
while releasing my book "Some Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and
His Legacy and again asserted it on our Langer Podium of on the Shoba Yatra on
February 23 at Jalandhar. It clearly shows that your unstinted and unqualified
support and dedication to carry forward the proposal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: PA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I take this opportunity to thank you for
this principled approach. I only wish other leaders, irrespective of party
affiliations, do the same.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-bidi-language: PA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Yes, I think that the time has come to take the proposal on
the Day of Equality to the public domain in a vigorous way. The young politico
and social activists should take the lead and make it a ‘public movement’. No
one should be allowed to exploit and use the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar for
their selfish agendas and do nothing to give and get a due share to the
greatest son of India in the scheme of the things to come. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">While I remind the GOI to revisit the proposal and take it to
the UN through diplomatic channels before April 14, 2024 before, to my mind,
people get concerned and restive on the studied silence of the ruling elite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-43620810611999232872024-02-21T10:36:00.001+03:002024-02-21T10:36:49.693+03:00The Gift of Blood – The Gift of Life<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The Gift of Blood – The Gift of Life<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydoVp1p1aESipX0d0Ml97gb7ZDrzNHzKfmGRJifS61oaLZywALB4NiORBsLgcO7CSOWQDJ2qbYG2oe6D32QgFtYkAtaGLnAa1RshAAgtlOAZa_5oL2VGJaQCaC4SvUW7_hjRek9IbWlBtsqY4DEFD29D7eA6ELREAEgnbIQya1rEd3_Yu2xPRS3IHJQE/s1600/IMG-20240217-WA0030.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydoVp1p1aESipX0d0Ml97gb7ZDrzNHzKfmGRJifS61oaLZywALB4NiORBsLgcO7CSOWQDJ2qbYG2oe6D32QgFtYkAtaGLnAa1RshAAgtlOAZa_5oL2VGJaQCaC4SvUW7_hjRek9IbWlBtsqY4DEFD29D7eA6ELREAEgnbIQya1rEd3_Yu2xPRS3IHJQE/w251-h400/IMG-20240217-WA0030.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">On February 18, it was my pleasure to formally open the
Annual Blood Donation Camp of BJD Sarbat Da Bhala Trust at Adampur in
Jalandhar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Trust has been named
after Baba Jawahar Dass, a visionary saint of the Adampur Doab region who
dedicated his life to<br /> providing water not only to the needy human beings but
also to animals as narrated by Chief of BJD Sarbat Da Bhala Trust, Sardar
Parvinder Singh and others. The Trust organizes several such blood donation
events apart from the annual camp in February evey successive years for over a
decade. The blood donation camp was dedicated to the memory of Taranjit Singh,
a young life which snatched by the destiny in a road accident in New Zealand
some years ago. The Trust was made by the father of Taranjit Singh, Sardar
Mandeep Singh in cooperation with their friends and comrades of the area with a
view to help the needy; particularly the weaker sections of the society, with
free or affordable health services including Ambulence to ferry the patients. The
blood donation camp was orgnised with the help and cooperation of R.S. Gandhi
Helping Hand Hospital. It was all the more gratifying to know from Sardar
Parminder Singh that their focus to provide blood</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3T_sKGPisOAt8F_GOT9coTLA79ouD8shKenA5akzwgjpV78Rel82BAHMzC-C_k44q5qCxY60zKhaABapGrmlkdEP20w3J3n4KmBEHQei0GFxwtIEBxzpS0iXaOXjJWzeAxOFzxNPF-lVTW4eI_NtZah9dGX7fe4SvESMPaQ0x-WyY0_78vAi8n1UK3g/s1066/1708328275759.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1066" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3T_sKGPisOAt8F_GOT9coTLA79ouD8shKenA5akzwgjpV78Rel82BAHMzC-C_k44q5qCxY60zKhaABapGrmlkdEP20w3J3n4KmBEHQei0GFxwtIEBxzpS0iXaOXjJWzeAxOFzxNPF-lVTW4eI_NtZah9dGX7fe4SvESMPaQ0x-WyY0_78vAi8n1UK3g/w400-h210/1708328275759.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> remained on the children
suffering from Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder among children. In this
regard, they provide blood to blood banks with Civil Hospital and Bhai Ghanaiya
Blood Bank in Hoshiarpur and also Trishana Sharma of Jalandhar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from this blood donation activity, BJD
Sarbat Da Bhala Trust also provide free ration to poor and needy in the area. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I was impressed by their yeoman’s service to the community.
Parminder Singh told me that they will be happy to host a Dialysis Centre in
Adampur for the poor and needy with the help of volunteer donations and with
the possible sponsorship of some government agency. I wished them all the best
appreciated their approach and mission as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t just be A – Negative; Strive to be O – Positive.</span><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-67143334615084310342024-02-19T17:38:00.005+03:002024-02-19T17:43:46.234+03:00Bootan Mandi – The Flag-bearer of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bootan Mandi – The Flag-bearer of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb
Ambedkar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bootan Mandi and its peripheral localities in Jalandhar right
from the Ambedkar Chowk to Satguru Kabir Chowk (Wadala Chowk) on Ambedkar Marg
(Nakodar Road) have, and rightly s, become the unnamed memorials and landmarks
to register and carry forward the lofty ideals and thoughts of the great revolutionary
Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the
contemporary times. Though I have written much about these matters in my blogs
over the years yet I thought of broaching the subject once again in view of the
forthcoming Guru Ravidass Gurpurab on February 24 and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Jyanti
on April 14. About this 2 kilometer patch of Ambedkar Marg will become a hub of
celebrations and public events which have increasingly attained a definite
place on the calendar of Jalandhar city. This patch of the Jalandhar-Nakodar
Highway hosts – Ambedkar Chowk,</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L_2ELGJq6wB5iS1FTa-iWLKAegiBbEQtl6fl21wuX-VFvquXgQqP0bHxx5iNOJG9HLUD54xWfyP479SSPuZWUkSxP3rJwVakwvToZx42qHAQYIy5PJ8iVwkuAFiRSjg9hgKIq1XQtiUVd_cNOkGDzJ1-nPYG4Gm1u1iXloLjx-0V7OUeZS1KjY4cVT8/s768/cover%20front%20page.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L_2ELGJq6wB5iS1FTa-iWLKAegiBbEQtl6fl21wuX-VFvquXgQqP0bHxx5iNOJG9HLUD54xWfyP479SSPuZWUkSxP3rJwVakwvToZx42qHAQYIy5PJ8iVwkuAFiRSjg9hgKIq1XQtiUVd_cNOkGDzJ1-nPYG4Gm1u1iXloLjx-0V7OUeZS1KjY4cVT8/w249-h400/cover%20front%20page.jpg" width="249" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Ambedkar Bhawan, Guru Ravidass Chowk, Guru
Ravidass Dham, Ambedkar Park, Ambedkr Community Centre, Budh Vihar, Guru
Ravidass Mandir, Ambedkar College and Satguru Kabir Chowk which make the site a
mosaic of lofty ideals of ‘equality and fraternity’ propounded<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and preached by Guru Ravidass and Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar. One can easily make out the importance and dignity of the place,
Bootan Mandi and its periphery. I am happy to announce that my forthcoming book
‘Bootan Mandi – The Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna, which is under print, is
scheduled to be released in mid-April, 2024 which would provide more details as
an ‘oral history’.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi has already been decked as
a bride and solacing spirit of Guru Ravidass’s Vani has filled the air in the
run up the Gurpurab – Shobha Yatra on February 23 and Kirtan Darbar/Sangeet and
Musical Darbar on February 24 are much awaited events by the followers of Guru
Ravidass and the sprawling Mela by the public. Ambedkar Park at Bootan Mandi is
yet another land mark which is the news. The park was thoughtfully planned and
made by the then Mayor of Jalandhar in early 2010s, Surinder Mahey, a worthy
son of the soil. Over the years, partially through the normal wear and tear and
partially by sheer neglect by the municipal authorities, the Park required
urgent and immediate renovation. Some activists and residents of Bootan Mandi
on the initiative and lead of AAP activist Paramjit Mahey, Joint Secretary of
the Intellectual Wing of AAP took up the matter with Minister Balkar Singh and
convinced him to undertake the job of renovation and up-gradation of Ambedkar
Park on priority basis. It is gratifying to note that they succeeded and on the
advice and direction of the Hon’ble Minister Balkar Singh, Municipal
authorities prepared a renovation project at the cost of Rs.1.15 crore and the
formal formal go-ahead was given by the Minister on February 18 at a befitting
but a solemn function at the park itself in the presence of Hon’ble MP, Sushil</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXspSLkPobuNgUCNjrw6hMjxqN1UTSEmucB5GQNHk4eHWx7S0VDkZ0xx4wqsuPu4QsfaQ8xNK8Xm4YjE_6A4cVbcBQI0MciGnazrWlNlDmXbMTiLbVRiYPp5ANcuj9kV7tQ4JYeYMuJ-JzOdlZqH6GfiGnEqUafqyTmXGlbpnwX4n4hy_X_5wk-c3JCI/s1280/balkar%20-%20pammiWA0036.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXspSLkPobuNgUCNjrw6hMjxqN1UTSEmucB5GQNHk4eHWx7S0VDkZ0xx4wqsuPu4QsfaQ8xNK8Xm4YjE_6A4cVbcBQI0MciGnazrWlNlDmXbMTiLbVRiYPp5ANcuj9kV7tQ4JYeYMuJ-JzOdlZqH6GfiGnEqUafqyTmXGlbpnwX4n4hy_X_5wk-c3JCI/w225-h400/balkar%20-%20pammiWA0036.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Rinku and Hon’ble MLA, Sheetal Angural. While appreciating the initiative and
efforts of Paramjit Mahey in this regard, Minister Balkar Singh said that
Ambedkar Park, in accordance with the high stature of Babasaheb Ambedkar, will
be one of the best parks in Jalandhar. Thanking the Hon’ble Minister, MP and
MLA and also the top hierarchy of Punjab AAP including; Rajwinder Kaur.
Surinder Singh Sodhi, Amritpal Singh spontaneously gathered audience, Paramjit
Mahey said that we should not forget that whatever high positions and all round
prosperity in the community we all were enjoying was due to our savior,
Babasaheb Ambedkar alone. He also mentioned about Ambedkar Government College
which was located in front of the Park across the road was the result of long
struggle of the young activists of Bootan Mandi along with their supporters and
also unstinted efforts of MP Sushil Rinku, a fully devoted young leader of the
community. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">With this off the cuff narration, I take the opportunity to
greet you all on the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass and Naman to Babasaheb Ambedkar.</span><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-79632318149983736862024-02-19T17:30:00.001+03:002024-02-19T17:30:47.100+03:00Bootan Mandi – The Flag-bearer of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bootan Mandi – The Flag-bearer of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb
Ambedkar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bootan Mandi and its peripheral localities in Jalandhar right
from the Ambedkar Chowk to Satguru Kabir Chowk (Wadala Chowk) on Ambedkar Marg
(Nakodar Road) have, and rightly s, become the unnamed memorials and landmarks
to register and carry forward the lofty ideals and thoughts of the great revolutionary
Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the
contemporary times. Though I have written much about these matters in my blogs
over the years yet I thought of broaching the subject once again in view of the
forthcoming Guru Ravidass Gurpurab on February 24 and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Jyanti
on April 14. About this 2 kilometer patch of Ambedkar Marg will become a hub of
celebrations and public events which have increasingly attained a definite
place on the calendar of Jalandhar city. This patch of the Jalandhar-Nakodar
Highway hosts – Ambedkar Chowk, Ambedkar Bhawan, Guru Ravidass Chowk, Guru
Ravidass Dham, Ambedkar Park, Ambedkr Community Centre, Budh Vihar, Guru
Ravidass Mandir, Ambedkar College and Satguru Kabir Chowk</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtP8xaLHOAeTtovGv5K1erx5jYb9KPFSOrTc8228sT2C26yUZm12BjuLK3p1L5nqXeSFakqSyIJOtjMrWfpy8r3S_kS0RtoTsPE-O-myV4cUrjfrHBDkcunPXmCue5ZkcLHsxhE7sZMLCtAKX6DA2AIj0y8LLNLsehRmRzohdZ0NVGmmaORU7idNOK49Y/s768/cover%20front%20page.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="477" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtP8xaLHOAeTtovGv5K1erx5jYb9KPFSOrTc8228sT2C26yUZm12BjuLK3p1L5nqXeSFakqSyIJOtjMrWfpy8r3S_kS0RtoTsPE-O-myV4cUrjfrHBDkcunPXmCue5ZkcLHsxhE7sZMLCtAKX6DA2AIj0y8LLNLsehRmRzohdZ0NVGmmaORU7idNOK49Y/w249-h400/cover%20front%20page.jpg" width="249" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> which make the site a
mosaic of lofty ideals of ‘equality and fraternity’ propounded<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and preached by Guru Ravidass and Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar. One can easily make out the importance and dignity of the place,
Bootan Mandi and its periphery. I am happy to announce that my forthcoming book
‘Bootan Mandi – The Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna, which is under print, is
scheduled to be released in mid-April, 2024 which would provide more details as
an ‘oral history’.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi has already been decked as
a bride and solacing spirit of Guru Ravidass’s Vani has filled the air in the
run up the Gurpurab – Shobha Yatra on February 23 and Kirtan Darbar/Sangeet and
Musical Darbar on February 24 are much awaited events by the followers of Guru
Ravidass and the sprawling <span>Mela by the public. Ambedkar Park at Bootan Mandi is
yet another land mark which is the news. The park was thoughtfully planned and
made by the then Mayor of Jalandhar in early 2010s, Surinder Mahey, a worthy
son of the soil. Over the years, partially through the normal wear and tear and
partially by sheer neglect by the municipal authorities, the Park required
urgent and immediate renovation. Some activists and residents of Bootan Mandi
on the initiative and lead of AAP activist Paramjit Mahey, Joint Secretary of
the Intellectual Wing of AAP took up the matter with Minister Balkar Singh and
convinced him to undertake the job of renovation and up-gradation of Ambedkar
Park on priority basis. It is gratifying to note that they succeeded and on the
advice and direction of the Hon’ble Minister Balkar Singh, Municipal
authorities prepared a renovation project at the cost of Rs.1.15 crore and the
formal formal go-ahead was given by the Minister on February 18 at a befitting
but a solemn function at the park itself in the presence of Hon’ble MP, Sushil
Rinku and Hon’ble MLA, Sheetal Angural. While appreciating the initiative and
efforts of Paramjit Mahey in this regard, Minister Balkar Singh said that</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LlDbJFqxkdT1L9mfzN38O4aTu7jrCsYpIzu1U0i1TNaVA6Ea22snAW4JvjqNcobS6D-pTlqPTKH6TX38DhFR90NvTLKYeQHwqz77p17eDH3R5_VNKsqkPeZSuezuJVWiMr6EEcrT_UW7untXZdPZKt1hk_8ZNkYYsrDAHxKG0RVE1Q7ALwaDzuuJmO8/s1280/balkar%20-%20pammiWA0036.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LlDbJFqxkdT1L9mfzN38O4aTu7jrCsYpIzu1U0i1TNaVA6Ea22snAW4JvjqNcobS6D-pTlqPTKH6TX38DhFR90NvTLKYeQHwqz77p17eDH3R5_VNKsqkPeZSuezuJVWiMr6EEcrT_UW7untXZdPZKt1hk_8ZNkYYsrDAHxKG0RVE1Q7ALwaDzuuJmO8/w225-h400/balkar%20-%20pammiWA0036.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Ambedkar Park, in accordance with the high stature of Babasaheb Ambedkar, will
be one of the best parks in Jalandhar. Thanking the Hon’ble Minister, MP and
MLA and also the top hierarchy of Punjab AAP including; Rajwinder Kaur.
Surinder Singh Sodhi, Amritpal Singh spontaneously gathered audience, Paramjit
Mahey said that we should not forget that whatever high positions and all round
prosperity in the community we all were enjoying was due to our savior,
Babasaheb Ambedkar alone. He also mentioned about Ambedkar Government College
which was located in front of the Park across the road was the result of long
struggle of the young activists of Bootan Mandi along with their supporters and
also unstinted efforts of MP Sushil Rinku, a fully devoted young leader of the
community. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">With this off the cuff narration, I take the opportunity to
greet you all on the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass and Naman to Babasaheb Ambedkar.</span><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-80795203092707675912024-01-27T09:59:00.003+03:002024-01-27T10:00:07.379+03:00Pran Pratishta Samroh – Consecration of Ram Temple at Ayodhya<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Pran Pratishta Samroh –
Consecration of Ram Temple at Ayodhya<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I wrote about the Ram Janam Bhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya on
August 7, 2020 on its Bhoomi Pujan (ground breaking ceremony) by PM Narendra
Modi and wished that Let us hope that the Ram Mandir becomes an abode of Peace.
The blog may be accessed at: <a href="https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2020/08/ram-janambhoomi-mandir-at-ayodhya-let.html">https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2020/08/ram-janambhoomi-mandir-at-ayodhya-let.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I was invited to the Pran Pratishta Samroh of Shri Ram Dham
at Ayodhya on January 22, 2023 as a ‘Distinguished Guest – Vashist Mahnibhav’
by the organizers of this grand event in the</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFydJiVd9mUqZrOCKwN3DkFj8rhbj-CV7idDKUL-DkPMKTPQL2n24iHH1oqQn0GByfdEhHAqmjTldNrwn0D9PFZA75J-OWPbnDS7TpRCY83EFvNJQxNSDz18CkfCEv0w8ifoRvGIYON_9e6XRuauZLQ30dRGazkNlL9eqb08Y8ya0onvKhB-Utsk-gdRc/s1280/1705154036016.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFydJiVd9mUqZrOCKwN3DkFj8rhbj-CV7idDKUL-DkPMKTPQL2n24iHH1oqQn0GByfdEhHAqmjTldNrwn0D9PFZA75J-OWPbnDS7TpRCY83EFvNJQxNSDz18CkfCEv0w8ifoRvGIYON_9e6XRuauZLQ30dRGazkNlL9eqb08Y8ya0onvKhB-Utsk-gdRc/w400-h300/1705154036016.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> contemporary times. I humbly
accepted the invitation (Apoorav Anadik Nimantran) and was all set to enjoy and
avail of this great honour. But it was not to be as I could not finally make it
due to the vagaries of weather. I would have been a good experience to be an
eye witness to the ‘history in making’. It would remain a matter of regret and
remorse for me. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The wheel of ‘tryst with divinity’ has come full circle.
Bhagwan Ram ‘the Imame Hind’ as termed by Allama Iqbal has been enshrined in
his destined abode, a magnificent temple at Ayodhaya. It must settle the heat
and dust raised by avoidable acrimonious socio-cultural, historical and legal
contentions of the varying factions. PM Narendra Modi after the Pran Pratiksha
ceremony said in his address to the august congregation, “marker of a new era”
and a “symbol of</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDqqSA5L_GZSy_aS7l0nLm8blF1GtW6LN1YvqjW_VT4kHlv_85jpmhyphenhyphenR-QIpzhWmfuHYVWaczl_LMovF_HCf0QKAXlABpAHUxhlSjtOPntSJtc3HrCSbuieWxiHeiejB3qbj1kyywB-Q01rzof97OuNjcs2F5UmU82xVtLHPGGNxRvr18IulaYemJxZI/s311/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDqqSA5L_GZSy_aS7l0nLm8blF1GtW6LN1YvqjW_VT4kHlv_85jpmhyphenhyphenR-QIpzhWmfuHYVWaczl_LMovF_HCf0QKAXlABpAHUxhlSjtOPntSJtc3HrCSbuieWxiHeiejB3qbj1kyywB-Q01rzof97OuNjcs2F5UmU82xVtLHPGGNxRvr18IulaYemJxZI/s1600/images.jpeg" width="311" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Indian society’s patience, harmony and resilience”. He also
linked the Temple with national transformation and added, “We have to vow to
build Samarth (capable), Saksham (able), Bhavya (grand) and Divya (divine) Bharat.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagwat said that it
was time to bury the bitter past and termed the Pran Pratishta event in an
article as the beginning of a campaign to reconstruct “Bharatvarsh”, which is
for harmony, peace and wellbeing of all. The Hindustan Times in its Editorial
on January 23 rightly commented, “Invoking faith for national rejuvenation, however,
could be a slippery slope. The nation’s charioteers on this</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYehFDeiQ24V7lazB751tB0Vg71lTtIMZuR352m_na9uszF5rGz4Rurktm53VzCra2xdsoX1DrV-pk1j7RTKoFJf0E96IAmOgCrDuCuoA2kjNJh2PM90QawHb-ED96D2mLrw3lZi5otR3r_h3kDXokwipoHc_9hZFNvKoUIvStm4QmGrXKemBpT3NgaPM/s300/images%20(1).jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYehFDeiQ24V7lazB751tB0Vg71lTtIMZuR352m_na9uszF5rGz4Rurktm53VzCra2xdsoX1DrV-pk1j7RTKoFJf0E96IAmOgCrDuCuoA2kjNJh2PM90QawHb-ED96D2mLrw3lZi5otR3r_h3kDXokwipoHc_9hZFNvKoUIvStm4QmGrXKemBpT3NgaPM/w400-h224/images%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> journey have to be
firm in being fair and just to all citizens and keep unruly elements in check.
The Republic’s founding document, the Constitution, should be the guiding light
as the nation enters an unchartered geography.” I tend to agree with these
observations. The lofty messages given by the PM Narendra Modi and Sarsanghchalak
of RSS, Mohan Bhagwat should be viewed through the constitutional framework of
India. With this, India would remain on rails to find its due space and share,
in due course, as a democratic and civilized nation and the society large.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I have no reason not to believe what right-wing Hindu outfits
like BJP and its affiliates and also their mentor RSS say about development of
India as ‘Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Visvash’ by way of inclusive
growth. But they must understand, sooner the better, it cannot happen if we
fail to retain and strengthen the inherent character of India as a
‘multi-cultural, multi faith, multi-lingual and a diverse’ society and also a
‘democratic and secular’ polity as enshrined in the constitution by our
forefathers. I am a firm believer of an integrated and cohesive society and as
such I fully support and endorse the RSS’s agenda of ‘Samrasta’ as there is no</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyiGXa7_O9gIgMjD4f9fDOx_2c7HnRkbg7olKPtgtb_xWuSf2aAQ04Du2-uDad5L6F8nbjFsN0rkwWPKxqAPQQGnNRyoAj0Kc5cq_xZO17JYZCMvQtsQyYmtlRvjeUOogtsp677LfSPupuKDkKUdhXolTdNZRAa35vNaZ8y1W8GTqP4IHQyBFQOYg0m0/s320/Mohan%20Bhagwat%20Nagpur%20(2).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="320" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyiGXa7_O9gIgMjD4f9fDOx_2c7HnRkbg7olKPtgtb_xWuSf2aAQ04Du2-uDad5L6F8nbjFsN0rkwWPKxqAPQQGnNRyoAj0Kc5cq_xZO17JYZCMvQtsQyYmtlRvjeUOogtsp677LfSPupuKDkKUdhXolTdNZRAa35vNaZ8y1W8GTqP4IHQyBFQOYg0m0/s1600/Mohan%20Bhagwat%20Nagpur%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to address and
minimize the ‘trust deficit’ among the majority and minority communities on one
hand and dalits and other socially weaker segments of the society on the other.
Some of my friends, who do not approve of my supporting the Samrasta plank of
RSS and accepting the invitation to the Pran Pratishta Samaroh, has shared with
me a story which was getting viral in the social media about refusal to accept
donations by the dalit community of a village, not far away from Ayodhya, for
the Ram Janam Bhoomi Temple as it would desecrate the temple. This is how the
so called high caste Hindus tend to treat dalit communities even after 75 years
of India becoming a Republic. The lofty ideas of establishing a casteless society
seems a far fetched reality. We need to answer and rectify the situation
otherwise the suffering masses would not believe in allegedly ‘camouflaged
agendas’. I am proud of India that is Bharat –</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">चिश्ती</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">ने</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">जिस</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">जमीन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">पर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">पैगामे</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">हक़</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">सुनाया</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">; <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">नानक</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">ने</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">जिस</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">चमन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">में</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">बेहदत</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">का</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">गीत</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">गया</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">मेरा</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">वतन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">वही</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">है</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">, </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">मेरा</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">वतन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">वही</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">है</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-58858508407860482592024-01-23T10:55:00.003+03:002024-01-23T10:57:41.307+03:00Call to Redeem the History and Glory of Ad-dharam Mandal<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Call to Redeem the
History and Glory of Ad-dharam Mandal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The Ad-dharam Mandal which later became a Movement to
establish a separate and distinct identity of socially depressed and oppressed
segments of the society and their empowerment was established in 1926 by
Gadarite Baba, Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia and other community activists and
representatives of the so called dalit communities of the time. Some of the prominent
among them were;</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiBxBTMl7BuHlHcDJ_BWWJUZznAkSeg3jRZOK5fDa3-AVlct_YLfrnKyBFFC8078JcNz5g2JUVa60Zs9PtsujForPnt-WYemHS5-IXxpOuunu2LEVsOPHMRu5LC4TCJZuRDdRemH0-6vRrxmILUzguAP8cGyAajU-oAocqJ35Bcs7sTNz7v5FewRlOY4/s1757/002.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="1076" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiBxBTMl7BuHlHcDJ_BWWJUZznAkSeg3jRZOK5fDa3-AVlct_YLfrnKyBFFC8078JcNz5g2JUVa60Zs9PtsujForPnt-WYemHS5-IXxpOuunu2LEVsOPHMRu5LC4TCJZuRDdRemH0-6vRrxmILUzguAP8cGyAajU-oAocqJ35Bcs7sTNz7v5FewRlOY4/w245-h400/002.jpg" width="245" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Sant Sarwan Dass of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, Master Gurbanta
Singh, Seth Sunder Dass and Seth Kishan Dass (both my fellow BootanMandians)
among others. Ad-dharam Mandal not only did a good job in bringing about
awakening but also in mobilizing the socially marginalized sections of the
society in the 1920s and 1930s. It supported Babasaheb Ambedkar to represent
the dalit communities at the Round Table Conferences in London which resulted
in the Communal Award of PM Ramsey MacDonald providing Separate Electorates to
dalits. Ad-dharam Mandal succeeded in listing dalits as Ad-dharmis in the
Census of 1931. It sent successfully many MLAs to the Punjab Legislative
Assembly both in 1937 and 1945 even before independence and partition of India
in 1947. To cut the story short, I can safely register that Ad-daram Mandal
became a political and socio-cultural outfit of dalits to reckon with not only
before independence but even in the early years of independent India. These
details are duly registered in the contemporary political and social history of
India and needs no further elaboration. Since the thrust and focus of this
piece is an important issue pertaining to Ad-dharam Mandal, I come to the issue
straight away.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">After its establishment in 1926, Ad-dharam opened its first
office as Headquarters of the Mandal at a site in Kishanpura Mohalla near the
Jalandhar Railway station sometime in 1926-27. First it was located in a rented
building at a monthly rent of Rs.20/- and later 62 marla of land was purchased
with facilitation of the then Thanedar (Police Officer) of the area, Pandit Ram
Chand with the token money of Rs.200/- which was later finalized for final
purchase at the total cost</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSB-ofWArEtj77NvXwDkKMgLm913z7h4e-dFGtFpZf45PK9udoWJv0wJOcbRlzOA6MbSJnuyddQvXqYK51gX5bRUVypZX-6q8AUSx0Vw4RBXNQTGKOgXayGlRQuOpvDNVaMzbs2CLZVO9TVywQqqaC6oWVbk3JLv5oK7w6j44eWTVQBU-lT-MgOSJydM/s2235/001.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSB-ofWArEtj77NvXwDkKMgLm913z7h4e-dFGtFpZf45PK9udoWJv0wJOcbRlzOA6MbSJnuyddQvXqYK51gX5bRUVypZX-6q8AUSx0Vw4RBXNQTGKOgXayGlRQuOpvDNVaMzbs2CLZVO9TVywQqqaC6oWVbk3JLv5oK7w6j44eWTVQBU-lT-MgOSJydM/w269-h400/001.jpg" width="269" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> of Rs.3500/-. The registry of the land was got done
in the name of “Shri Guru Ravidass Asthan Ad-dharam Mandal Jalandhar”. Money
for the purpose was donated by prominent and well to do people of the community
and also by the general public both in India and abroad. Subsequently, the
buildings were constructed with the financial sources of the Ad-dharam Mandal
and the public donations including help of the then Municipal Member of the
area both by way of materials and cash. In due course of time, the site at
Kishanpura became a full pledged functional and vibrant place for the
socio—political activities and agenda of the Ad-dharam Mandal and the dalit
communities. The first newspaper of Ad-dharam Mandal called ‘Adi Danka’ was
launched and published from this historic place. As such Guru Ravidass Asthan
became hub of community activities and empowerment of the oppressed and
depressed sections of the society. All these details are available in the book
(pages 21-26) “Babu Mangu Ram (Jiwan, Sangarsh Te Ad-dharam Dastabej) written
by Megh Raj M.A. son of Babu Mangu Ram who lives in the UK. The book was
published by Arshi Publishers of Chandani Chowk in Delhi in 2014 with Balbir
Madhopuri of New Delhi as its publisher/editor. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">In the run up to create and establish educational facilities
for the dalit communities and the society at large, a school and training
center for vocational courses was started at the site. In the wake of
independence of India in 1947, with the help and stewardship of</span></p><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /> Master Gurbanta
Singh who was a Congress leader of standing ‘The Punjab Ravidass Educational
Society Jalandhar city’ was registered on September 24, 1952 to run and manage
the school at the site at Kishanpura. The rest is history; the glories history
of Ad-dharam Mandal. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviYwdpC628tDi6w-8TLMEFpAg8Cb6-WS4woQcbTLuRuL341-crDS67xZV9bdPFiDrdwc6Q3rCAHCTUiICk7Vcr067iBsXdO4GxDaHtOcWQU5FhkwXrY4XMUWhBXAS_-5ZrKN1mmo2zT_qtAxvv8Ca_pXdzTP3P3SrMySpN4trwULmD3493onAb3liTUw/s251/download%20(2).jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviYwdpC628tDi6w-8TLMEFpAg8Cb6-WS4woQcbTLuRuL341-crDS67xZV9bdPFiDrdwc6Q3rCAHCTUiICk7Vcr067iBsXdO4GxDaHtOcWQU5FhkwXrY4XMUWhBXAS_-5ZrKN1mmo2zT_qtAxvv8Ca_pXdzTP3P3SrMySpN4trwULmD3493onAb3liTUw/w320-h400/download%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Master Gurbanta Singh</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Now let me come to the real issue. Guru Ravidass School still
exists at the site, I think in name only to be truthful. The Management and
even the Government authorities, it seems, are not interested to make the
school a functional and viable institution, unfortunately. The buildings have
dilapidated. The school has no financial sources. The teaching faculty and number
of students are dwindling slowly. Obviously, students are not interested in
this non-functional entity. Frankly speaking, I don’t have more details to
explain and elaborate the matter any further. But as a community activist and
an Ad-dharmi myself, I have some suggestions and thoughts to redeem the history
and glory of this historic site at Kishanpura which belongs to the community
and the society at large.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Guru
Ravidass Asthan of Ad-dharam Mandal should either be acquired by the Punjab or
Central Government and declared it as ‘Heritage Site’ in the memory of Gadrite
Baba Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia and Ad-dharam Mandal to instill a sense of
empowerment among the dalit communities. It will be an appreciable gesture to
integrate the dalit communities with the main stream of the society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Alternatively,
the site should be handed over to the obvious heirs of Ad-dharam Mandal – All
India Ad-dharam Mission currently under the stewardship of Sant Satwinder Hira
of Khuralgarh Sahib (Charan</span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRKDHDWypEroqAQVI-BUrMZwxDvP-Ptht0_wDPBgpWM6BPQGwbZclwz4fbqylXJg3WdKwXG2S1-39g5S5Kq9sYvqYj4eyV6lYW8fd2jneTIYgbrk_OGx40ruvEy226TANPCpwKFEHM-iM6kS-jvZoqnZpHtfQjodKRbeoTkv9bCV9BOX9_U1g-0jvwHQ/s187/download%20(1).jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="181" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRKDHDWypEroqAQVI-BUrMZwxDvP-Ptht0_wDPBgpWM6BPQGwbZclwz4fbqylXJg3WdKwXG2S1-39g5S5Kq9sYvqYj4eyV6lYW8fd2jneTIYgbrk_OGx40ruvEy226TANPCpwKFEHM-iM6kS-jvZoqnZpHtfQjodKRbeoTkv9bCV9BOX9_U1g-0jvwHQ/w387-h400/download%20(1).jpeg" width="387" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sant Satwinder Hira</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /> Choh Ganga) in Garhshankar (Hoshiarpur) in Punjab
after discussing and settling the modalities of turning the site into a
Heritage Property.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Government/All
India Ad-dharam Mission should redeem the historical importance of the site and
turn the existing Guru Ravidass Higher Secondary School into a model
‘Institution of Excellence’ for the benefit of the society at large and the
weaker sections in particular.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">These are some of the off the cuff
suggestions at this stage. More details may be added, as required, once the
project is considered. Now what is needed to be done, to my mind, in this
regard:-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All India Ad-dharam Mission may consider and
undertake to dig, ascertain and fix the legal title of the ownership of the
site at Kishanpura in Jalandhar in consultation with the current Management of
The Punjab Ravidass Educational Society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">All India Ad-dharam Mission may
approach the Government accordingly to acquire the site and get it declared a;
Heritage Site’ as explained above. Alternatively, as suggested, All India
Ad-dharam Mission may request the Government to get the site transferred to
them for the purpose as stated above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">All India Ad-dharam Mission may
consider floating a separate Trust to manage and run the project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">All leaders of the community
particularly the intellectuals should consider and offer their suggestions to
convert the Heritage Site into a grand memorial and an institution of
excellence and the ways and means to do so. It will be a befitting tribute only
to Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia but also our forefathers who worked and struggled
to ameliorate the social sufferings of the community as front runners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I am confident all the stake holders in this would take it
seriously and do their best to retain, own and run the ‘community heritage’ for
the larger interest of the community. Let us come out of the “Paihra Diyange
Thok Ke’ phase and do something concrete to redeem the glorious history of the
community’s struggle to find a due place in the society.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">तू</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">पहले</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">बात</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">; </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">बात</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">का</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">अंदाज़</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">पैदा</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">कर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">फिर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">दुनिया</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">में</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">तुझे</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ; </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">कोई नज़र</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">अंदाज़</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">कर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">नहीं</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Nirmala UI","sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;">सकता</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-58107185341787051732024-01-15T17:37:00.005+03:002024-01-15T17:38:54.858+03:00British Ravidassia Heritage Foundation (BRHF)<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">British Ravidassia
Heritage Foundation (BRHF)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln4tkKQDgZUGyGBTf4fp3mhyC38_d-qsBLH0cDrJvMFyqTiCbFPbcZtcDV2ImFMXTVSvW12iYvO09JuqA2ljgcs8qEp8LY_70n4hO3YiChKBJ3vOevquW02zwHajdoZtnkRF_qIW5ugR5C-HdaGs_HzN1ibRgUl1yFRbUdS2Lj4MOPSn_DFd_gysMDdo/s252/download.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln4tkKQDgZUGyGBTf4fp3mhyC38_d-qsBLH0cDrJvMFyqTiCbFPbcZtcDV2ImFMXTVSvW12iYvO09JuqA2ljgcs8qEp8LY_70n4hO3YiChKBJ3vOevquW02zwHajdoZtnkRF_qIW5ugR5C-HdaGs_HzN1ibRgUl1yFRbUdS2Lj4MOPSn_DFd_gysMDdo/w317-h400/download.jpeg" width="317" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">British Ravidassia Heritage Foundation (BRHF) is a registered
Charitable NGO in the UK floated by the Ravidassia community for the purpose as
stated in the website of the organization “TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE
PUBLIC IN THE SUBJECT OF THE LIFE, TIME AND PHILOSOPHY OF</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> SATGURU RAVIDASS.” I
have had an opportunity to interact with the Trustees of BRHF at an
International Seminar organized by them in Delhi in collaboration of Jawaharlal
Nehru University (JNU) in October, 2023 to which I was also invited as a
presenter on the subject “Life, Time and Philosophy Satguru Ravidass”. My blog
on the subject may be accessed at:</span> <span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/10/international-seminar-on-life-time-and.html">https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/10/international-seminar-on-life-time-and.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">One fine morning of a cold day, Chairperson of the BRHF
Trust, Om Parkash Bagha, belonging to his native place Bolina Doaba – a
prominent village in the periphery of Jalandhar, called me to come and discuss
with me an important matter with regard to the activities of the BRHF. Accordingly,
Bagha Sahib along with one of my friends in the literary and intellectual
circle, Roop Lal Roop came</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEFnWE6iB_worHs4wXQaPRISICiQODvcwgNAPsrFTgmAcU4TnJKMsbiX8n_f-Bu1vytLHBNlamhhY7PIw8q1Sj1pGZO1lIcB8NZdtsuSY7taRTMX3Hc4uVPNVU7IDW-uwI-8zCeRnE1YfrUe24rFmmzk9xxb_w8ZiuHEHqnovpLRBXQR9Zy4Ke3SbroY/s2048/1704438529168.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEFnWE6iB_worHs4wXQaPRISICiQODvcwgNAPsrFTgmAcU4TnJKMsbiX8n_f-Bu1vytLHBNlamhhY7PIw8q1Sj1pGZO1lIcB8NZdtsuSY7taRTMX3Hc4uVPNVU7IDW-uwI-8zCeRnE1YfrUe24rFmmzk9xxb_w8ZiuHEHqnovpLRBXQR9Zy4Ke3SbroY/w400-h225/1704438529168.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> and made a proposal to join them in a missionary
work to translate into English language a treatise, written in Gurmukhi script,
of Roop Lal Roop – Guru Ravidass Pargas Di Khoj (Research and Study of the
Life, Philosophy and Thought of Guru Ravidass). It was a pleasant surprise to
me. Considering the enormity of the project to translate a huge volume (Granth
of 432 pages that too both in prose and verse), I was a bit reluctant to
undertake the job. Both Bagha Sahib and Roop Lal Sahib were insisted and said
that they had come to me after considering all factors including my ability to
do this difficult job. I told them frankly that I had not done any translation
work so far though I write regularly in my blog or otherwise only in English.
They said that they will be happy to associate me with this work. I could not
say know and accepted the responsibility with whatever humility I have in my
persona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I had already seen and
glanced through the book kindly presented to me by the author, Roop Lal Sahib. I
guess, perhaps, the author wished me to write some sort of review of his great
work which I myself would have loved to do. But due other occupations and sheer
size of the book deterred me from doing so. It seems now that it was destined
like this and the honours fell on me to translate the book for wider
circulation and benefit the society at large from the life, time and philosophy
of the great Guru. I only pray Guru Ravidass gives me the wherewithal to do the
job entrusted to me by BRHF and the author, Roop Lal Roop in the stipulated
time frame of a year or so.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As I said that I met the BRHF brass at the JNU. Subsequent to
that I found that BRHF was fully engaged in their mission to research, study and
carry forward the lofty ideals of Guru Ravidass to establish a free and fair
society as enshrined in the Vani “Begumpur Sehar Ka Naon; Dukh Ando Nahin Jis
Ke Thaon” as stated in their website “WORKING WITH GLOBAL COMMUNITY, RELIGIOUS
AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS DELIVER A PROGREMME OF WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS,
PUBLISH LITERATURTE, ESTABLISH ONLINE LIBRARY ON THE LIFE, TIME AND PHILOSOPHY
OF SATGURU RAVIDASS TO VALUE TRADITIONALLY HELD VIEWS AND ANALYSE FROM A
CONTEMPORARY AND SCIENTIFIC ANGLE TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE FOR
PRESENT DAY LIFE AND TO INFER A DEEPER, WIDER INSIGHT.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I will earnestly undertake the job of translation of the
Granth “Guru Ravidass Pargas Di Khoj” in a month or so after completion of my
current project – my forthcoming book “Bootan Mandi: Nerve Centre of Dalit
Chetna” Meanwhile I again thank BRHF and my friend, Roop Lal Roop for showing
faith and confidence in me, a humble follower of the great Guru Ravidass.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-37348951623728684652023-12-26T15:37:00.009+03:002024-01-03T17:51:31.563+03:00On losing a Life Partner<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">On losing a Life
Partner<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I lost my life partner with the passing away of Vidya on
December 7 all of a sudden with a silent cardiac arrest just before my open
eyes. I was stunned and shocked along with my daughter, Vaishali and daughter
in law, Sulekha standing and holding Vidya at her bed. It was a devastating
thing to happen for the family. There was no</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdcDl2StfGPGMkUvNVSswTExsHjYAYuo_SiDzxkqfqmde-GP5DTB3LOSPKLk2Qft9r1F3SYAExeDA1dQd0ac8SCH7WL50MZCIXPURQxQWsmEFlw2-9A5Mt31yk3GJYTZY-oNQNrdMUPGVx2f1qtexcR4KrD9K-xqwu3Bu3ov3eSHrPcY1GmfIOZr9r5s/s6000/16%20x%2020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdcDl2StfGPGMkUvNVSswTExsHjYAYuo_SiDzxkqfqmde-GP5DTB3LOSPKLk2Qft9r1F3SYAExeDA1dQd0ac8SCH7WL50MZCIXPURQxQWsmEFlw2-9A5Mt31yk3GJYTZY-oNQNrdMUPGVx2f1qtexcR4KrD9K-xqwu3Bu3ov3eSHrPcY1GmfIOZr9r5s/w320-h400/16%20x%2020.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /> response time. She was admitted to
a hospital for a few days with positive dengue and resultant ailments and was
back home on December 6. Nobody in the family, I think even Vidya herself,
expected this to happen so suddenly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vidya
left us in peace without uttering a word and even demonstrating any pain. Vidya,
a simple but gracious lady, lived with blissful dignity and left with eternal
peace. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I am a regular blogger but could not gather enough courage to
sit and write since her departure as I felt totally devastated. It is one of
the hardest aspects of grieving for your partner. It is grieving the
future you had planned together. Thinking about your new reality, it can deepen
the feelings of loneliness and isolation you might be feeling and this can be
scary to cope with. But one has to accept the hard reality. There is no other
way. A common theme among people who have lost their spouse is
the debilitating effects of feeling entirely alone and incomplete. The
sense of feeling like one has lost an essential part of oneself is both painful
and disconcerting. I was over-whelmed with the flow of condolence messages and
sharing of our grief by my friends, colleagues and relations at large. My
extended family; brothers Krishan and Parmjit and also my sisters stood by me
as a solid wall. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">These realities of life have a different and distinct effect
on my life. We married each other when perhaps we were not even legally of age
to do that in June, 1969. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still a
student of the final year of BA. On my insistence, without any explicit
agreement of Vidya, it was decided to delay our physical marriage for a couple
of years under the guise of Muklawa or Gauna in social parlance. I shifted to
Delhi in pursuit of my career in the IFS in March 1970 to earn my bread and
butter. Vidya was happy, obviously. After settling down followed by Muklawa, we
started living as husband and wife in April, 1971. The crux of the matter is
that we started growing together in whatever socio-economic condition we were
as an ordinary young couple belonging to a poor background. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">We did not look back. Vidya stood by me in thick and thin
both in my career and family responsibilities. Without any formal education as
a young lady from village background, she was well groomed by her family and
parents in taking care of family and social responsibilities with fortitude and
courage. I benefited out of her ability and devotion in this regard. Our first
posting in diplomatic parlance in 1977 was Beijing (Peking) in China. We were a
young couple in our mid-twenties and parents of three children. The odds were
too many. She learnt the tricks of the trade quickly and held the fort as a
good home-maker. I could climb the ladder in the professional domain as Vidya
shouldered all the family responsibilities at home without giving me any cause
of concern and worry. Not only we could do and fulfil all our social and family
responsibilities including marriages of our three children and making them
settle in life with satisfaction but also did fairly well in our diplomatic
career and reached the top with Ambassadorial status. Many of you may know that
in the life of a diplomat; particularly</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xyTa2rEVmdVUMVH3RToGX2N22Em8q5xSAkpQ0rtVO0jxHN8p0c8Tbqmw-sXKoNrbBjNcJQWLdl8R2VoHGrdc3r59f6Vjl3atBt7o0eE-0mFyPMByJ4D7VzqA8hNW_Bp4SDX1_ySBy9Z2ozgPmV9wKr1hNOvO-6xkapzxXaCG8u4Cl1vrZDTvhq4HPRA/s3172/IMG_3142.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="3172" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xyTa2rEVmdVUMVH3RToGX2N22Em8q5xSAkpQ0rtVO0jxHN8p0c8Tbqmw-sXKoNrbBjNcJQWLdl8R2VoHGrdc3r59f6Vjl3atBt7o0eE-0mFyPMByJ4D7VzqA8hNW_Bp4SDX1_ySBy9Z2ozgPmV9wKr1hNOvO-6xkapzxXaCG8u4Cl1vrZDTvhq4HPRA/w400-h280/IMG_3142.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> that of Indian diplomats, the spouse
plays an important and equal role both in official conduct and social living.
Vidya did it well and élan as a good and supportive life partner. On my
retirement, leaving all the glitter of diplomatic life and globetrotting, we
decided to come back to our roots in Jalandhar. Vidya was somewhat reluctant to
come back initially but later she again honoured my wish as a gracious partner.
Till her last breath, now I fully realise, she always tended to stand by me as
my life partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She carved a good
social ground and space for her back home after absence from the scene for
about 40 years with her down to earth approaches towards life, her humility and
pleasing demeanour. So many things cloud my mind about her earthy sense of
worldly wisdom which always remained handy to address day to day issues of
concern and interest. We celebrated our 50<sup>th</sup> marriage anniversary in
2019 with a great sense</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBIniQnoyKT1TtbImycZH5vqAO30vNuTeFTkWxYCgtfddectfcg_aBSnKGgAPm8PUSyfAL5aADeAhKeJBr-KdEiE7R9YbhyNxNe4Vmr653Ezj5g8rYIO0sNbm9raVMJmLmBklF_unbjfYuhvggs09xjKn3d2yLI2slbFEsPO1xAEPMjwFdv-I3Z7YKu4/s4130/IMG_8213.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4130" data-original-width="3627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBIniQnoyKT1TtbImycZH5vqAO30vNuTeFTkWxYCgtfddectfcg_aBSnKGgAPm8PUSyfAL5aADeAhKeJBr-KdEiE7R9YbhyNxNe4Vmr653Ezj5g8rYIO0sNbm9raVMJmLmBklF_unbjfYuhvggs09xjKn3d2yLI2slbFEsPO1xAEPMjwFdv-I3Z7YKu4/w351-h400/IMG_8213.jpg" width="351" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> of belonging and satisfaction. There is much to write
about which I will see and do later. At the Antim Ardas on December 17, some of
my friends and social leaders paid glowing tributes to her and invariably
referred to her unmatched traditional sense of hospitality and rustic but
pragmatic behavior. One of my friends and diplomatic colleagues from Delhi,
Amarjeet paid a handsome tribute to Madam Vidya Chander at her Antim Ardas:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">माँ</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">मम्मी</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दादी</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">विद्दो</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबने</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">आवाज़</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">लगाई</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">कोई</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">तड़प</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">कोई</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">पुकार</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">कुछ</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">भी</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">काम</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">न</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">आई</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">हर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">बंधन</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">तुम</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">हाथ</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">छुड़ाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबको</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रुलाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...</span></span></p><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">बहुत</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">कुछ</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">कहना</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">था</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">बहुत</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">कुछ</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">सुनना</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">था</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दूसरी</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">पारी</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">की</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">बगिया</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">फूलों</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">को</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चुनना</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">था</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">हर्षित</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">आँखों</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">को</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">अश्क़ों</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">में</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">डुबाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबको</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रुलाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">सबके</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">सुख</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">दुःख</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">का</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">ख्याल</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">रखने</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">वाली</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबके</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">भविष्य</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">के</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सुन्दर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सपने</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">बुनने</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">वाली</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">संतोष</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">भरा</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सर्वस्व</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">लुटाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबको</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रुलाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDmKjnxuON8qvPjIEFX938a6iyxElM9b9rsnZxQup2tV0kEbE1Os55OYQal6ba0LZAoScDNSzSjr12rzSASJSEaHTutJoPeQlzoVNwv-i3V0hQjGJW3D3gTp9j78FtdqyH3VDi0KQqKsX50yHCg5kCLBbucsMo7YRBCr78R2jgWTndU0rBzaVtzmhnAc/s2560/63.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDmKjnxuON8qvPjIEFX938a6iyxElM9b9rsnZxQup2tV0kEbE1Os55OYQal6ba0LZAoScDNSzSjr12rzSASJSEaHTutJoPeQlzoVNwv-i3V0hQjGJW3D3gTp9j78FtdqyH3VDi0KQqKsX50yHCg5kCLBbucsMo7YRBCr78R2jgWTndU0rBzaVtzmhnAc/w400-h300/63.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">हँसता</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">मुस्कराता</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">चेहरा</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">सबको</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">याद</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">रहेगा</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दिव्य</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">व्यक्तित्व</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दिलों</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">में</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">आबाद</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रहेगा</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">बेफिक्री</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">जीने</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">की</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">राह</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दिखाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबको</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रुलाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">प्रेम</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">आदर्श</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">और</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">संस्कारों</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">से</span><span face="Helvetica, "sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228;"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: Mangal, "serif";">सम्पूर्ण</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रिश्ते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">नाते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दोस्ती</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">के</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">भावों</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">परिपूर्ण</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">फिर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">मिलन</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">की</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">आस</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">जगाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">देखते</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सबको</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">रुलाकर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चले</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गए</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">...<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">अमर</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">जीत</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> ‘</span><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">अंजान</span><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: #1d2228; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I am yet not in a right frame of my mind to say something
more and end it here with the hope to pick up the threads in the days to come
to keep the memory of my life partner who has left a wide void in my remaining
days of my life – We lived a blessed life: Thodi Khatti – Thodi Meethi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 356.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">न</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">हाथ</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">थाम</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">सके</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">न</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">पकड़</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">सके</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">दामन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">,<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">बहुत</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">करीब</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">उठकर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">चला</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">गया</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">कोई।</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-49918064994745014862023-11-28T16:49:00.006+03:002023-11-29T15:25:41.131+03:00Constitution Day of India, November 26<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Constitution Day of India, November 26</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pYwwcAVZiVUOn0dpBkB2vFspfN-Umy8ty0K06z0MiRcZU2EvQ1GqIP6NpzTeOcHhNgMERXlytHZ3H4Br6FLd0UsSXx56B3GDFU10qsR_RrbBIFTZDaGO35-DHvab8T_E3KwcX1qySeIuksczNbNzNFdl82OiVjzn90OMT-2AXjwNfmQSTrJSVEihecE/w400-h400/IMG-20230829-WA0025.jpg" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">November 26 is observed
as Constitution Day of India. The Constitution of India was finally enacted and
adopted and given to ourselves on November 26, 1949. Government of India under
the leadership of PM Narendra Modi thoughtfully declared the day as Constitution
Day of India, rightly so, in November, 2015. Before the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;">constitution was
finally passed by the Constituent Assembly, Chief Architect of the Constitution
as Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar made a thought provoking
speech in the Constituent Assembly on November, 25. That speech is as relevant
today as it was before. I thought of sharing the speech with the discerning
readers of the Ambedkar Times to observe the Constitution Day. The text of the
speech is available in my recently released book: Some Random Thoughts on
Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy – The Bits and Pieces which is available
online with Amazon and Flipkart.</span></span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Text of Babasaheb B.R.
Ambedkar’;s speech in the Constituent Assembly delivered on November 25, 1949
before the Constitution was finally passed</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNdE8j19nskQQafF0Bo5GqHozdxz5eWyxJ-WBJcQwK6ZPif9QEfNv9VGBE7N5JbgQc-MnFCNfyJXrSufTNisKzczwcQifrGxVlHdsQNurKtxLiL_BO5HWUTIXCA-I9Q14KbOsB9ToAcwj2oRNyyTKqdEqiOmYJeMJJ7oVhfqOCgpW4hsNOUwu9zFdcns/s250/ambedkar%20statue.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNdE8j19nskQQafF0Bo5GqHozdxz5eWyxJ-WBJcQwK6ZPif9QEfNv9VGBE7N5JbgQc-MnFCNfyJXrSufTNisKzczwcQifrGxVlHdsQNurKtxLiL_BO5HWUTIXCA-I9Q14KbOsB9ToAcwj2oRNyyTKqdEqiOmYJeMJJ7oVhfqOCgpW4hsNOUwu9zFdcns/w323-h400/ambedkar%20statue.jpg" width="323" /></span></a></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sir, looking back on the work of the Constituent Assembly it
will now be two years, eleven months and seventeen days since it first met on
the 9th of December 1946. During this period the Constituent Assembly has
altogether held eleven sessions. Out of these eleven sessions the first six
were spent in passing the Objectives Resolution and the consideration of the
Reports of Committees on Fundamental Rights, on Union Constitution, on Union Powers,
on Provincial Constitution, on Minorities and on the Scheduled Areas and
Scheduled Tribes. The seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and the eleventh sessions
were devoted to the consideration of the Draft Constitution. These eleven
sessions of the Constituent Assembly have consumed 165 days. Out of these, the
Assembly spent 114 days for the consideration of the Draft Constitution.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coming to the Drafting Committee, it was elected by the
Constituent Assembly on 29th August 1947. It held its first meeting on 30th
August. Since August 30th it sat for 141 days during which it was engaged in
the preparation of the Draft Constitution. The Draft Constitution as prepared
by the Constitutional Adviser as a text for the Draft Committee to work upon,
consisted of 243 articles and 13 Schedules. The first Draft Constitution as
presented by the Drafting Committee to the Constituent Assembly contained 315
articles and 8 Schedules. At the end of the consideration stage, the number of
articles in the Draft Constitution increased to 386. In its final form, the
Draft Constitution contains 395 articles and 8 Schedules. The total number of
amendments to the Draft Constitution tabled was approximately 7,635. Of them,
the total number of amendments actually moved in the House was 2,473.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I mention these facts because at one stage it was being said
that the Assembly had taken too long a time to finish its work, that it was
going on leisurely and wasting public money. It was said to be a case of Nero
fiddling while Rome was burning. Is there any justification for this complaint?
Let us note the time consumed by Constituent Assemblies in other countries
appointed for framing their Constitutions. To take a few illustrations, the
American Convention met on May 25th, 1787 and completed its work on September
17, 1787 i.e., within four months. The Constitutional Convention of Canada met
on the 10th October 1864 and the Constitution was passed into law in March 1867
involving a period of two years and five months. The Australian Constitutional Convention
assembled in March 1891 and the Constitution became law on the 9th July 1900,
consuming a period of nine years. The South African Convention met in October,
1908 and the Constitution became law on the 20th September 1909 involving one
year’s labour. It is true that we have taken more time than what the American
or South African Conventions did. But we have not taken more time than the
Canadian Convention and much less than the Australian Convention. In making
comparisons on the basis of time consumed, two things must be remembered. One
is that the Constitutions of America, Canada, South Africa and Australia are
much smaller than ours. Our Constitution as I said contains 395 articles while
the American has just seven articles, the first four of which are divided into
sections which total up to 21, the Canadian has 147, Australian 128 and South
African 153 sections. The second thing to be remembered is that the makers of
the Constitutions of America, Canada, Australia and South Africa did not have
to face the problem of amendments. They were passed as moved. On the other
hand, this Constituent Assembly had to deal with as many as 2,473 amendments.
Having regard to these facts the charge of dilatoriness seems to me quite
unfounded and this Assembly may well congratulate itself for having
accomplished so formidable a task in so short a time.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Turning to the quality of the work done by the Drafting
Committee, Mr. Naziruddin Ahmed felt it his duty to condemn it outright. In his
opinion, the work done by the Drafting Committee is not only not worthy of
commendation, but is positively below par. Everybody has a right to have his
opinion about the work done by the Drafting Committee and Mr. Naziruddin is
welcome to have his own. Mr. Naziruddin Ahmed thinks he is a man of greater
talents than any member of the Drafting Committee. The Drafting Committee would
have welcomed him in their midst if the Assembly had thought him worthy of
being appointed to it. If he had no place in the making of the Constitution it
is certainly not the fault of the Drafting Committee.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Naziruddin Ahmed has coined a new name for the Drafting
Committee evidently to show his contempt for it. He calls it a Drifting
committee. Mr. Naziruddin must no doubt be pleased with his hit. But he evidently
does not know that there is a difference between drift without mastery and
drift with mastery. If the Drafting Committee was drifting, it was never
without mastery over the situation. It was not merely angling with the off
chance of catching a fish. It was searching in known waters to find the fish it
was after. To be in search of something better is not the same as drifting.
Although Mr. Naziruddin Ahmed did not mean it as a compliment to the Drafting
committee. I take it as a compliment to the Drafting Committee. The Drafting
Committee would have been guilty of gross dereliction of duty and of a false
sense of dignity if it had not shown the honesty and the courage to withdraw
the amendments which it thought faulty and substitute what it thought was
better. If it is a mistake, I am glad the Drafting Committee did not fight shy
of admitting such mistakes and coming forward to correct them.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am glad to find that with the exception of a solitary member,
there is a general consensus of appreciation from the members of the
Constituent Assembly of the work done by the Drafting Committee. I am sure the
Drafting Committee feels happy to find this spontaneous recognition of its
labours expressed in such generous terms. As to the compliments that have been
showered upon me both by the members of the Assembly as well as by my
colleagues of the Drafting Committee I feel so overwhelmed that I cannot find
adequate words to express fully my gratitude to them. I came into the
Constituent Assembly with no greater aspiration than to safeguard the interests
of the Scheduled Castes. I had not the remotest idea that I would be called
upon to undertake more responsible functions. I was therefore greatly surprised
when the Assembly elected me to the Drafting Committee. I was more than
surprised when the Drafting Committee elected me to be its Chairman. There were
in the Drafting Committee men bigger, better and more competent than myself
such as my friend Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar. I am grateful to the
Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee for reposing in me so much
trust and confidence and to have chosen me as their instrument and given me
this opportunity of serving the country. (Cheers)</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><span>The credit that is given to me does not really belong to me. It
belongs partly to Sir B.N. Rau, the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent
Assembly who prepared a rough draft of the Constitution for the consideration
of the Drafting Committee. A part of the credit must go to the members of the
Drafting Committee who, as I have said, have sat for 141 days and without whose
ingenuity of devise new formulae and capacity to tolerate and to accommodate
different points of view, the task of framing the Constitution could not have
come to so successful a conclusion. Much greater, share of the credit must go
to Mr. S.N. Mukherjee, the Chief </span><span>Drafts man</span><span> of the Constitution. His ability to
put the most intricate proposals in the simplest and clearest legal form can
rarely be equaled, nor his capacity for hard work. He has been an acquisition
to the Assembly. Without his help, this Assembly would have taken many more
years to finalise the Constitution. I must not omit to mention the members of
the staff working under Mr. Mukherjee. For, I know how hard they have worked
and how long they have toiled sometimes even beyond midnight. I want to thank
them all for their effort and their co-operation.(Cheers)</span></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The task of the Drafting Committee would have been a very
difficult one if this Constituent Assembly has been merely a motley crowd, a
tessellated pavement without cement, a black stone here and a white stone there
is which each member or each group was a law unto itself. There would have been
nothing but chaos. This possibility of chaos was reduced to nil by the
existence of the Congress Party inside the Assembly which brought into its
proceedings a sense of order and discipline. It is because of the discipline of
the Congress Party that the Drafting Committee was able to pilot the
Constitution in the Assembly with the sure knowledge as to the fate of each
article and each amendment. The Congress Party is, therefore, entitled to all
the credit for the smooth sailing of the Draft Constitution in the Assembly.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The proceedings of this Constituent Assembly would have been
very dull if all members had yielded to the rule of party discipline. Party
discipline, in all its rigidity, would have converted this Assembly into a
gathering of yes’ men. Fortunately, there were rebels. They were Mr. Kamath,
Dr. P.S. Deshmukh, Mr. Sidhva, Prof. K.T. Shah and Pandit Hirday Nath Kunzru.
The points they raised were mostly ideological. That I was not prepared to
accept their suggestions does not diminish the value of their suggestions nor
lessen the service they have rendered to the Assembly in enlivening its proceedings.
I am grateful to them. But for them, I would not have had the opportunity which
I got for expounding the principles underlying the Constitution which was more
important than the mere mechanical work of passing the Constitution.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finally, I must thank you Mr. President for the way in which you
have conducted the proceedings of this Assembly. The courtesy and the
consideration which you have shown to the Members of the Assembly can never be
forgotten by those who have taken part in the proceedings of this Assembly.
There were occasions when the amendments of the Drafting Committee were sought
to be barred on grounds purely technical in their nature. Those were very
anxious moments for me. I am, therefore, especially grateful to you for not
permitting legalism to defeat the work of Constitution-making.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As much defense as could be offered to the constitution has been
offered by my friends Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar and Mr. T.T.
Krishnamachari. I shall not therefore enter into the merits of the
Constitution. Because I feel, however good a Constitution may be, it is sure to
turn out bad because those who are called to work it, happen to be a bad lot.
However bad a Constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are
called to work it, happen to be a good lot. The working of a Constitution does
not depend wholly upon the nature of the Constitution. The Constitution can
provide only the organs of State such as the Legislature, the Executive and the
Judiciary. The factors on which the working of those organs of the State
depends are the people and the political parties they will set up as their
instruments to carry out their wishes and their politics. Who can say how the
people of India and their purposes or will they prefer revolutionary methods of
achieving them? If they adopt the revolutionary methods, however good the
Constitution may be, it requires no prophet to say that it will fail. It is,
therefore, futile to pass any judgment upon the Constitution without reference
to the part which the people and their parties are likely to play.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The condemnation of the Constitution largely comes from two
quarters, the Communist Party and the Socialist Party. Why do they condemn the
Constitution? Is it because it is really a bad Constitution? I venture to say no’.
The Communist Party want a Constitution based upon the principle of the
Dictatorship of the Proletariat. They condemn the Constitution because it is
based upon parliamentary democracy. The Socialists want two things. The first
thing they want is that if they come in power, the Constitution must give them
the freedom to nationalize or socialize all private property without payment of
compensation. The second thing that the Socialists want is that the Fundamental
Rights mentioned in the Constitution must be absolute and without any
limitations so that if their Party fails to come into power, they would have
the unfettered freedom not merely to criticize, but also to overthrow the
State.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are the main grounds on which the Constitution is being
condemned. I do not say that the principle of parliamentary democracy is the
only ideal form of political democracy. I do not say that the principle of no
acquisition of private property without compensation is so sacrosanct that
there can be no departure from it. I do not say that Fundamental Rights can
never be absolute and the limitations set upon them can never be lifted. What I
do say is that the principles embodied in the Constitution are the views of the
present generation or if you think this to be an over-statement, I say they are
the views of the members of the Constituent Assembly. Why blame the Drafting
Committee for embodying them in the Constitution? I say why blame even the
Members of the Constituent Assembly? Jefferson, the great American statesman who
played so great a part in the making of the American constitution, has
expressed some very weighty views which makers of Constitution, can never
afford to ignore. In one place he has said:-</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “We
may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of
the majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding generation,
more than the inhabitants of another country.”</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In another place, he has said:</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The
idea that institutions established for the use of the nation cannot be touched
or modified, even to make them answer their end, because of rights gratuitously
supposed in those employed to manage them in the trust for the public, may
perhaps be a salutary provision against the abuses of a monarch, but is most
absurd against the nation itself. Yet our lawyers and priests generally
inculcate this doctrine, and suppose that preceding generations held the earth
more freely than we do; had a right to impose laws on us, unalterable by
ourselves, and that we, in the like manner, can make laws and impose burdens on
future generations, which they will have no right to alter; in fine, that the
earth belongs to the dead and not the living;”</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I admit that what Jefferson has said is not merely true, but is
absolutely true. There can be no question about it. Had the Constituent
Assembly departed from this principle laid down by Jefferson it would certainly
be liable to blame, even to condemnation. But I ask, has it? Quite the
contrary. One has only to examine the provision relating to the amendment of
the Constitution. The Assembly has not only refrained from putting a seal of
finality and infallibility upon this Constitution as in Canada or by making the
amendment of the Constitution subject to the fulfillment of extraordinary terms
and conditions as in America or Australia, but has provided a most facile
procedure for amending the Constitution. I challenge any of the critics of the
Constitution to prove that any Constituent Assembly anywhere in the world has,
in the circumstances in which this country finds itself, provided such a facile
procedure for the amendment of the Constitution. If those who are dissatisfied
with the Constitution have only to obtain a 2/3 majority and if they cannot
obtain even a two-thirds majority in the parliament elected on adult franchise
in their favour, their dissatisfaction with the Constitution cannot be deemed
to be shared by the general public.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is only one point of constitutional import to which I
propose to make a reference. A serious complaint is made on the ground that
there is too much of centralization and that the States have been reduced to
Municipalities. It is clear that this view is not only an exaggeration, but is
also founded on a misunderstanding of what exactly the Constitution contrives
to do. As to the relation between the Centre and the States, it is necessary to
bear in mind the fundamental principle on which it rests. The basic principle
of Federalism is that the Legislative and Executive authority is partitioned
between the Centre and the States not by any law to be made by the Centre but
by the Constitution itself. This is what Constitution does. The States under
our Constitution are in no way dependent upon the Centre for their legislative
or executive authority. The Centre and the States are co-equal in this matter.
It is difficult to see how such a Constitution can be called centralism. It may
be that the Constitution assigns to the Centre too large a field for the
operation of its legislative and executive authority than is to be found in any
other federal Constitution. It may be that the residuary powers are given to
the Centre and not to the States. But these features do not form the essence of
federalism. The chief mark of federalism as I said lies in the partition of the
legislative and executive authority between the Centre and the Units by the
Constitution. This is the principle embodied in our constitution. There can be
no mistake about it. It is, therefore, wrong to say that the States have been
placed under the Centre. Centre cannot by its own will alter the boundary of
that partition. Nor can the Judiciary. For as has been well said:</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Courts
may modify, they cannot replace. They can revise earlier interpretations as new
arguments, new points of view are presented, they can shift the dividing line
in marginal cases, but there are barriers they cannot pass, definite
assignments of power they cannot reallocate. They can give a broadening
construction of existing powers, but they cannot assign to one authority powers
explicitly granted to another.”</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first charge of centralization defeating federalism must
therefore fall.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second charge is that the Centre has been given the power to
override the States. This charge must be admitted. But before condemning the
Constitution for containing such overriding powers, certain considerations must
be borne in mind. The first is that these overriding powers do not form the
normal feature of the constitution. Their use and operation are expressly
confined to emergencies only. The second consideration is: Could we avoid
giving overriding powers to the Centre when an emergency has arisen? Those who
do not admit the justification for such overriding powers to the Centre even in
an emergency do not seem to have a clear idea of the problem which lies at the
root of the matter. The problem is so clearly set out by a writer in that
well-known magazine “The Round Table” in its issue of December 1935 that I
offer no apology for quoting the following extract from it. Says the writer :</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Political
systems are a complex of rights and duties resting ultimately on the question,
to whom, or to what authority, does the citizen owe allegiance. In normal
affairs the question is not present, for the law works smoothly, and a man,
goes about his business obeying one authority in this set of matters and
another authority in that. But in a moment of crisis, a conflict of claims may
arise, and it is then apparent that ultimate allegiance cannot be divided. The
issue of allegiance cannot be determined in the last resort by a juristic
interpretation of statutes. The law must conform to the facts or so much the
worse for the law. When all formalism is stripped away, the bare question is,
what authority commands the residual loyalty of the citizen. Is it the Centre
or the Constituent State?”</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The solution of this problem depends upon one’s answer to this
question which is the crux of the problem. There can be no doubt that in the
opinion of the vast majority of the people, the residual loyalty of the citizen
in an emergency must be to the Centre and not to the Constituent States. For it
is only the Centre which can work for a common end and for the general
interests of the country as a whole. Herein lies the justification for giving
to all Centre certain overriding powers to be used in an emergency. And after
all what is the obligation imposed upon the Constituent States by these
emergency powers? No more than this – that in an emergency, they should take
into consideration alongside their own local interests, the opinions and interests
of the nation as a whole. Only those who have not understood the problem can
complain against it.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here I could have ended. But my mind is so full of the future of
our country that I feel I ought to take this occasion to give expression to
some of my reflections thereon. On 26th January 1950, India will be an
independent country (Cheers). What would happen to her independence? Will she
maintain her independence or will she lose it again? This is the first thought
that comes to my mind. It is not that India was never an independent country.
The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a
second time? It is this thought which makes me most anxious for the future.
What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost
her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of
her own people. In the invasion of Sind by Mahommed-Bin-Kasim, the military
commanders of King Dahar accepted bribes from the agents of Mahommed-Bin-Kasim
and refused to fight on the side of their King. It was Jaichand who invited
Mahommed Gohri to invade India and fight against Prithvi Raj and promised him
the help of himself and the Solanki Kings. When Shivaji was fighting for the
liberation of Hindus, the other Maratha noblemen and the Rajput Kings were
fighting the battle on the side of Moghul Emperors. When the British were
trying to destroy the Sikh Rulers, Gulab Singh, their principal commander sat
silent and did not help to save the Sikh Kingdom. In 1857, when a large part of
India had declared a war of independence against the British, the Sikhs stood
and watched the event as silent spectators.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me
with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in
addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to
have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will
Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country?
I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above
country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be
lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be
determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.(Cheers)</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the 26th of January 1950, India would be a democratic country
in the sense that India from that day would have a government of the people, by
the people and for the people. The same thought comes to my mind. What would
happen to her democratic Constitution? Will she be able to maintain it or will
she lose it again. This is the second thought that comes to my mind and makes
me as anxious as the first.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is not that India did not know what is Democracy. There was a
time when India was studded with republics, and even where there were
monarchies, they were either elected or limited. They were never absolute. It
is not that India did not know Parliaments or Parliamentary Procedure. A study
of the Buddhist Bhikshu Sanghas discloses that not only there were
Parliaments-for the Sanghas were nothing but Parliaments – but the Sanghas knew
and observed all the rules of Parliamentary Procedure known to modern times.
They had rules regarding seating arrangements, rules regarding Motions,
Resolutions, Quorum, Whip, Counting of Votes, Voting by Ballot, Censure Motion,
Regularization, Res Judicata, etc. Although these rules of Parliamentary
Procedure were applied by the Buddha to the meetings of the Sanghas, he must
have borrowed them from the rules of the Political Assemblies functioning in
the country in his time.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This democratic system India lost. Will she lose it a second
time? I do not know. But it is quite possible in a country like India – where
democracy from its long disuse must be regarded as something quite new – there
is danger of democracy giving place to dictatorship. It is quite possible for
this new born democracy to retain its form but give place to dictatorship in
fact. If there is a landslide, the danger of the second possibility becoming
actuality is much greater.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in
fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgment we must do is to hold
fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives.
It means we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It means that we
must abandon the method of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha.
When there was no way left for constitutional methods for achieving economic
and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for
unconstitutional methods. But where constitutional methods are open, there can
be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are
nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the
better for us.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second thing we must do is to observe the caution which John
Stuart Mill has given to all who are interested in the maintenance of
democracy, namely, not “to lay their liberties at the feet of even a great man,
or to trust him with power which enable him to subvert their institutions”.
There is nothing wrong in being grateful to great men who have rendered
life-long services to the country. But there are limits to gratefulness. As has
been well said by the Irish Patriot Daniel O’Connell, no man can be grateful at
the cost of his honour, no woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity
and no nation can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. This caution is far
more necessary in the case of India than in the case of any other country. For
in India, Bhakti or what may be called the path of devotion or hero-worship,
plays a part in its politics unequalled in magnitude by the part it plays in
the politics of any other country in the world. Bhakti in religion may be a
road to the salvation of the soul. But in politics, Bhakti or hero-worship is a
sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The third thing we must do is not to be content with mere
political democracy. We must make our political democracy a social democracy as
well. Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it
social democracy. What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life which
recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life. These
principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are not to be treated as
separate items in a trinity. They form a union of trinity in the sense that to
divorce one from the other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Liberty
cannot be divorced from equality; equality cannot be divorced from liberty. Nor
can liberty and equality be divorced from fraternity. Without equality, liberty
would produce the supremacy of the few over the many. Equality without liberty
would kill individual initiative. Without fraternity, liberty and equality
could not become a natural course of things. It would require a constable to
enforce them. We must begin by acknowledging the fact that there is complete
absence of two things in Indian Society. One of these is equality. On the
social plane, we have in India a society based on the principle of graded
inequality which we have a society in which there are some who have immense
wealth as against many who live in abject poverty. On the 26th of January 1950,
we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have
equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics
we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one
value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and
economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How
long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions? How long shall we
continue to deny equality in our social and economic life? If we continue to
deny it for long, we will do so only by putting our political democracy in
peril. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or
else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political
democracy which this Assembly has so laboriously built up.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second thing we are wanting in is recognition of the
principle of fraternity. what does fraternity mean? Fraternity means a sense of
common brotherhood of all Indians-if Indians being one people. It is the
principle which gives unity and solidarity to social life. It is a difficult
thing to achieve. How difficult it is, can be realized from the story related
by James Bryce in his volume on American Commonwealth about the United States
of America.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The story is- I propose to recount it in the words of Bryce
himself- that-</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 11.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 11.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Some
years ago the American Protestant Episcopal Church was occupied at its
triennial Convention in revising its liturgy. It was thought desirable to
introduce among the short sentence prayers a prayer for the whole people, and
an eminent New England divine proposed the words ‘O Lord, bless our nation’.
Accepted one afternoon, on the spur of the moment, the sentence was brought up
next day for reconsideration, when so many objections were raised by the laity
to the word ‘nation’ as importing too definite a recognition of national unity,
that it was dropped, and instead there were adopted the words ‘O Lord, bless
these United States.”</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was so little solidarity in the U.S.A. at the time when
this incident occurred that the people of America did not think that they were
a nation. If the people of the United States could not feel that they were a
nation, how difficult it is for Indians to think that they are a nation. I remember
the days when politically-minded Indians, resented the expression “the people
of India”. They preferred the expression “the Indian nation.” I am of opinion
that in believing that we are a nation, we are cherishing a great delusion. How
can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation? The sooner we
realize that we are not as yet a nation in the social and psychological sense
of the world, the better for us. For then only we shall realize the necessity
of becoming a nation and seriously think of ways and means of realizing the
goal. The realization of this goal is going to be very difficult – far more
difficult than it has been in the United States. The United States has no caste
problem. In India there are castes. The castes are anti-national. In the first
place because they bring about separation in social life. They are
anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste
and caste. But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a
nation in reality. For fraternity can be a fact only when there is a nation.
Without fraternity, equality and liberty will be no deeper than coats of paint.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These are my reflections about the tasks that lie ahead of us.
They may not be very pleasant to some. But there can be no gainsaying that
political power in this country has too long been the monopoly of a few and the
many are only beasts of burden, but also beasts of prey. This monopoly has not
merely deprived them of their chance of betterment; it has sapped them of what
may be called the significance of life. These down-trodden classes are tired of
being governed. They are impatient to govern themselves. This urge for
self-realization in the down-trodden classes must not be allowed to devolve
into a class struggle or class war. It would lead to a division of the House.
That would indeed be a day of disaster. For, as has been well said by Abraham
Lincoln, a House divided against itself cannot stand very long. Therefore, the
sooner room is made for the realization of their aspiration, the better for the
few, the better for the country, the better for the maintenance for its
independence and the better for the continuance of its democratic structure.
This can only be done by the establishment of equality and fraternity in all
spheres of life. That is why I have laid so much stresses on them.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Verdana","sans-serif"" style="color: #666666; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not wish to weary the House any further. Independence is no
doubt a matter of joy. But let us not forget that this independence has thrown
on us great responsibilities. By independence, we have lost the excuse of
blaming the British for anything going wrong. If hereafter things go wrong, we
will have nobody to blame except ourselves. There is great danger of things
going wrong. Times are fast changing. People including our own are being moved
by new ideologies. They are getting tired of Government by the people. They are
prepared to have Governments for the people and are indifferent whether it is
Government of the people and by the people. If we wish to preserve the
Constitution in which we have sought to enshrine the principle of Government of
the people, for the people and by the people, let us resolve not to be tardy in
the recognition of the evils that lie across our path and which induce people
to prefer Government for the people to Government by the people, nor to be weak
in our initiative to remove them. That is the only way to serve the country. I
know of no better.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Montserrat","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-36940364380440516642023-11-15T10:17:00.001+03:002023-11-15T10:18:15.250+03:00Book on Babasaheb Ambedkar Launched by MP Sushil Rinku <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in right 6.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Book on Babasaheb Ambedkar Launched by MP Sushil Rinku<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The book - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some Random
Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy: The Bits and Pieces</b> was
launched on November 14, 2023 at a brief and solemn function. The book, written
by Ambassador Ramesh Chander, a</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbn7el0wS2xouQnCkEYyqfXp8MY27ELdub2X6VB600g97ofmI8ip4Huk17SecGN_CO0Lxz2vSDktl2EOOL6R6_hvMgwVvBHL8Xjs_9UwrkgZ70Tuh4jpo7bn9CtY3QecQtiweIxi2Ya0dGo96E68n1yrSe9nKvcLf1bJDUfu2-U3NefGmEC-M7g3L4Ic/s1152/1699961646701.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbn7el0wS2xouQnCkEYyqfXp8MY27ELdub2X6VB600g97ofmI8ip4Huk17SecGN_CO0Lxz2vSDktl2EOOL6R6_hvMgwVvBHL8Xjs_9UwrkgZ70Tuh4jpo7bn9CtY3QecQtiweIxi2Ya0dGo96E68n1yrSe9nKvcLf1bJDUfu2-U3NefGmEC-M7g3L4Ic/w400-h300/1699961646701.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> retired career diplomat, is a compilation of
his blogs written over the recent years on the thought and legacy of his icon,
Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The foreword of the book has been written
by a staunch Ambedkarite, Arun Kumar, Secretary General of the Federation of
Buddhist and Ambedkarite Organisations of the UK.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arun Kumar rightly noted, “Ambedkarism is a
modern and democratic approach for the empowerment and emancipation of a common
man. It is a symbol of equality and the urge for humanism. It is a thirst for
knowledge.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Underlining the relevance
of Dr. Ambedkar, the author wrote in the Preface of the book, “…the more I read
him the more I am convinced that Ambedkar was a visionary leader by his own
standing.” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The book was release by the dynamic
politician and MP of Jalandhar, Sushil Rinku</b>. Appreciating the book and its
author MP Sushil Rinku</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgDHQiLx89HVlcKP3_t6mAzENwuTYiVIrH0VlbS_QYBfPUayNkfQ01SiasA-Z2FK8kogqjN_pc63kmadtGBRj4NEF4VxvcaXTgwJZ1zrGcAxVh1jO6Z5Ydu_8AG4s5mO3apoDGYuVa-eMDUDjmlSwaH0963gCUQqKPzl8XZJbCbIo9LM6tMRurUGE19g/s1152/1699961583417.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgDHQiLx89HVlcKP3_t6mAzENwuTYiVIrH0VlbS_QYBfPUayNkfQ01SiasA-Z2FK8kogqjN_pc63kmadtGBRj4NEF4VxvcaXTgwJZ1zrGcAxVh1jO6Z5Ydu_8AG4s5mO3apoDGYuVa-eMDUDjmlSwaH0963gCUQqKPzl8XZJbCbIo9LM6tMRurUGE19g/w400-h300/1699961583417.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> said,”Ambassador Ramesh Chander is doing a great job in
educating and awakening of the community through writings and public
interaction by way of lectures and talks.” Referring to book he said that he
was confident that his excellent proposal to declare April 14, birthday of
Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality would certainly be
accepted and that it was no more possible to ignore Babasaheb Ambedkar by
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A renowned writer and retired Post Master General of Punjab, Col. Tilak
Raj </b>briefly spoke about the book and said that it was a bouquet of thoughts
of one of the greatest sons of India and added that the younger generation
would <span>find it informative and educative. Paramjit Mahey while
proposing the vote of thanks appreciated the involvement of MP Sushil Rinku in
the community matters said that he was condent that Hon’ble MP would take up
the proposal on International Day of Equality appropriately in the parliament.
Mahesh Chander aptly anchored the book release ceremony.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It may be added that this was the second book of Ambassador
Ramesh</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1GuBtwvJkAJwGDBNFcfL698weBsI8ONOQcazUGwz29-IL2Vt_GShx8gzhzqjm5vTR-VJE_6nAG1XJ1-36wVRseyeUdWf7MzhRZdz-QhNRPNqtIdhmERflFvUPIPEprW23ztbnrX1z1Ep5JEK1nfttqCdZf1wJnJaOdz9Wdn0NgaGCdnFoP3SM9RkSco/s1600/1699961250416.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1GuBtwvJkAJwGDBNFcfL698weBsI8ONOQcazUGwz29-IL2Vt_GShx8gzhzqjm5vTR-VJE_6nAG1XJ1-36wVRseyeUdWf7MzhRZdz-QhNRPNqtIdhmERflFvUPIPEprW23ztbnrX1z1Ep5JEK1nfttqCdZf1wJnJaOdz9Wdn0NgaGCdnFoP3SM9RkSco/w300-h400/1699961250416.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Chander; his first book: The Bits and Pieces – Reminiscences and
Reflections of a Novice was also released a couple of years ago by Shri Sushil
Rinku.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It is a matter of gratification to note that the book Some
Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy includes a word of thanks
and appreciation for the Editor-in-Chief of the Ambedkar Times, Prem Chumber
which is extracted below:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Thanks with a sense of
Gratitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ambedkar Times Inc. of California (USA) headed by a dynamic
Editor and Publisher, Prem Chumber has very kindly and thoughtfully extended
editorial and financial help in publishing this book “Some Random Thoughts on
Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy: The</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEQA1D2bUj8_JH1AyHb_xwLsQ9VwYupmnk2tejRJuFfFaw3cE7wCwRG3srnAhAsSNuJ5GK7u13sZS1jDcYcF6sXZBPP6DR5GkG7mi1HLJK_x2ALMrsvDyiyd2pG_j-o6Fsl5IbDP8SLEPppQl8K66EWq_bn4L5NE_iR-cLrccsiVcl5uP1K8duIitikI/s211/with%20Chumber.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="175" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEQA1D2bUj8_JH1AyHb_xwLsQ9VwYupmnk2tejRJuFfFaw3cE7wCwRG3srnAhAsSNuJ5GK7u13sZS1jDcYcF6sXZBPP6DR5GkG7mi1HLJK_x2ALMrsvDyiyd2pG_j-o6Fsl5IbDP8SLEPppQl8K66EWq_bn4L5NE_iR-cLrccsiVcl5uP1K8duIitikI/s1600/with%20Chumber.jpg" width="175" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Bits and Pieces”. The Group publishes
two mouth-pieces of the weaker sections of the society, The Ambedkar Times in
English and The Desh Doaba in Punjabi which are fully dedicated to the thought
and mission of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia and Manyawar Kanshi
Ram. For more information, their Website may be visited: <a href="http://www.ambedkartimes.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">www.ambedkartimes.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I thank Prem Chumber Sahib with a sense of gratitude for the
generosity in helping me in publishing this book to carry the ‘caravan’ of
Babasaheb Ambedkar forward in a humble way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">(A<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">mbassador
Ramesh Chander)<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Jalandhar, September, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-31107311909987142022023-11-04T17:09:00.004+03:002023-11-05T07:18:59.875+03:00My friend and fellow BootanMandian – Ram Lal Dass: Flag-bearer of Pay Back to Society<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">My friend and fellow
BootanMandian – Ram Lal Dass:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Flag-bearer of Pay Back to Society<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought of writing
with a sense of appreciation and gratitude about one of my close friends and a
fellow BootanMandian, Ram Lal Dass, a retired senior banker. We both are
alumnus of Jalandhar DAV College and spent our formative years in the college
and back home</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT4jNQcMTuNosyorvDc0jYfgTskwnuIH1HMWLS23BwvJ9L1oLGGpscbFo8OoGNjOA8xUO5wFDKl4WHRfXPT7pYSXedMH2D7xuYxL4g51InJA6MiVcaOs7wK9Yxj98zQmmUj9DV8NSVTCHjVvJcUw9f23cIkua4VAmw3gd7Dk63DK2SraGAOuXWNuMGRY/s1600/1699087847606.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIT4jNQcMTuNosyorvDc0jYfgTskwnuIH1HMWLS23BwvJ9L1oLGGpscbFo8OoGNjOA8xUO5wFDKl4WHRfXPT7pYSXedMH2D7xuYxL4g51InJA6MiVcaOs7wK9Yxj98zQmmUj9DV8NSVTCHjVvJcUw9f23cIkua4VAmw3gd7Dk63DK2SraGAOuXWNuMGRY/w266-h400/1699087847606.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> at Bootan Mandi till we parted company in the pursuit of our
respective careers to earn our bread and butter. After retirement and return
back to our roots, we picked up the threads and started meeting off and on for
“Gapp Chapp’ and exchange of views on matters of concern and interest to the
community and the society at large. Unlike me; a freelancer, Ram Lal is a
dedicated social activist, an ardent Ambedkarite and a devoted Buddhist with
deep study and knowledge of socio-political issues concerning the weaker
sections of the society – a flag-bearer of the lofty ideal of ‘Paying back to
society’. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">The immediate reference point is – Ram Lal donated more than
100 books with almirah and Rs. 10000/- to APJ Abdul Kalam Library of Babasaheb
Bhim Rao Ambedkar Government Co-education College</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamZLrKz2GFs62hqScoEek72jKFTAuCF3Fl01Vk6RW6FG7VRYKeVEPnRdHiBJ5q1rU5xaeCMWd65cx0uKxN7pFjlJTZe5hm4FfFqsnvc7hYm2Vuo6XEhv-0GEPh_HHOtjwF66qo0GaF0G882Ka9s115FHcE-Zd84RHO38ALGkUkIEKX_XgMSHxKE4jCx8/s1600/1699087847663.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamZLrKz2GFs62hqScoEek72jKFTAuCF3Fl01Vk6RW6FG7VRYKeVEPnRdHiBJ5q1rU5xaeCMWd65cx0uKxN7pFjlJTZe5hm4FfFqsnvc7hYm2Vuo6XEhv-0GEPh_HHOtjwF66qo0GaF0G882Ka9s115FHcE-Zd84RHO38ALGkUkIEKX_XgMSHxKE4jCx8/w400-h266/1699087847663.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> of Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar
at a solemn function on November 2, 2023. Most of the books pertain to
Babasaheb Ambedkar including several volumes of Speeches and Writings and
Debates of the Constituent Assembly published by the Government of India and
subjects relating to weaker sections of the society. Ram Lal was kind enough to
invite me to the function as a Guest of Honour along with our common friend IPS
Malkit Singh. The function happened to be a rewarding event, as the college
under the stewardship of Principal Dr. Chander Kanta and her deputy, Dr Harblas
Heer very thoughtfully, made it a session to discuss and ponder upon the lofty
ideal of ‘Paying back to society’ in appreciation of Ram Lal’s gesture of
‘Kitabon Ka Langar’ as instantly termed by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malkit Singh in a lighter vein. Keeping with
Babasaheb’s and also that of Ram Lal’s spiritual affiliation to Buddhism, the
function was started with the invocation of ‘Tri-sharan – Buddham Sharnam
Gachshami’ and rightly so. Principal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF23_-GHFc7-IiKsrPhGNrbhhyphenhyphenkQg9o6OGvWl72y3AkV_Ao5_nNmWZ127rBzxGD6fQ8-Pl2_NaAyYU8o0K8F2SRuqQWTr530cDjiZyjxGbRzaU_vLEZNW5mHeBUaWY_49SfLwE54rGc3xyz6j5v8nF0-sQSOSvy5Lb33ye9MzYRWW2nkgRmb2EpT4SAVg/s1600/1699087847353.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF23_-GHFc7-IiKsrPhGNrbhhyphenhyphenkQg9o6OGvWl72y3AkV_Ao5_nNmWZ127rBzxGD6fQ8-Pl2_NaAyYU8o0K8F2SRuqQWTr530cDjiZyjxGbRzaU_vLEZNW5mHeBUaWY_49SfLwE54rGc3xyz6j5v8nF0-sQSOSvy5Lb33ye9MzYRWW2nkgRmb2EpT4SAVg/w400-h225/1699087847353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Chander Kanta, welcoming the guests and
thanking Ram Lal Dass and his gracious wife Chindo Rani for their praiseworthy
gesture of donating the books, made a thought provoking short speech motivating
the students to learn from our forefathers and icons. She noted with
satisfaction that the newly opened college in the name of one of the greatest
sons of India was doing well with more than 700 students, not a small
achievement in only a couple of years. Apart from the Guests of Honour, the
speakers were carefully and thoughtfully picked – Social activist, Harmesh
Jassal spoke on the importance and value of books quoting the world renowned
intellectuals and narrated a couple of anecdotes from the life of Babasaheb
Ambedkar with regard to his love of books; Teacher Asha Kler, belonging to the
iconic family of Seth Kishan Dass of Bootan Mandi, motivated the students to
take advantage of the library and the books donated by Ram Lal and thoughtfully
recited a poem of the worthy son of Bootan Mandi, Pritam Ramdasspuri :<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਗਿਆਨ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਦਾ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਭੰਡਾਰ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਹੈ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਐ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਭੀਮ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਤੇਰੀ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਹਰ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਕਿਤਾਬ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 326.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਲਿਖਤ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਤੇਰੀ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਬੇਮਿਸ਼ਾਲ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਹੈ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਤਰਕ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਤੇਰੇ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face=""Raavi","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">ਲਾਜ਼ਬਾਬ</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">।</span><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Prof Dinesh Arora of the Political Science Department of DAV
College was really in his elements as an erudite motivational speaker. I could
sense that attentive audience of young students was fully engaged and listening
to Dr. Arora’s excellent presentation. Prof. Inderjit Kumar of St. Solider
Group of Colleges underlined the role of Babasaheb Ambedkar in making the
constitution of India and enlightened the audience of the current
socio-political scenario in the country; Guest of Honour, IPS Malkit Singh nostalgically
recalled their student days and narrated anecdotes as to how Ram Lal was
keeping the teachers and fellow students in awe of him on the Indian political
thought with reference to Ambedkar and view point of so called dalits on many
socio-cultural issues. He also added that the concept of ‘paying back to the
society’ should be recognized and accepted to establish a harmonious society
and informed as to how he and his family were doing their bit to help and
support the needy students and their parents in their native village Ballan of
Dera Sachkhand of Sant Sarwan Dass. In my brief remarks referring to the
thought provoking and educative inputs of the speakers and well planned and
conducted interaction, I humbly registered my love and affection for Ram Lal as
a good old friend and recalled his several</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjhwl25k3NazBNVmhDOf0xgayqi_KtOVvuH1yjAbb0GgxxsB0vo9vCtKMgefzTfGokhHTpaxkBgwipkA7J2bUGqiCOMfWxM2bph1L7biWT9fVI4x0EollijRp7ttf-i7Mya7rEmDiEAp_aRJsT5kQDwks_LHVKbT1BCiqVuS8tKA9QJYh2oZvL_V2Mo4/s1600/1699087847379.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjhwl25k3NazBNVmhDOf0xgayqi_KtOVvuH1yjAbb0GgxxsB0vo9vCtKMgefzTfGokhHTpaxkBgwipkA7J2bUGqiCOMfWxM2bph1L7biWT9fVI4x0EollijRp7ttf-i7Mya7rEmDiEAp_aRJsT5kQDwks_LHVKbT1BCiqVuS8tKA9QJYh2oZvL_V2Mo4/w400-h266/1699087847379.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> benevolent activities to pay back to
the society as a true follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Appreciating the progress
of the host College in a short span of time, I wished that one day Babasaheb
Bhim Rao Ambedkar College would be an acclaimed ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the
area in consonance with the motto of the College “Never Stop Learning”. Ram Lal
did his best with regard to the theme of the function - Free coaching classes
for young aspirants of jobs, publication and distribution of literature under
the aegis of Ambedkar Study Circle of which he was one of the founding members,
donation of books and almirah to Jalandhar DAV College and Samta Sainik Dal at
Chicholi <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Nagpur, adoption of schools
for much <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>help to students among some
more initiatives. I happened to be a witness to the handing over ceremony at
DAV College for the Ambedkar Study Corner in the Lajpat Rai Library. My blog on
the subject may be accessed at: <a href="https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/search?q=ambedkar+study+corner">https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/search?q=ambedkar+study+corner</a><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Ram Lal was thoughtful in presenting to Principal Chander
Kanta a brass bust of Babasaheb Amedkar and an enlarged photo of the Members of
the Constituent Assembly specially issued by the GOI in connection with the 125th
birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hz58vrWI4IxpVN8Lc-7vGiBYg9OGwS5Ycubny08L8eoUwzhBrknHgX98OKAq4aIqoIV8EOZR-8LVLML9xWhTRp9rsJHnSpHfZnisH8Sv1jQP6VjtqdK906sOJDtYGItIwbC9KUmRNcMyRzwm7n13KfoAL7IRPcar5pnhTaBFmDwkCAAODC6si2Up2gs/s1190/1698929567428.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1190" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hz58vrWI4IxpVN8Lc-7vGiBYg9OGwS5Ycubny08L8eoUwzhBrknHgX98OKAq4aIqoIV8EOZR-8LVLML9xWhTRp9rsJHnSpHfZnisH8Sv1jQP6VjtqdK906sOJDtYGItIwbC9KUmRNcMyRzwm7n13KfoAL7IRPcar5pnhTaBFmDwkCAAODC6si2Up2gs/w400-h246/1698929567428.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> 2015-16, both befitting mementos on
the occasion. Ram Lal was invited to speak and he reluctantly came to the
podium as by now his batteries were fully charged. While thanking the hosts led
by Principal Chander Kanta for arranging the books handing over ceremony which
eventually turned out to be full pledged session on Ambedkar and the lofty
ideal of paying back to the society, he said that it was his small bit to pay
back the debt of gratitude to our savior and benefactor, Babasaheb Ambedkar.
His utterly educative explanation of Babasaheb’s famous dictum: Educate –
Agitate – Organise was very good and useful to the young minds in the audience.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">This narration will not be complete if I don’t mention about
yet another highlight of the function – release of the College magazine – The
Samlok. The Chief Editor of the Magazine, Prof. Sukhpal Singh</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aTN-cCSsywekpOFbqTBmGGddmQEnIEoaaDWx9wgikvZwfpaE_Q_WooxEa2pLuQMXjhZSj8PRqkXMpEAlx9YBkPikScyWkwDU9X1Rn4O4mVCnBuqM5FOhuBZYnaHFglPIdS80RUZSqK-4Xx22Qs9FzQsHM5FlqV09Uv7-3mCSglqVvSyDFnwtV18dYxs/s2338/Lease%20Agreement%20IFS%20Villas%20-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2338" data-original-width="1700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aTN-cCSsywekpOFbqTBmGGddmQEnIEoaaDWx9wgikvZwfpaE_Q_WooxEa2pLuQMXjhZSj8PRqkXMpEAlx9YBkPikScyWkwDU9X1Rn4O4mVCnBuqM5FOhuBZYnaHFglPIdS80RUZSqK-4Xx22Qs9FzQsHM5FlqV09Uv7-3mCSglqVvSyDFnwtV18dYxs/w291-h400/Lease%20Agreement%20IFS%20Villas%20-2.jpg" width="291" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> Thind informed
that it was the second number of the publication which they could manage in
spite many difficulties in these days of financial crunch. He aptly quoted
Surjit Patter to keep the flag flying as it was difficult even for the old and
established colleges to publish or continue publishing their annual magazines. It
was a matter of satisfaction that they could do it. Congratulations to the
Chief Editor of the Samlok and his team and also to the young and budding writers
and contributors. Vice Principal, Dr. Harblas Heera conducted and steered the function
with aplomb and insight of a scholar of standing. Thanks a lot. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-86370132169884246992023-11-01T16:33:00.001+03:002023-11-01T16:33:37.997+03:00Honoured to be Associated with Dr. Ambedkar Foundation <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Honoured to be
Associated with Dr. Ambedkar Foundation</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It is a matter of satisfaction for me that Chairman of Dr.
Ambedkar Foundation and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Hon'ble
Virendra Kumar of the Government India has nominated me as Member of the
General Body of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation on October 26, 2023 for three years.
Dr. Ambedkar Foundation was</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMH_t_bq4hE0zmlibKVXDCC2bbzc5vdWa2-iCX_VNPxacj3ckWZAnWnd2BF3NEI5j_UGJiDcc-Cq0wHiHeZRP5dJ0eWZnbC8bT7jV847eQaEUSupjnpr6FPRtFRi7ZE1R6lDHZtGShXe95S5IX5PLtYh13-HnwGlyQ9ZqPUpvs4g3gbjme_v7xvov-kcs/s4165/IMG_2947.,l,kmjn;lkoikjuh.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3833" data-original-width="4165" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMH_t_bq4hE0zmlibKVXDCC2bbzc5vdWa2-iCX_VNPxacj3ckWZAnWnd2BF3NEI5j_UGJiDcc-Cq0wHiHeZRP5dJ0eWZnbC8bT7jV847eQaEUSupjnpr6FPRtFRi7ZE1R6lDHZtGShXe95S5IX5PLtYh13-HnwGlyQ9ZqPUpvs4g3gbjme_v7xvov-kcs/w400-h368/IMG_2947.,l,kmjn;lkoikjuh.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> established by the Government of India
on March 24, 1992. The main objective of the Foundation is to carry
out the programmes and activities for furthering of Dr.Ambedkar's ideology and
spread his message of social justice to the masses not only in Bharat but also
abroad. ‘The Foundation has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing,
administering and carrying on the important and long-term schemes and
programmes identified during the Centenary Celebrations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar‘
as stated in the official website of the Foundation. With a view to educate
myself so that I am able to contribute my humble bit to the functioning of the
esteemed Foundation, I would find out and study more details in the process as
a humble Ambedkarite. Babasaheb Ambedkar is one of the greatest sons of Bharat.
His thought and legacy is very potent and relevant to address the challenges of
polity and society to make India that <o:p></o:p><span>is Bharat a developed country by 2047 as
visualized by PM Narendra Modi with the agenda – Sab Ka Vikas, Sab Ka Sath, Sab
Ka Biswash and Sab Ka Pryas. I think it is the right approach in accordance
with the provisions of the constitution of India and also the lofty ideals of
culture and tradition of an inclusive society maintaining the existing edifice
of ‘unity in diversity’.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I will utilize my association with Dr. Ambedkar Foundation to
carry forward the 'Caravan' of Babasaheb Ambedkar and vigorously pursue the
proposal on April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, to be declared as
International Day of Equality which is resting with the GOI since June, 2015. I
am confident that I will convince my colleagues at the General Body of the
Foundation to support the proposal and urge the Foundation to take up the
matter with PM Narendra Modi and EAM Dr. Jaishankar to honour one of the
greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar. It is a befitting initiative not
only to carry forward the agenda of ‘social empowerment’ of ‘We the people of
India’ but also for the entire world under the aegis of the UN to add yet
another feather in the ‘Soft and Cultural Diplomacy’ of India keeping in line
with October 2, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi as International Day of Non Violence
and International Yoga Day. The current ruling dispensation under the
leadership of PM Narendra Modi has already taken many initiatives and did their
best to recognize the icon, Babasaheb</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I12p0CpX4nJpKjBTGW_Js9iwZx53sMi9KXhLGXf1VbJiNtu0xLEIIXzhkFXXooHswIRR15oRJLIugU2U-5wz9Q70GtRbm4p0c_wlmfnX9xu4s7DeLQB6BQw9B-hC_5pXYWlkVuYAJ6nlSS6uNHbQsNE31dF0rBJ9TR55nGgeNiS4y7r5lzpRVoLDjjs/s800/amb-london.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="800" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I12p0CpX4nJpKjBTGW_Js9iwZx53sMi9KXhLGXf1VbJiNtu0xLEIIXzhkFXXooHswIRR15oRJLIugU2U-5wz9Q70GtRbm4p0c_wlmfnX9xu4s7DeLQB6BQw9B-hC_5pXYWlkVuYAJ6nlSS6uNHbQsNE31dF0rBJ9TR55nGgeNiS4y7r5lzpRVoLDjjs/w400-h289/amb-london.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Ambedkar namely; Celebrated Ambedkar’s
125<sup>th</sup> Centenary Celebrations in 2015-16, Established Ambedkar
Memorial at Alipur Road in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Delhi, Established
Ambedkar International Centre at Janpath, New Delhi, Ambedkar Memorial at
London among others. I would do my best as a Member of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation
to help and aide Chairman of the Foundation and Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar to formulate and execute more such initiatives
to realize the dreams of our forefathers to make India a leading power of the
world at large as communicated in my letter dated October 27, 2023 to the
Director of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Parveen Kumar Thind which is appended
below.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Text of my letter dated
October 27, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">October 27, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Dear Director Parveen Thind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fdwouV8QeyM9SzhZhWOGHNNMPraXOWxp_StPVNBm51qrfok7QrWdmHNOef3qA4mkB9iX3aJ3Bq8Ya9zwahriYdMKrWuvjV0YnGJf195sW_kH1gRGBtiXFJS_3JoTG1gI7XZOy6jIhHawoO4kGv5R_AXKjNbpEP-Fgq82T3gXj_4WxMYmeulf8Hv5GE/s170/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="170" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6fdwouV8QeyM9SzhZhWOGHNNMPraXOWxp_StPVNBm51qrfok7QrWdmHNOef3qA4mkB9iX3aJ3Bq8Ya9zwahriYdMKrWuvjV0YnGJf195sW_kH1gRGBtiXFJS_3JoTG1gI7XZOy6jIhHawoO4kGv5R_AXKjNbpEP-Fgq82T3gXj_4WxMYmeulf8Hv5GE/w400-h289/download.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">With reference to your Office Memorandum dated October 26,
2023<br /> nominating me as Member of the General Body of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, I
thank you and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hon’ble Minister of Social
Justice and Empowerment,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Virendra
Kumar for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>associating me with the
esteemed Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. I look forward to work with you as a humble
follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Frankly speaking, I don’t know as to what is expected of me.
I am confident that you and the Hon’ble Chairman of the Foundation would advise
and guide me in this regard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">While I appreciate the gesture of nominating me, I take the
liberty of asking you to share with me, just to satisfy my curiosity, who has
shown the magnanimity to suggest and propose my name to be nominated to the
position so that I could thank him for the favour. I attach my brief profile
for information and perusal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Yours truly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">(Ramesh Chander)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Shri Parveen Kumar
Thind,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Director -Dr. Ambedkar
Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Copy to</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">: Chairman of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation and Minister of Social Justice and
Empowerment, New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-60924683817141420112023-10-29T16:17:00.002+03:002023-10-29T16:18:06.862+03:00Model – UN 2023 at Police DAV Public School at Jalandhar<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Model – UN 2023 at
Police DAV Public School at Jalandhar <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmM8OzETdXWs56iLkJjQ7B0T4tRF9BN9N9V8eSWfINalAEKL31bjlUZa0fksdxqsBYOrfOiQWt-YgTz9OvEJvacj0Y0iAlpqE4jx5ldG-24wUxtU_0Nlb92xJAs4WaOb7LTO37dhsaVfWwn-h7Xu_0kTRhYupT_dfHyoRqLzLujKw1jSpcqGWjcEM42w/s1600/1698476869558.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmM8OzETdXWs56iLkJjQ7B0T4tRF9BN9N9V8eSWfINalAEKL31bjlUZa0fksdxqsBYOrfOiQWt-YgTz9OvEJvacj0Y0iAlpqE4jx5ldG-24wUxtU_0Nlb92xJAs4WaOb7LTO37dhsaVfWwn-h7Xu_0kTRhYupT_dfHyoRqLzLujKw1jSpcqGWjcEM42w/w266-h400/1698476869558.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On October 27, Police
DAV School, one of the best schools in the region, invited me to deliver a key
note address at the inaugural session of the annual event - Model UN. It was
the second time successively when the honours fell on me; courtesy Principal
Dr. Rashmi Vij, one of the finest and acclaimed academician and<br /> educational
administrator around. I write this with a sense of gratification in the process
of living my post retirement life as I find myself fully engaged in such
productive activities with a view to pay back to the society. As usual, Model –
UN 2023 was a well arranged and aptly conducted function under the stewardship
of Principal Dr. Rashmi Vij, an embodiment of culture and dignity with her
competent colleagues and Coordinators of M-UN; Balwinder Singh, Manoj Dutta, Sheema
Sharma among others. The well</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFktYFsEbp8JotXAEwNjzyNm-29BMiPxwT_VzoyGp57CuZqBqotQGLBo3VvQuZrxWB5TafamBfOaL-M6OqNdD_6vQoG5QMWupprCpnB6KeitPNc3ezGv-J5LbT2OFH3nS9Qz2_naGpFfXE1LUTj_-kyytQ462hDEQl2z1VTzUX0aTyD7381B4cAh5i3g/s1600/1698476869536.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFktYFsEbp8JotXAEwNjzyNm-29BMiPxwT_VzoyGp57CuZqBqotQGLBo3VvQuZrxWB5TafamBfOaL-M6OqNdD_6vQoG5QMWupprCpnB6KeitPNc3ezGv-J5LbT2OFH3nS9Qz2_naGpFfXE1LUTj_-kyytQ462hDEQl2z1VTzUX0aTyD7381B4cAh5i3g/w400-h266/1698476869536.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> planned and presented programme was interspersed
by cultural items of songs and dance by the talented students of the esteemed
school. The welcome speech of Principal Rashmi Vij was very inspiring and
thought provoking. Thanking me for joining them at M-UN, she said that since
the subject matter of the event was diplomacy and international affairs, it was
only appropriate to invite a speaker of relevant background. In my key note
address, while thanking the school management for inviting me again to the
event I said that I tended to accept such invitations without any hesitation
for my own somewhat selfish reasons. I utilize such opportunities to charge and
recharge my</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNxWf-1i4c016L127-23gQNG4c1wfMX8qe24F95S9opAgxIpGOkITXdUMCPVyz5VZl9DJOdIN1NrkmLrIfesgLZxsBHpyLpDPJXpHREqAiDPku70LGERfJXqHnpncZ33wcQR408AdiC1Lrhp1CoweqWnuyXBaRzT2UtJMRS5CqNbeOgqnW4TgspkjIU/s1600/1698476869491.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTNxWf-1i4c016L127-23gQNG4c1wfMX8qe24F95S9opAgxIpGOkITXdUMCPVyz5VZl9DJOdIN1NrkmLrIfesgLZxsBHpyLpDPJXpHREqAiDPku70LGERfJXqHnpncZ33wcQR408AdiC1Lrhp1CoweqWnuyXBaRzT2UtJMRS5CqNbeOgqnW4TgspkjIU/w400-h266/1698476869491.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> batteries by meeting and interacting with intellectuals and
academics and also young students which also further educate me. I briefly
touched on the role and contribution of India in the functioning of the UN and
added that India was yet to get its due and rightful place and space at the
Horse-shoe High Table of the Security Council of UN in New York. Lamenting on
the emerging situation in which UN was fast losing its relevance, I quoted a
diplomatic assertion, “What keeps me awake at night is the issue of relevance
of the UN”. Commenting on the evolving foreign policy of India, I said that it
was a matter of satisfaction that coming out of the ‘goody-goody’ phase, of
late, it had been observed that Indian foreign policy was getting pragmatic and
assertive and rightly so. Underlining the importance of such events, I informed
the young audience that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, father of the Indian constitution
delivered a historical and thought provoking lecture on Parliamentary Democracy
in India way back in October, 1951 at the session of the Mock-Parliament of
Jalandhar DAV College.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abhimanyun Rathore,
a talented and well-groomed student, declared the M-UN 2023 open with aplomb as
the SG of UN. Principal Rashmi Vij appreciating the role and contribution of</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplaah1rsgsAtSwUL8LstAnVyTQoMlji06rGkGPeu3ZvE5gpuxPmIzicZTzvuWTfYSXb4fvSN2qrL4klZcpevY7m6AnhgbDoG6jlUsl2eeWnzirU4wm3rTDDUm0GYn9cXqTCoyPwkyGKXnO6wc8cMJ6TK9daO_jmJdKFbCVlpDCLjcw8kDtZBhP5uu9gQ/s1600/1698476869404.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplaah1rsgsAtSwUL8LstAnVyTQoMlji06rGkGPeu3ZvE5gpuxPmIzicZTzvuWTfYSXb4fvSN2qrL4klZcpevY7m6AnhgbDoG6jlUsl2eeWnzirU4wm3rTDDUm0GYn9cXqTCoyPwkyGKXnO6wc8cMJ6TK9daO_jmJdKFbCVlpDCLjcw8kDtZBhP5uu9gQ/w400-h266/1698476869404.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
the entire team of young students of the school told me that they did most of
the things in-house with regard to the M-UN under the supervision of Tanvi
Khanna as Head of Operations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vivacious
duo of the school talent; Bhuvan and Niharika steered the function as skillful
Anchors. It was a pleasure to be there at the Police DAV – Model UN 2023.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bonus was to meet many of the worthy
Principals of the Schools in and around Jalandhar and also the grand-parents of
the SG Abhimanyun Rathor, dignified senior citizens belonging to an established
business family of Jalandhar. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Watching and listening to the young students performing and
participating in the M-UN 2023, it gave me feeling of satisfaction and a poetic
assertion came to my mind –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Tu Pehle Baat Phir Baat Ka Andaz Paida Kar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Phir Zamane Mein Tujhe Koi Nazar Andaz Kar Nahin Sakta<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-69818532632395786332023-10-20T16:51:00.002+03:002023-10-20T16:59:40.809+03:00Sheela Mahey: A Socio-Cultural Activist – An Obituary <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Sheela Mahey: A Socio-Cultural Activist – An Obituary <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Sheela Mahey, one of my fellow BootanMandians, passed away at
a young age of 57 on October17. Sheela, a home-maker, was the wife of Balwinder
Mahey, an established businessman in leather in</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP8C-8qKKyPtdRB_SeZeHh3uUStc5Aj5jsmFjoESZtvOOg-CYwGbCOb8eSyfdT08f9VmADIqCmwI0PuJWSvnMxmjr_W4qRB9_jcR_m3X7l7RXsYj1wcPpsZufFgHuLxcirS-gRXcub2JM7OQkRiZMsZoSAmn0r6PYWSonkh6dKD_svTfLrBTbV-bfMW0/s599/.,l,m.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiP8C-8qKKyPtdRB_SeZeHh3uUStc5Aj5jsmFjoESZtvOOg-CYwGbCOb8eSyfdT08f9VmADIqCmwI0PuJWSvnMxmjr_W4qRB9_jcR_m3X7l7RXsYj1wcPpsZufFgHuLxcirS-gRXcub2JM7OQkRiZMsZoSAmn0r6PYWSonkh6dKD_svTfLrBTbV-bfMW0/w374-h400/.,l,m.jpg" width="374" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Bootan Mandi. Balwinder is the
scion of the iconic family of Seth Khushi Ram, a community and political activist
of standing of his times some decades ago. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I don’t recall having met Sheela personally but I heard a lot
about her socio-cultural activism in and around Jalandhar for the benefit of
the community from my brother Paramjit and nephew Mahesh who themselves are
involved in community activities. Swami Balram Virdi of Bootan Mandi Satguru
Ravidass Dham, with whom Sheela and her team, were coordinating their activities;
particularly spiritual ones, also confirmed the appreciable role and
contribution of Sheela and her associates from Bootan Mandi and adjoining
localities towards social welfare n the area in the field of education,
environment, rations and medicines to the needy among other civic needs. Sheela
was spearheading these activities under the aegis of an organisation named after
Guru Ravidass as Mission Fateh, run with the voluntary financial contributions
generated by the organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of
the activities of Team Sheela, to my mind, are really thoughtful and must be
appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping with this
sense of appreciation and thanks for the work done by Sheela, I thought of
writing this obituary as my humble tribute to Sheela Mahey, my worthy fellow BootanMandian.
I was told that Sheela, while herself stranded in Canada, arranged rations to
the needy in the deadly pandemic Covid a couple of years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She catered to the requirements like
uniforms, stationery etc. of</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NH1X5z2hWdlgWQ-fjKc7FaZmHoIircpyrXqVRf0RH1LJ-xP6hFUVvVYIcr3kRGMBSuNvjQzlGKFVQFEaO7LgmjUrcFrXI8SZaDPSk-LqQ8wyxnh-HHqq9ikZ5-0WvRntaKLKmDFpOyKS1geHw_HfGjCl4vpa-xQ_GL8BA_BE7_asfsGY6-jp7xODxLk/s540/1697764428172.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="540" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NH1X5z2hWdlgWQ-fjKc7FaZmHoIircpyrXqVRf0RH1LJ-xP6hFUVvVYIcr3kRGMBSuNvjQzlGKFVQFEaO7LgmjUrcFrXI8SZaDPSk-LqQ8wyxnh-HHqq9ikZ5-0WvRntaKLKmDFpOyKS1geHw_HfGjCl4vpa-xQ_GL8BA_BE7_asfsGY6-jp7xODxLk/w400-h291/1697764428172.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> needy students of Bootan Mandi Schools. The
Satsang Mandali formed by Sheela and her associates Rani Puri, Ms. Narinder
Salhan and Sunena Chaudhary, granddaughter of yet another iconic BootanMandian,
Seth Kishan Dass of among others. Sheela was fully involved in the community
activities such as support and participation at Tughlakabad – Delhi (Guru
Ravidass Dharam Asthal) agitation, various protests and dharnas for the
dalit<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cause in and around Jalandhar and
beyond (providing of Langar Sewa and other amenities, help to the needy during
recent floods in Punjab through charities like Begumpura Aid and Akhari Umeed. She
was fully alive to the issue of clean air and environment in the area and under
tree plantation campaigns at various Deras like Sachkhand Ballan and Gurudawara
Sahib of Sant Sant Nirmal Dass Jaure. I am told that Sheela really thought big
and had many projects in the pipeline; like medicines at affordable prices and
providing training and support to the ladies for their startups. I have noted
and it has humbled me that she did all this without any fanfare and publicity
like a faceless diplomat. It is not an easy thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With the demise of Sheela Mahey, the community has lost a
huge asset. It is easy to say but difficult to do. Sheela did it. I salute her
and fully recognize her services to the community. May God grant peace to the
departed soul?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">बड़ी</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">मुश्किल</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">से</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">होता</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">है</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">चमन</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">में</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">दीदावर</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Mangal","serif"; line-height: 115%;">पैदा</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-80868462914117146722023-10-16T16:51:00.004+03:002023-10-16T16:54:25.885+03:00International Seminar on Life, Time and Philosophy of Satguru Ravidass ji<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">International Seminar on Life, Time
and Philosophy of Satguru Ravidass ji<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I
participated in the one day International Seminar on Life, Time and Philosophy
of Satguru Ravidass ji held on October 14, 2023 at Jawaharlal Nehru University
in New Delhi. The Seminar was organized jointly by JNU and British Ravidass
Heritage Foundation</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBxnS7riCi2lnet1ypUkHc2Gw5aJyrUdkYwslfzQUlxtcoCGgR01G7wj9OdUIqSr4f6LOxm2g5mNuuPYoYH2FvWUZnKZKnsHmauDQpC_ky_XNi0UG2mnP1Qp0Tb9RXYkdH8jnVGBU26duwQtgrf2vLc2ep7i0gfpy5Xs_3TtQX_XPCNl7-EVvKg_wQu0/s1128/1697334711946.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="1128" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBxnS7riCi2lnet1ypUkHc2Gw5aJyrUdkYwslfzQUlxtcoCGgR01G7wj9OdUIqSr4f6LOxm2g5mNuuPYoYH2FvWUZnKZKnsHmauDQpC_ky_XNi0UG2mnP1Qp0Tb9RXYkdH8jnVGBU26duwQtgrf2vLc2ep7i0gfpy5Xs_3TtQX_XPCNl7-EVvKg_wQu0/w400-h183/1697334711946.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> of the UK. It was a well participated and attended event
about which I will write separately. Today I will mention here only about my
Paper – Guru Ravidass: Harbinger of Social Harmony which I presented at the Second
Technical Session of the Seminar which was Chaired by Prof. Narendar Kumar of
JNU.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">In my
opening remarks while thanking the organizers, I said that I was there not as
any intellectual or authority on Guru Ravidass but as</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguqhX3cLlyW9FbLQlc4EUAn439rn0tv5RudnXoX2gJl2-Ox96UHDzKcDEeZKfwMhhhgjKXdI4O2q3MNzILI073ia_oUFxMAwjn92In7Chb4gq6hhBSYlbmWzFJkCLeG_WhJ6BIQJYeg5LebeHxk-v7TaDTT6ci0Cmcs8PhGzQrrKWlNRaefAagVEtROA/s5664/_DSC0341%20(1).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> a humble follower of the
great Guru to learn and educate myself from the learnered academics and
intellectuals in consonance with the thoughts of Guru Ravidass who said in his
lofty Vani:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3411" data-original-width="5664" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguqhX3cLlyW9FbLQlc4EUAn439rn0tv5RudnXoX2gJl2-Ox96UHDzKcDEeZKfwMhhhgjKXdI4O2q3MNzILI073ia_oUFxMAwjn92In7Chb4gq6hhBSYlbmWzFJkCLeG_WhJ6BIQJYeg5LebeHxk-v7TaDTT6ci0Cmcs8PhGzQrrKWlNRaefAagVEtROA/w400-h241/_DSC0341%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Tum Chandan Hum Rind Bapre Sang Tuhare Wasa;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Neech Rukh Te Unch Bhayo Hai Gandh Sugandh Niwasa <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Underlining the need to study and
analysis the philosophy of the Guru in these days of increasing animosity and
strife, I said that the thought of Guru Ravidass is as potent and relevant
today as it was before as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Shakti Bhi Shanti Bhi Bhakton Ke Geet Mein Hai;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Dharti Ke Wasion Ke Mukti Preet Mein Hai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Here is the Text of my Paper - Guru Ravidass: Harbinger of Social Harmony
</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass:
Harbinger of Social Harmony <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass, 16th century mystic saint and social reformer
of the Bhakti Movement was the harbinger of equality, fraternity and harmoy in
the society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leadership of the main-stream
of the society, these days, calls it ‘Samrasta’. The great Guru’s egalitarian
thoughts stood against the birth based caste-system and pleaded for brotherhood
as stipulated in his lofty Vani<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Keh Ravidass Khalas
Chamara; Jo Ham-Sehri So Meet Hamara<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass was a widely recognized and revered personality
of his times not only spiritually but also as a revolutionary social reformer.
As a voice of the underdog and discriminated segments of the society on account
of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Varna Vibastha</b>, Guru Ravidass
resolutely stood against all these inhuman and anti social practices. Guru
Ravidass’s teachings and philosophy, obviously, got wide spread acceptance and
recognition throughout India and proved itself revolutionary to reform the
society. His contemporaries like; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Guru
Nanak, Sant Kabir</b> among others fully supported Guru Ravidass ji who became
the flag bearer of egalitarian society with the lofty ideals of democratic
socialism as stipulated and propounded in his Vani:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Begumpura Sehar Ka
Naon; Dukh Andoh Nahin Jis Ke Thaon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It was a matter of great satisfaction that the Sikh Gurus,
fully understanding the social philosophy of Guru Ravidass, thoughtfully,
included his Vani in the Guru Granth Sahib. As such the teachings of the great
Guru got further currency and acceptance as a potent voice to reform the
society and live a pious life as dignified citizens and good human beings. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It is a matter of satisfaction that the very principles of
having a healthy society as followed and preached by Guru Ravidass found place
in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘secular, socialist and
democratic’</b> constitution of India written under the stewardship of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Babasaheb Ambedkar</b> who was greatly
impressed by the thoughts and legacy of the great Guru to establish an
inclusive society. Babasaheb Ambedkar dedicated one of his books, The
Untouchables, to Guru Ravidass and rightly so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass clearly laid the foundation of democratic
socialism in the present parlance of good governance and said:-<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Aaisa Chahun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Chot- Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Prasan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass’s
message of freedom of thought and expression and also of equitable social order
was candidly conveyed in his Vani. It certainly set the ball rolling to
establish a just order for the mankind. He fought against dominance and
subservience in the society. The revolutionary Guru said –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Pradheenta Paap Hai; Jan Lyo Re Meet,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ravidass Dass Pradheen Se Kaun Kare Hai Preet. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Guru Ravidass was dead
against the caste based discrimination prevailing in the society. He said –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Ravidass Janam Ke Karne
Hot Na Koi Neech<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It is a matter of gratification to note that, in spite of all
odds, our forefathers led by Babasaheb Ambedkar stipulated and codified the
lofty ideals of Guru Ravidass and others in the constitution of India to
abolish caste system and even provided for ‘affirmative’ actions in the form of
Reservations to the weaker sections of the society. One can safely say that
India is on track and has come a long way and perhaps has arrived. But still it
has to go a long way to reach. Guru Ravidass ji’s message of brotherhood,
fraternity and harmony is the only way to go ahead with our ‘Tryst with
Destiny”. The great Guru’s vision is fully conveyed in the poetic assertions of
one of the renowned Hindi poets, Maithli Saran Gupt –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Mein Nahin Sandesh Swarag Ka Laiya;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Iss Bhutal Ko Hi Swarag Banane Aaiya<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I referred to the
Samrasta agenda of the main stream of the society in the opening
paragraphs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me touch the subject
with a view to say that Guru Ravidass was the harbinger of Samrasta to transfor
the society and bring about a harmonious social order, the first requisite of a
cultured and humane society. I have no hesitation in registering my candid
support to the lofty idea of Samrasta in my own humble way as I am a firm believer
in ‘fraternity, harmony and brotherhood’ as a humble Ravidassia and an
Ambedkarite.<a name="5730758083015565598"></a> We need to come out of the ‘lip
service’ phase and do something concrete to reform the society. The sooner the
better. Guru Ravidass ji’s teachings and philosophy is as relevant and potent
today as it was in the medieval times. India is passing through challenging
times with increasing strife and communal tensions all around. If we really
intend to transform and reform of our society, we should study and practice the
lofty Vani of the great Guru. We are still to do a lot in this regard. I am
reminded of Allama Iqbal –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Iqbal Bada Updeshak Hai; Man Batton Se Moh Leta Hai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Gifftar Ka To Yeh Gazi Bana; Kirdar Ka Gazi Ban Na Saka<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With this, I take this
opportunity to pay my hearty tributes to the great social reformer,
revolutionary Guru and harbinger of a just and equitable social order and also
social harmony. Let us transform India that is Bharat into Begumpura – country
and society without sorrow and exploitation as visualized by the Great Guru. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-75816486387164551392023-10-08T17:23:00.001+03:002023-10-10T09:11:26.676+03:00Babu Kanshi Ram – A Tribute<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Babu Kanshi Ram – A
Tribute <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT6MB2JUDfg4A9xEyyhRpsD33utLhiaPffEd3UGgMa8MHIrSOEODyNVVwAA7WsvGZCMxDWR9uxc9o5eb4KNHP2FkfaBJdADDom6sfEjtdqh93sVX44BJJ-HP6Y0NOnFy8Lq5S_ELVRbn7ShY2OLz3pHAf73WVdaZwiPNOawrssXt_ywJSuGUD1YWrfrY/s300/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT6MB2JUDfg4A9xEyyhRpsD33utLhiaPffEd3UGgMa8MHIrSOEODyNVVwAA7WsvGZCMxDWR9uxc9o5eb4KNHP2FkfaBJdADDom6sfEjtdqh93sVX44BJJ-HP6Y0NOnFy8Lq5S_ELVRbn7ShY2OLz3pHAf73WVdaZwiPNOawrssXt_ywJSuGUD1YWrfrY/w400-h224/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">With the death of Babu Kanshi Ram on October 9, 2006, a wide
political vacuum was created in the dalit politics of the country, second time
after the parinirvan (death) of Babasaheb Ambedkar on December 6, 1956. The
vacuum is still wide open and it appears that the situation would persist for
years to come as no dalit leader is in<br /> sight that can fill the gap,
unfortunately. I wrote in my blogs about Babu Kanshi Ram and his legacy many a
times earlier too. I thought of writing and remembering the tall leader, Babu
Kanshi Ram, rightly called Bahujan Nayak, Manyawar and Saheb, on his death
anniversary as I find a lot of relevance and need of his views and thoughts in
the fast changing socio-political scenario of India that is Bharat. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Babu Kanshi Ram was not only an excellent organizer and
political strategist but also a visionary leader. He founded All India
Backwards (SC/ST/OBC) and Minorities Communities Employees' Federation <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">(</span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAMCEF" title="BAMCEF"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">BAMCEF</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit_Shoshit_Samaj_Sangharsh_Samiti" title="Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;"> (DS-4)
and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahujan_Samaj_Party" title="Bahujan Samaj Party"><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bahujan
Samaj Party</span></a><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"> (BSP)
which culminated in a political</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPp0dq_ptWtRNai1skerT7zr8qKDRV0LETz_I4I8-mt-m5QNx7Q-uGtNi7cZ7Uj5naP8W1_JXRePeg9osxRLEoIMyGAW3YXh3q-LMlV_nZI2wtIwhy75AeLUzlsmOmPcMIyLr21Wio2M0C4PqHW42p7-3ardxMviv5-LN1qfhuVckmAGlhKF-AdZJ9BE/s441/20604323_1556717054348910_9155868894241997924_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="441" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPp0dq_ptWtRNai1skerT7zr8qKDRV0LETz_I4I8-mt-m5QNx7Q-uGtNi7cZ7Uj5naP8W1_JXRePeg9osxRLEoIMyGAW3YXh3q-LMlV_nZI2wtIwhy75AeLUzlsmOmPcMIyLr21Wio2M0C4PqHW42p7-3ardxMviv5-LN1qfhuVckmAGlhKF-AdZJ9BE/s320/20604323_1556717054348910_9155868894241997924_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> force to reckon with in the coming years. His
political protégé, Kumari Mayawati; popularlarly called ‘Behnji’ became the CM
of UP for four times. During his life time, Kanshi Ram became a much sought
after political personality in political circles and corridors of power not
only in several states of India but also in New Delhi. Babu Kanshi Ram’s
untimely death in October, 2006 halted the ‘Caravan’ of Babasaheb Ambedkar very
skillfully steered by Babu Kanshi Ram. Kumari Mayawati and his followers could
not hold the flag and failed their iconic leader and the dalit masses. It is a
matter of great regret. Perhaps Babu Kanshi Ram has had an inkling of the
things to come after his death. One of my fellow BootanMandians and a friend,
Prem Shant in Jalandhar was close to<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYf6EsaOk0j7XFLIFUw5JcGXa3ejSxEo63gZamgggW1HLCIjRHo5L4tqSVEMZMfCPuey5DzLxGMYZTvmgScixOFwtPjLyHIrWqoU9cQYi2aZieYtEkWA-K7Lf8Hvx0mkQ_Qwqc0ZtK9f3EEC5ABYXo90-KEau084tAOkN7URfjbXFABfXhd-Sv1mKPUc/s915/1696902812375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="915" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYf6EsaOk0j7XFLIFUw5JcGXa3ejSxEo63gZamgggW1HLCIjRHo5L4tqSVEMZMfCPuey5DzLxGMYZTvmgScixOFwtPjLyHIrWqoU9cQYi2aZieYtEkWA-K7Lf8Hvx0mkQ_Qwqc0ZtK9f3EEC5ABYXo90-KEau084tAOkN7URfjbXFABfXhd-Sv1mKPUc/w400-h286/1696902812375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Prem Shant's residence in Jalandhar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Babu Kanshi Ram and Babu ji used to stay
with them quite often while in Jalandhar. He told me an interesting and
relevant anecdote. Once at a political rally in Jalandhar, on arrival of Kanshi
Ram, the crowd resorted to, as usual, in sloganeering ‘Kanshi Ram ji Sanghrash
Karo; Hum Tumhare Sath Hain” Kanshi Rsm whispered in a lighter vein “Han Tushin
Kuch Na Kariyo Sab Kuch Kanshi Ram Hi Kare”. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Just to register the potency of Babu Kanshi Ram’s thought and
mission, I will come to the current political scenario later in the narration.
Let me mention about an anecdote which I read in one of books on the dalit
icons, President K.R. Narayanan and Babu Kanshi Ram. One day, Babu Kanshi Ram
went to Rashrapati Bhawan to call on President K.R. Narayanan. After the
meeting, setting aside all protocols, President came to see off Babu ji to one
of the outer doors in spite of Kanshi Ram’s pleas that he should maintain the
laid down protocol norms and let him go. President in his elements said in
great humility that there would be many Presidents in the future but there may
not be another Kanshi Ram in the years to come in the near future. India is
India because of such great leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Now I come to the current scenario. Some time ago, I wrote as
to how the various political dispensations like BJP and even RSS and also
Congress Party and numerous regional outfits were keen to own and appropriate
Kanshi Ram and his legacy for political gains. Democracy has its own mechanism
of leveling the playing field. Kanshi Ram has again surfaced on the political
landscape in the wake of forthcoming state and national elections. Rahul Gandhi
has supported the caste census in the ongoing slugfest on the issue. He said
that he would tend to agree with the dictum of Babu Kanshi Ram “Jis Ki Jitni
Ginti Bhari; Utni Uski Hisedari”. Here lies the importance and relevance of
Kanshi Ram. I only hope, in the interest of the country, yet another wish of
the Bahujan Nayak “Vote Hamara Raj Tumhara; Nahin Chalega Nahin Chalega”, is
fulfilled and India becomes ‘Secular, Socialist, Democratic Republic’ in
reality. The sooner the better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">I leave it here as my humble tribute the great leader,
Manyawar Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-79432438380265584112023-10-04T10:04:00.004+03:002023-10-04T10:05:38.443+03:00 Great Service to the Mother Tongue: Punjabi – Literary Friends at Adampur <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Great
Service to the Mother Tongue: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Punjabi –
Literary Friends at Adampur</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Punjabi Sahitya Sabha of Adampur Doaba of Jalandhar district of
Punjab is the platform of Punjabi literary talent of the region and beyond. It
is engaged in publishing and promoting Punjabi literature under the stewardship
of Retired DEO, Roop</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk26jxdNKUrNeOhrnGTfYL1E3vLQl-iCB1F45LrCeMfAHWFvP3v4bpOl3J4J3G5-vdly4a-cMMP7H0Ny15QwWaORdauSOBxcJQn40GDRPzcPurK0GPwmzDUPr6MLyTBESnfiiGij6F6yLLjysRaFrrlIiv2o2FZhG2EKXL5rMs7pzW6hBubv7_dDo7RQ/s541/379621802_6897451016973630_632379585584856591_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="541" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYk26jxdNKUrNeOhrnGTfYL1E3vLQl-iCB1F45LrCeMfAHWFvP3v4bpOl3J4J3G5-vdly4a-cMMP7H0Ny15QwWaORdauSOBxcJQn40GDRPzcPurK0GPwmzDUPr6MLyTBESnfiiGij6F6yLLjysRaFrrlIiv2o2FZhG2EKXL5rMs7pzW6hBubv7_dDo7RQ/s320/379621802_6897451016973630_632379585584856591_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Lal Roop, himself a poet and writer of standing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sabha not only publishes stand alone
works of writers of acclaimed status but also provides due space in its
publications to writers and poets who are not able to publish their stuff on
their own. As such the Sabha is doing a yeoman’s service to our mother tongue
(Maa Boli) Punjabi. We must recognize and appreciate this great job. . <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Though I am not a literary person of any standing yet it is my
honour and pleasure that Punjabi Sahitya Sabha for the last couple of years
kindly associated me with some of its functions</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsAQbVG8Twd1MYOnwfbr9Cgz_Cr_0-slnxVfTdM-_jSxKbTKf2Czzafg5SSpFXn_N4fd3oRRWWJ_qcYn_qBPvBUfApwQHLEhuVCs26uEqBNUmjE1nZwipFzCn7ZBclDESuWQgVKNf5SPSwbRZfIS8Ww3TvuEYzGXdG6qCoD48wvz6EE2LQR6Wyo_8b6g/s559/378407512_6897450673640331_1606813164705169918_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="559" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsAQbVG8Twd1MYOnwfbr9Cgz_Cr_0-slnxVfTdM-_jSxKbTKf2Czzafg5SSpFXn_N4fd3oRRWWJ_qcYn_qBPvBUfApwQHLEhuVCs26uEqBNUmjE1nZwipFzCn7ZBclDESuWQgVKNf5SPSwbRZfIS8Ww3TvuEYzGXdG6qCoD48wvz6EE2LQR6Wyo_8b6g/s320/378407512_6897450673640331_1606813164705169918_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> and activities like release of
new books and poetic symposiums (Mushyaras). I thoroughly enjoy and benefit
from these kind gestures. This time on September 17, honours to release the
books of Punjabi poetry - Jagde Bol (collection of poems by different writers
published by Punjabi Sahitya Sabha of Adampur) ) and Lafzan Di Dargah of Dr.
Gurinder Gill fell on me. It was a real pleasure to be in company of literary
personalities of the area. It was a well attended function by the quality audience
in spite of not so hospitable weather due to heavy rain pour. Jagde Bol is a
collection of assorted poems of 41 poems on various aspects of the
socio-cultural and socio-economic concerns and interests to the society at
large. The Editors of the book thoughtfully inserted and quoted some of the
poetic gems of literary authorities like; Lal Singh Dil, Gurdass Ram Alam, Sant
Ran Udasi, Pash, Baba Balwant among others. The second book was Lafzan Di
Dargah of an acclaimed poetess and literary personality, Gurinder Gill, an NRI
Punjabi living abroad. The book contains 133 poems on different subjects
pertaining to day to day life of in this world of challenges and endeavors to
meet them. The books were reviewed and commented upon by competent academics
namely; Prof Malkit Jaure, Dr. Ravinder Kaur and Dr. Balwinnder Thind for the
benefit of the attentive and awakened audience. It was really an impressive
function. Roop Lal Roop is not only a worthy son of the soil but also an able
educational administrator and an excellent organizer. These formal ceremonies
to launch (Ghund Chukai) the book ushered us into the second part of the
function, an impromptu Mushyara by the members of the Sabha and special
invitees. It was a gratifying to note that a young physically challenged lady
came on the wheel chair with her</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCZRPAwlbTakXB5-aOlkIo0uqTDPBB774Ud8rl0qKufN9V1M843zHuBjXH61jDvIGPTr6j4JSitjPSR7OE6Tgu_F0LuiRRyxkc5ZKdyT-Hu_SIAlwrhx6F7lY7aEWV7F0ZLf22YksNLx86OrCU3FflOT2xoWUSdEizwpX-KPZvtEjCgAAojUKSCc4Tuk/s570/378536411_6897451866973545_2228233527637948016_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="570" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCZRPAwlbTakXB5-aOlkIo0uqTDPBB774Ud8rl0qKufN9V1M843zHuBjXH61jDvIGPTr6j4JSitjPSR7OE6Tgu_F0LuiRRyxkc5ZKdyT-Hu_SIAlwrhx6F7lY7aEWV7F0ZLf22YksNLx86OrCU3FflOT2xoWUSdEizwpX-KPZvtEjCgAAojUKSCc4Tuk/s320/378536411_6897451866973545_2228233527637948016_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> mother and participated in the Mushyara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my brief comments, as an almost an
illiterate entity as far as the literary aspects of the event are concerned,
said that to my mind poets are certainly better human beings with God given
talent and recalled Gurdass Ram Alam, in spite of the fact that he was not much
educated formally, gave a new height to the famous dictum of Karl Marx ‘to each
according to ones need and from each according to ones capacity’ in one of his
poems in Punjabi ‘Asin bit to baddu diden han; sanu lod mutavik milda nahin’.
Roop Lal Roop interjected several times with his gems of thoughtful comments of
the literary and social value. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yet another book of collection of poems in Punjabi – Viwastha Pariwartan
consisting of 172 poems written by Dharam Pal</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkNW-hH0pb9G_zFDTOKNLL-PK9XZ2HQRENDYkTk7Sksyf9q2eojotI-s8AJcfAkVzjIPJOp8-IxlbrLQTsD8CiPPXDc5hBqjeaKiPI7A9benVMvpukAx5ZN8qayt10kcg5b2CvHJot3WYyuK9JfDh2G5Jn90yecnzahqM-HULO0VbDcDdaoyzo9_OAmI/s1024/IMG-20231004-WA0021.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="1024" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkNW-hH0pb9G_zFDTOKNLL-PK9XZ2HQRENDYkTk7Sksyf9q2eojotI-s8AJcfAkVzjIPJOp8-IxlbrLQTsD8CiPPXDc5hBqjeaKiPI7A9benVMvpukAx5ZN8qayt10kcg5b2CvHJot3WYyuK9JfDh2G5Jn90yecnzahqM-HULO0VbDcDdaoyzo9_OAmI/s320/IMG-20231004-WA0021.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Panther of Rail Coach Factory in
Kapurthala was presented to me by the author. Panther Sahib is a missionary
writer and a community activist. I will certainly read the book to further
educate myself. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jagde Bol is the third book of Punjabi Sahiyatia Sabha published
in recent years after Kavia Rishman in 2020 and Siar Da Pattan in 2022. I have
had the honour to release Siar Da Pattan and also the earlier book – Fakiri Ramjan
and Ulje Sulje Akhar of Gurinder Gill, Lafjan Di Sultan as termed by Roop Lal
Roop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some details may be access in my
blog:</span> <span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2022/02/siar-da-pattan-collection-of-poems.html">https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2022/02/siar-da-pattan-collection-of-poems.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #050505; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-3312666794432568792023-09-28T10:06:00.004+03:002023-09-28T10:07:17.546+03:00G-20 and India: Guest Lecture at UILS Hoshiarpur<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">G-20 and India: Guest
Lecture at UILS Hoshiarpur<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I was invited by University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS)
at the Panjab University Swami Sarvanand Giri Regional Centre (PU SSG RC) at
Hoshiarpur district of Punjab on the current and topical theme:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G-20 and India on September 22. UILS and PU
SSG RC are</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfJrW0omSGrlQjkoCeLdf1037Dfqr1kQ69TzGwJMXJ-fHBTWOJdiRFV4D0TQ3HwiKfvrlm15C3tzxNZfs4tNgcRr9YgqS9FEss0cM52nN5V8Lx0WxBP560GEuletOLN48frNY4NPmXiPrxicH9FCxg1_hZ0h4k0S2Y9ie-tqSAHHBnZIsPN7yYZzqWXE/s1280/IMG-20230920-WA0053.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="904" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfJrW0omSGrlQjkoCeLdf1037Dfqr1kQ69TzGwJMXJ-fHBTWOJdiRFV4D0TQ3HwiKfvrlm15C3tzxNZfs4tNgcRr9YgqS9FEss0cM52nN5V8Lx0WxBP560GEuletOLN48frNY4NPmXiPrxicH9FCxg1_hZ0h4k0S2Y9ie-tqSAHHBnZIsPN7yYZzqWXE/w283-h400/IMG-20230920-WA0053.jpg" width="283" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> the ‘centres of academic excellence’ in the Doaba area of Punjab and
beyond. Panjab University opened a Regional Centre for imparting quality technical
education to Kandi area of hoshiarpur after the name of Swami Sarvanand Giri
Panjab University Regional Centre in the year 2006 with four branches of
engineering. In 2007, it started two new courses in LAW as BA LLB (5 year
integrated course) and 3 Years LLB course. The website of the UILS states its
Vision as ‘To Be a Globally Renowned Education Hub that Caters Quality
Education’ and rightly so. My visit and interaction at the UILS fully justified
what they had visualized. It was a matter of gratification to see and note –
majestic campus, lush green environment, state of the art educational
facilities and calm and serene atmosphere. I was really humbled further and
touched to hear the background of PU SSG RC from Dr. Brijesh Sharma,
Co-coordinator of the Guest Lecture about the philanthropic gesture of Dr.
Lajpat Rai Munger, a US National of Indian origin in donating the Campus of
UILS and PU SSG RC to Punjab University in 2006 on the understanding that the
Punjab University will name the Regional Centre after his spiritual Guru, Swami
Sarvananda Giri. Dr. Lajpar Rai Munger, a well to do business man (Blueberry
Farming</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduhxjV2NTieKhEhcdf25xy7Ss_-BnZcBDf2-vFXuDG64KPZjc3A36vTNK-MoFNl0sREoB_AQgJ6CGTseGXMKFhqdm5RlDk6gWXi9a08fVZ95CqSs_7yFJWK-pIBsUQcevZa2pKs_OzzFgqCGnIg32D2ntBURHUwjvyrg8h-yw72RbPLF-43zMfBm9GEk/s1600/1695534767662.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduhxjV2NTieKhEhcdf25xy7Ss_-BnZcBDf2-vFXuDG64KPZjc3A36vTNK-MoFNl0sREoB_AQgJ6CGTseGXMKFhqdm5RlDk6gWXi9a08fVZ95CqSs_7yFJWK-pIBsUQcevZa2pKs_OzzFgqCGnIg32D2ntBURHUwjvyrg8h-yw72RbPLF-43zMfBm9GEk/w400-h300/1695534767662.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> etc. in the US) belonged to the nearby village called Nangal Shahidan.
He acquired 20 acres of land in Bajwara village and established a college named
after his revered Guru Swami Sarvananda to cater for the educational needs of
the area which was later transferred to Punjab University – a great and
appreciable gesture on the part of the Munger family in the spirit of ‘paying
back to the society’.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The lecture was attended mostly by the law students and
faculty of the Institute. I started with a brief background of the G-20 as to
when and what for the group was established to meet the economic and financial
crisis and gave an over view of the journey of the Group to the 18th Summit
held in New Delhi on September 9-10 under the</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RGRfNGfKHob7qPxsCmvDwiFPE3WGy1BeD2Q_aeeeG9qcMnwvijV-gdygTLdQWYAJSFh_DXnnKf7GiljJwEwy7p9hKUWLK010PMAucESvzQi25h_3dL7c2RLS4LR4zFdENn7kmyQxVRx0dTfTlf5sT5Dmbs7fM8ZvqPP05R6ckk-ZuOIxnnKEP-V-_ig/s1280/1695445186308.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RGRfNGfKHob7qPxsCmvDwiFPE3WGy1BeD2Q_aeeeG9qcMnwvijV-gdygTLdQWYAJSFh_DXnnKf7GiljJwEwy7p9hKUWLK010PMAucESvzQi25h_3dL7c2RLS4LR4zFdENn7kmyQxVRx0dTfTlf5sT5Dmbs7fM8ZvqPP05R6ckk-ZuOIxnnKEP-V-_ig/w400-h300/1695445186308.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Indian Presidency. I informed the
attentive audience of young students that it was a big event for India and its
diplomacy. India could register its point of view and influence in the national
and international matters to bring about a shared global future for the mankind
through the Indian philosophical dictum – Vashudaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth –
One Family with Universal sense of oneness. Referring to the Leaders’ New Delhi
Declaration, a diplomatic coup, I touched on the achievements with Indian
initiatives -Energy Initiative - Launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance - Connectivity
Initiative - India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE EC) - New Member
- the inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 –
tactful handling of the Ukraine conflict – Reform and restructuring of UN –
Joint and concerted response to terrorism among others. In conclusion, I
sounded and alerted the audience of the challenges ahead and added “Diplomacy
is an on-going process and it would continue in the diplomatic spirit of ‘we
agree to disagree’. India is on rails in this regard. G-20 Presidency of India
was a ‘rotating’ event. Next Presidency will go to Brazil. Beyond a sense of
euphoria in this regard, India would need to pay a bit more attention to
internal situation – Diplomacy or international relations is an extension of
internal stability and security – it is only a world of caution – India has
come a long way and has arrived but it has to go a long way to reach.” In a
lighter vein I said that as a diplomat, I believe, “In the world of diplomacy,
certain things are better left unsaid” and invited the young minds for
interaction. There was a good interaction with the disciplined and engaged
young assembly for my knowledge and advantage.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Prof. Balbinder Kumar and Dr. Brijesh Sharma held the fort
and conducted the proceedings of the Guest Lecture with aplomb in the absence
of Director of UILS; Prof. H.S. Bains who was expected to</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK8LVxD_YE5kl5MGcIsoSjnhZBqK1c3XbLfOHeUqLHWWD4lE0ZNY9D9Xh1zqDY4OVqUwhONlojXc3k2woXz6UJDGrttz7UZJSyNBJh311ru5NQWAMmJTeSzdg09Nv1QUUPORIrOYwSG46YvjkVKAbjP2hzwad3NbKLZaAuQCSUOTFHG3MUrFq2pIX-Gc/s1024/1695435513064.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK8LVxD_YE5kl5MGcIsoSjnhZBqK1c3XbLfOHeUqLHWWD4lE0ZNY9D9Xh1zqDY4OVqUwhONlojXc3k2woXz6UJDGrttz7UZJSyNBJh311ru5NQWAMmJTeSzdg09Nv1QUUPORIrOYwSG46YvjkVKAbjP2hzwad3NbKLZaAuQCSUOTFHG3MUrFq2pIX-Gc/w400-h300/1695435513064.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> preside over the
function but could not do so due to exigencies of work. Later I met Prof Bains
in his office and discussed matters of mutual interest. My brief interaction
with him and subsequent a good working luncheon hosted by him impressed me a
great deal. I found him an able educational administrator and an enlightened
academic and also a friendly person. My visit to UILS was a rewarding one and I
am indebted to Prof. Balbinder Kumar for taking the initiative in this regard.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<!--[endif]--><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-52884944069395444532023-09-25T09:12:00.005+03:002023-09-26T04:51:28.691+03:00Poona Pact of 1932 signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Poona Pact of 1932
signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Today, September 24, is the anniversary of Poona Pact of 1932
signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar in Yerwada jail in then
Poona (now Pune) in the wake of PM Ramsey MacDonnell’s Communal Award providing
for separate electorates for the depressed classes now generally called dalits
or Scheduled</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-UYD3_veLjrPlwedGnF4rm00RE5dOnwt0islGTiFOJf_xjqyVwaoEyrCbYhaM1HxwEhlb9bKQC8PEy62FILAIsE7tjhst3zmhI1YW7CZlDB04kIlEQbycyTOfJDOU5v8WnOZKFWsPUTuu1jHcQUDIKcL4a8LifQxWzCLhgJ0YFST14o5GlrhD4uTjUU/s320/gandhi-ambedkar-n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-UYD3_veLjrPlwedGnF4rm00RE5dOnwt0islGTiFOJf_xjqyVwaoEyrCbYhaM1HxwEhlb9bKQC8PEy62FILAIsE7tjhst3zmhI1YW7CZlDB04kIlEQbycyTOfJDOU5v8WnOZKFWsPUTuu1jHcQUDIKcL4a8LifQxWzCLhgJ0YFST14o5GlrhD4uTjUU/w400-h266/gandhi-ambedkar-n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Castes. Mahatma Gandhi opposed the Communal Award and went into
‘fast unto death’ in the jail. His health started deteriorating. Obviously, the
whole country and the Congress Party were concerned and worried. Since the
Communal Award was the net result of Dr. Ambedkr’s untiring and relentless
efforts particularly his articulation of the issue of political and social
rights of dalits at the Round Table Conferences and other fora, the entire
Indian leadership particularly the Hindus persuaded Babasaheb Ambedkar to
relent in the interest of cohesiveness of Hindu society and save the life of
‘adamant and stubborn’ Mahatma Gandhi, a staunch Sanatani Hindu. Babasaheb was
a visionary leader and a patriotic nationalist from the core agreed in the
larger interest of the country and the society at large and signed some
understandings with Mahatma Gandhi with regard to the interests of dalits.
Those understandings were called “Poona Pact”, having far reaching implications
for the integration of the depressed and oppressed masses with the main stream
of society.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">My forthcoming book “Some Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar
and His Legacy – The Bits and Pieces”, likely to be launched soon, carries my
blog on the subject as Chapter 18 at page 93 – Analytical Commentary on Poona
Pact of 1932. The Foreword</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGsg91h3D9LFFVrMTW2uKd2wdBUquB_KTeokDQC2N-y6xnU7tQrKDo0AV_RVPaDdsCNX8CrsMJ36wPuOKWHnVCsa6yXBFVbe-uzGO-NdZ493vQc-GAQ1n3Uo5ygiUnseQtR8tpdy_gzc803CcGQ7X-9gIGvKWBGNbLAWQsw570jMa60rONPLdSEUEboU/s3261/2book363G.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="3261" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGsg91h3D9LFFVrMTW2uKd2wdBUquB_KTeokDQC2N-y6xnU7tQrKDo0AV_RVPaDdsCNX8CrsMJ36wPuOKWHnVCsa6yXBFVbe-uzGO-NdZ493vQc-GAQ1n3Uo5ygiUnseQtR8tpdy_gzc803CcGQ7X-9gIGvKWBGNbLAWQsw570jMa60rONPLdSEUEboU/w400-h309/2book363G.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> of the book has been written by, General Secretary
of Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations (FABO) of UK, Arun
Kumar,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a staunch Ambedkarite. I take
this opportunity to thank Ambedkar Times Inc spearheaded by Chief Editor of the
Ambedkar Times and The Desh Doaba for extending all support in publishing the
book.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 18 of the
forthcoming book – Some Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy –
The Bits and Pieces<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Analytical Commentary
on Poona Pact of 1932<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I have written about Poona Pact of 1932 signed between
Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar a couple of times before and gave my
views. The anniversary of the Pact falls on September 24. Editor Prem Chumber
of the Ambedkar Times invited me to write a piece on the subject for the
esteemed paper. I was a bit lethargic as much has been said and written on the
subject and moreover now, it has no practical relevance and it has gone to the
realm of history. An immediate provocation to say something again on Poona Pact
was the video message of a staunch Ambedkarite and an intellectual living legend
Lahori Ram Balley which I heard on Facebook a little while ago. I am not
inclined to go to the facts and figures in this regard and would limit myself
to a running commentary on the importance of Poona Pact and how it contributed
in bringing the depressed classes on the political map and agenda of India in
the subsequent landmark events of India Act, 1935 and finally the Constitution
of India. In fact, in other words, it turns out to be a tribute to the sagacity
and integrity of the one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar on
one hand and the suspect attitude of Mahatma Gandhi in blackmailing Ambedkar to
watch and protect the interests of the Hindu society at large at the cost of
dalits on one hand and the treachery of the ruling elite after independence on
the other by not faithfully implementing the special provisions made for the
Scheduled Castes to give practical shape to the understandings stipulated in
the Poona Pact in all sincerity and solemnity. I think, that is why, later
Ambedkar himself termed the Pact a “mean deal” as it could not deliver as
promised and visualized both by the society and also by the polity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">The Separate Electorates to the depressed Classes in line
with the similar provisions for Muslims, Christians, Sikhs etc granted in the
Communal Award of PM Ramsey MacDonald was the result of Ambedkar’s untiring
efforts and assertions at the Round Table Conferences much against the agenda
and wishes of Mahatma Gandhi who wanted dalits to remain in the fold of Hindus.
Mahatma Gandhi tried his best to convince the British rulers in Delhi and
London to undo the Separate Electorates offered to dalits in the Communal Award
but failed. He flouted his usual weapon of “fast” to exploit and compel the
British rulers on one hand and also the recognized leader of depressed classes,
Babasaheb Ambedkar on the other. Gandhi started his “fast unto death” in the
Yerawada jail in Poona where he was detained. It was one of the cunning tactics
of caste Hindus led by Gandhi to stop a separate identity of dalits and to
defeat Ambedkar. The whole country was made to stand and oppose separate
electorates to the depressed classes. The atmosphere was so vitiated with
hatred that Babasaheb was condemned as anti-national and anti- Hindu. He was
threatened to be killed before something untoward happened to Gandhi. The wife
of Gandh, Kasturba made appeals of mercy to Babasaheb to save the life of her
husband. Hindu fundamentalists like Babu Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari,
Madan Mohan Malaviya among others appealed and requested Babasaheb Ambedkar to
save the life of Gandhi by rejecting the separate electorates to dalits and
remaining in the Hindu fold. It was a very difficult and critical preposition
before the sole leader of the depressed classes. On one side, he was to abandon
and forego voluntarily the gains and advantage he himself achieved at the Round
Table Conferences and otherwise for the benefit of the depressed classes and on
the other to prove his credentials as a nationalist and a caring leader for the
overall good of the main stream of the society. There were threats to his life.
Balley Sahib in his message which I mentioned before narrated a historical fact
of an editorial written by Mahasha Krishan in the Urdu paper The Partap
published from Lahore where he threatened that Ambedkar must be careful and
considerate in taking the decision as dictated by the Hindu leaders led by
Mahatma Gandhi otherwise before the final rites of the Mahatma, if he died in
his “fast unto death, the funeral of Ambedkar would be held before that. One
can easily gauge the gravity of the situation. Ambedkar was not only a
consummate intellectual politician who not only knew the universally accepted
dictum ‘politics is an art of the possible’ but also subscribed to the lofty ideals
of compassion and morality of the Buddha. As a true nationalist and recognizing
the value of Mahatma Gandhi’s role as a leading light of the freedom movement
and also his preference to bring about cohesiveness in the society at large
instead of ushering the country into communal divide and hatred decided to
cooperate and agreed to the submissions of Mahatma Gandhi and other Hindu
leaders which resulted in the famous Poona Pact of 1932. Babasaheb Ambedkar was
a negotiator par excellence. He tried his best and convinced the Hindu leaders
to see the situation of the depressed classes in the Hindu fold and do
something concrete to ameliorate their sufferings in the Manuwadi set up. There
was no option with the Gandhi camp. In the Poona Pact, Ambedkar got more
facilities and enabling provisions for the depressed classes than offered in
the Communal Award by the British rulers. Not only the reserved seats in the
legislature but also special provisions in education and socio-economic aspects
with a view to integrate dalits with the main stream of the society as equal
partners. With this the much maligned concept of ‘Reservation” was born which
finally found enumeration in the Constitution of India of which Babasaheb
himself was the architect and pilot. The opponents of ‘Reservation” for dalits
are ill-informed and half educated that nobody offered the special provisions
of reservation etc. on the platter out of magnanimity and compassion but were
achieved with ardent and consistent efforts and sacrifices by Dr. Ambedkar and
his associates and the suffering masses. The spirit of Poona Pact will remain
alive under the overall impact and implementation of the Constitution of India.
The only negation which comes to my mind is that by foregoing the separate
electorates, dalits lost an edge in electing their true representatives in the
parliament, legislatures and municipal bodies. Perhaps this is the reason by
Manyawar Kanshi Ram called them “Chamchas” and some of the dalit activists
opposed the Poona Pact. Let us leave it to historians to judge and give their
verdict. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">All said and done, I have no hesitation in saying that
whatever Ambedkar Sahib did and accomplished in signing the Poona Pact was a
master-stroke in the given times and circumstances under difficult and trying
conditions. Babasaheb proved himself as a great and visionary leader. With
this, I remember Poona Pact of 1932 the harbinger of political and social space
for dalits in the map of India. I Salute to Babasaheb Ambedkar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a name="4395789796988565804"></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-4212502491470211402023-09-16T17:11:00.005+03:002023-09-16T17:12:44.963+03:00As I Please – Mohan Bhagwat on Reservation and Bharat -Akhand Bharat<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As I Please – Mohan
Bhagwat on Reservation and Bharat -Akhand Bharat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mohan Bhagwat on
Reservation for socially marginalized</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – Sarsanghchalak of RSS, Mohan Bhagwat has made an important
statement with regard to reservations to the socially marginalized sections of
the society and reiterated his views on this much</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_snv14nZlF9fd55bt5sE9Jq6Vs2Eo6BrwKT0nXrqjPTIzYp732f5mkvCgKndmfuSKgLsMBMxazz0HCZCL6hgsOgiDjJmqLDwm-FlcoDrCD1hXEq9FlHb_nVVPC5Ixc52QZ9HQ0GtZgZCObDEencT0Tvzk22k-rtfmJL1u3gafeeewLOyZQrhrOYik3A/s188/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="188" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_snv14nZlF9fd55bt5sE9Jq6Vs2Eo6BrwKT0nXrqjPTIzYp732f5mkvCgKndmfuSKgLsMBMxazz0HCZCL6hgsOgiDjJmqLDwm-FlcoDrCD1hXEq9FlHb_nVVPC5Ixc52QZ9HQ0GtZgZCObDEencT0Tvzk22k-rtfmJL1u3gafeeewLOyZQrhrOYik3A/w400-h391/images.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> maligned and widely debated
issue of reservations as provided in the constitution of India. While speaking
at a function in Nagpur recently Mohan Bhagwat said, “We kept our own fellow
human beings behind in the social system. We did not care for them, which
continued for almost 2,000 years. Until we provide them equality, some
special remedies have to be done." and added, “Reservations have to
continue till there is such discrimination.” It seems that things have come
full circle due to the ‘Ambedkar Affect’ which I elaborated in my earlier blog.
The new statement of the RSS Supremo is a clear departure from his earlier
position articulated eight years ago, when he had called for a review of the
system of quotas (Reservations). This is a review of the RSS’s stand on
caste-based reservations over the decades.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Let us not create any controversy on this important statement
and take it on its face value till it is not proved to the contrary. The ball
is in their court not only as the mentor of the ruling outfit, BJP but also as
the strongest proponent of the main stream of the society, the Hindus. It is
said that ‘the taste of the pudding lies in its eating’</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidomz8d4_78hFe-HHanYy4B8dsWOHsUEX_77uBzHJNZTmnsHqNbkm0VewyDI8BPZTibhA_sxqIiPLVN20axc8A_Vt0paPUd1bo_Mq45Y6H1DIAG_3vunTAqg7fruxd6FxvJGsQFR43m6KQAjJyHISD_tthwouH3TqVa5HWqH_HORTCAKtVzK-K7VU03Wc/s750/1651390859210.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="750" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidomz8d4_78hFe-HHanYy4B8dsWOHsUEX_77uBzHJNZTmnsHqNbkm0VewyDI8BPZTibhA_sxqIiPLVN20axc8A_Vt0paPUd1bo_Mq45Y6H1DIAG_3vunTAqg7fruxd6FxvJGsQFR43m6KQAjJyHISD_tthwouH3TqVa5HWqH_HORTCAKtVzK-K7VU03Wc/w400-h304/1651390859210.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />. Reservations have been
provided in the constitution as an ‘affirmative action’ by the state to bring
about social equality or let us say ‘Samrasta’ as RSS itself profess in the
society. It is a matter of regret and worry that so far no government and the
civic society could deliver in implementing the Reservation provisions
sincerely. The vested interests who are opposing the Reservations are
encouraged to shout from the roof tops by the Thekedars of the society in
consonance with their ‘socio-cultural’ ethos ordained by ‘Manuwad’ – dividing society
on the basis of caste. This is the root cause of the problem. RSS and the main
stream of the society ought to think and come out of the ‘lip service’ mode to
integrate the socially weaker sections of the society and bring about the much
flouted plank of ‘Samrasta’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stand for
Samrasta in spite of the fact that many of my friends caution and even criticize
me for doing so. There is no point in elaborating it here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us join hands in this regard and negate
the Allama Iqbal who said and still appears good.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Iqbal Bada Updeshak Hai Man Batton Se Moh Letta Hai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Gufftar Ka To Yeh Gazi Bana Kirdar Ka Gazi Ban Na Saka<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Bharat – Akhand Bharat</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – Of late, a fresh debate, often acrimonious, on the name of
our country has started as if we don’t have anything more important to discuss
in these challenging times. The constituent Assembly fully debated the issue
and described in the very first article of the constitution – Name and
territory of the Union - “India that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. I
don’t</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxakGY3cILGi39Y1dOBV2dPU8PWPl3Y6hCqY9SK_VFfQA4HAWZCYRY3M3ZSUa5F7HpflGoiQSPim6hVFKIM-9EnTMMv8_od6Od7SbrrnUtq8W5Kx0LvBpTuB9Ey5CZb2ilcMwHtvpzvxi6u-9F-OYO0F3OEYU0E-J1bUAY3kmlU74JrpuahtWAb5VGdk/s318/images%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxakGY3cILGi39Y1dOBV2dPU8PWPl3Y6hCqY9SK_VFfQA4HAWZCYRY3M3ZSUa5F7HpflGoiQSPim6hVFKIM-9EnTMMv8_od6Od7SbrrnUtq8W5Kx0LvBpTuB9Ey5CZb2ilcMwHtvpzvxi6u-9F-OYO0F3OEYU0E-J1bUAY3kmlU74JrpuahtWAb5VGdk/w400-h200/images%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> understand the controversy. Frankly, to my mind, it gives strength to the
lobby which has apprehensions that the right wing Hindu outfits, currently the
ruling dispensations, intend to change the constitution. The media (The
Tribune) has reported that Mohan Bhagwat Sahib said in his response to a
question on the issue "India vs Bharat" issue and the concept of
'Akhand Bharat,' the RSS chief expressed that embracing the identity of
'Bharat' entails embracing the authentic culture of the nation and added "Those
who separated from Bharat feel they have made a mistake...Bharat hona yani
Bharat ke swabhav ko svikar karna.” I only hope that there is no hidden agenda
in the guise of these avoidable controversies. India is Bharat and would remain
so. It may not be out of place to mention that as a matter of habitual routine
I tend to say ‘Hindostan’ instead of India or Bharat in my day to day talk.
Some of my friends, particularly those who oppose the idea of ‘India as a Hindu
State’, object to this and advise me to say India or Bharat and not Hindostan.
I see their point. The interesting fact is that the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar
already use Jai Bheem and Jai Bharat in their routine salutations intentionally
and rightly so.. By now, it seems the Government of PM Narendra Modi is all set
to officially change the name of India to Bharat. It would create an avoidable
friction in the polity and society of India that is Bharat. India is Bharat and
Bharat is India. Coming to the ‘outdated’ idea of Akhand Bharat, again I must
say that I don’t understand this. Is it possible to put the clock back?
Pakistan and Bangladesh are sovereign countries on the world map. They are
Islamic countries unlike Bharat which is a secular country. Why do we need to
increase our problems? On one hand, communal scenario is becoming a serious
problem because of increasing ‘confidence deficit’ between the majority Hindus
and minority Muslims and on the other, the idea of Akhand Bharat would tend to
make Bharat as the largest Muslim populated country. Why don’t we talk of Nepal
which was the only Hindu Kingdom till recently, a Hindu majority country, to
join Akhand Bharat? Let us shed this utopian thinking. Some of these things do
not make any sense to me. RSS is a potent force. If it intends to bring about
real reform in the society they would need to think big. Without saying more,
let me quote from an article, We are one family, Really written by Mohit
Mahajan, appeared in the Tribune in the wake of just concluded G-20 Submit as
some food for thought, “The wonderful notion of inclusivity in the phrase
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (‘the whole world is a family’) takes one’s breath away
— the loftiness of the idea, the impossibility of achieving it!<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bharat wishes to spread this spirit of brotherhood across the
world. It’s an ambition that must be praised. But if you’re even slightly
interested in political events and discussions taking place around you —
communal violence in Nuh, Manipur, the debate over Sanatan Dharma and
India-Bharat, to name only a few of the burning issues — it would be clear that
the we need to urgently implement ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in our own country
first. We’re not a family in India — we’re tribal people most comfortable in
silos of religion, caste, sub-caste, ethnicity, language, culture, and more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">We need to learn and set the matter in perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Jara Dekh Jo Kuch Ho Raha; Hone wala Hai,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bhala Rakh Kya Hai Ahde Kuhan Ki Dastano Mein<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-10507667852950474422023-09-11T09:43:00.000+03:002023-09-11T09:43:19.036+03:00Rising Profile of Bharat – International Day of Equality<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Rising Profile of Bharat –
International Day of Equality<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Bharat that is India has come a long way in its ‘tryst with
destiny’ in its journey started with Independence in August, 1947 and duly
codified with the constitution of India that is Bharat in January, 1950. Every
successive year saw the profile of Bharat rising not only to alleviate poverty
and bring about development but also getting due space and share in the
international sphere. The successful conclusion of the G-20 Presidency of
Bharat is the high point which requires full appreciation of the GOI headed by
PM Narendra Modi and the Indian diplomacy – Bhartiya Kootniti led by Dr. S.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBmYwWNzKCMJmNesMrE3fGR-YHHOSQinpEQYGO0hF589KGgedNSBLBSfaJSFjQMtIH5l7Swtf7f7ffpa_6ZVdr3ioZn2-5lmrrhPeJgfvBn_FCY6aNqAORVmSl5D8RqND7MSzB1kKM7JxRPoWCT9uGCrouBcPJABL6OG3W1v7r2jBqGUnYitEzv4bLCk/s1125/2023_9$largeimg_1064198622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1125" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBmYwWNzKCMJmNesMrE3fGR-YHHOSQinpEQYGO0hF589KGgedNSBLBSfaJSFjQMtIH5l7Swtf7f7ffpa_6ZVdr3ioZn2-5lmrrhPeJgfvBn_FCY6aNqAORVmSl5D8RqND7MSzB1kKM7JxRPoWCT9uGCrouBcPJABL6OG3W1v7r2jBqGUnYitEzv4bLCk/w400-h225/2023_9$largeimg_1064198622.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Jaishankar. I take this opportunity to congratulate both the PM and the EAM and
their teams for taking caravan of forward to make India a developed country by
2047, the Amrit Kaal of Bharat. Indian diplomacy has come full circle. The just
concluded G-20 has clearly established that India has arrived. We need to keep
engaged ourselves in activities and endeavors to make Bharat reach by 2047 as
asserted by PM Narendra Modi at the G-20 to achieve the lofty ideals of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Vashudhaiva Katumbakam’ – One Earth – One
Family – One Future.<o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many idea and proposals under consideration of the
GOI in this regard to make Bharat’s presence felt in the comity of
nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bharat has succeeded in
flagging these issues in the recent past with the time tested tool of our ‘Soft
Diplomacy’ – 2<sup>nd</sup> October, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi as
International Non-violence Day and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>21<sup>st</sup>
June as International Yoga Day to celebrate and promote the Indian thought of
physical and spiritual wellness of mankind. With a view to strengthen our take
and reach under the ‘Soft and Cultural Diplomacy’, a proposal to declare April
14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution
and one of the prominent champions of Equality and Fraternity was made to the
GOI in June, 2015 in the run up to celebrate and observe 125<sup>th</sup> birth
anniversary of one of greatest sons of Bharat in the contemporary times. The
proposal is resting with the MEA in New Delhi since 2015. We have been
reminding the concerned authorities and the</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tn1fhlK6y2jOVQb2DVS-NypbT2Zomky4Z8jR0QkOTnCv7dk5u1xoC9g5PxodH4aiHORR6x4UeMix5bHNw9gsHu3qg2Qw8fKGWKVC-mxXTDUIuHVbXlVHquD5nZYz5oo4RYYf6w2WOoIl7QbbCjoE6rkhUI6k08TkHcHIbMt9drt875PaQI3MtsxoO0A/s600/2020_6$largeimg_1551209319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Tn1fhlK6y2jOVQb2DVS-NypbT2Zomky4Z8jR0QkOTnCv7dk5u1xoC9g5PxodH4aiHORR6x4UeMix5bHNw9gsHu3qg2Qw8fKGWKVC-mxXTDUIuHVbXlVHquD5nZYz5oo4RYYf6w2WOoIl7QbbCjoE6rkhUI6k08TkHcHIbMt9drt875PaQI3MtsxoO0A/w400-h300/2020_6$largeimg_1551209319.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> stakeholders of the proposal on
International Day of Equality but GOI is blissfully silent as of now. It goes
without saying that International Day of Equality will not only be yet another
feather tin the Soft Diplomacy of Bharat but also be a firm step towards
realizing the objective of the UN of establishing a ‘Just Word Order’. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">With this background, I have taken the liberty of writing
again to the EAM, Dr. S, Jaishankar and PMO on the proposal on International
Day of Equality with the hope that PM or EAM may like to take the matter to UN
in the forthcoming UNGA in New York towards the latter half of the month of
September, 2023. My letter dated September 11, 2023 may be seen below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Har Dardmand Dil Ko Rona Mera Rula De,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Behosh Jo Pade Hain Shayad Une Jaga De<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Text of the letter dated September 11, 2023 to EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar with
an endorsement to Principal Secretary to PM,</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWieIQDHxurVnMcMp280_ztmvvmyUL8J8MmfK2qVCJymgGJ3Bnm8wEIA8Jftjeyd3GjaG3zKBrFwowgNk1TZoleAqbO3R5txDB91VsqiFgcfNPU-Za5JhehkUPqHkC_ERUSTtfsEPnqlszkZ7HoKL6MYwwOCWTTK9ehyOwfpvtTKswd9kA5v_JU2MR8uo/s660/JAISHANKARqwea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWieIQDHxurVnMcMp280_ztmvvmyUL8J8MmfK2qVCJymgGJ3Bnm8wEIA8Jftjeyd3GjaG3zKBrFwowgNk1TZoleAqbO3R5txDB91VsqiFgcfNPU-Za5JhehkUPqHkC_ERUSTtfsEPnqlszkZ7HoKL6MYwwOCWTTK9ehyOwfpvtTKswd9kA5v_JU2MR8uo/s320/JAISHANKARqwea.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> P.K. Mishra<o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">September 11, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Respected Sir,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, I congratulate you and the GOI on the
successful G-20 Meet yet another feather in your hat. I take this opportunity
to wish you further success in the days to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I am writing this again, Sir, to remind you on the proposal
to declare April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as International Day of
Equality in the ambit of Bharat’s Soft and Cultural Diplomacy. I have been
writing to you and other stakeholders in this regard. My last letter dated May
6, 2023 to you in this regard is enclosed for ready reference. Meanwhile, more
than 30 organizations pertaining to Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gautam Buddha and Guru
Ravidass in the UK submitted a Memorandum to the High Commissioner of India in
support of the proposal. I am sure the HC must have forwarded the Memorandum to
the MEA. I wrote a blog on this which may be accessed at:- </span><a href="http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-more-merrier-all-buddhist-and-guru.html"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-more-merrier-all-buddhist-and-guru.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wrote an open
letter to the BJP leadership with a view to sensitize them and solicit their
understanding and support which may be seen in my blog:-</span> <a href="http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/05/an-open-letter-to-bjp-leadership-april.html"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/05/an-open-letter-to-bjp-leadership-april.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You would appreciate that, Sir; International Day of Equality
is an important proposal which would tend to strengthen Bharat’s soft diplomacy
on one hand and honour one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar on
the other. The timing of this submission is to catch up with the forthcoming
UNGA in the last week of September, 2023. You may like to take advantage of
your presence and participation in the UNGA to take up the proposal on
International Day of Equality in your address to the international community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">With regards and all the best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Yours truly<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(Ramesh Chander)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. S. Jaishankar,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Minister of External Affairs,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">South Block, New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Copy to:- <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Shri P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM, PMO, South Block, New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: 336.75pt right 6.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-65862575544424709092023-09-05T17:19:00.002+03:002023-09-05T17:20:08.825+03:00As I Please – Some Random Thoughts on Current Matters of Interest and Concern<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As I Please – Some
Random Thoughts on Current Matters of Interest and Concern<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mischievous Suggestions
to Change the Constitution of India – </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Constitution of India is a living document and as such
remains in the news on one count on the other. India is passing through
challenging times in its ‘tryst with destiny’ under various cross currents.
There</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm5cwAGRzUdVGc-EAzFweD2RLTvNR6UMtkXB4IMRNE8qAzc_r7yZiBn79dKDz7Yj7zNC8GtlQxfe36FjUh7sPEarXqPl967H-eaanRcqlNcOqAqezsAqTNF4F5awfPGUsccyur4dzX0E6u_3l4OX_T4QYPuW1RqxOTI8q1tZaStnR8T1vTRLM2iAFs9k/s1280/939734-constitution-day.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm5cwAGRzUdVGc-EAzFweD2RLTvNR6UMtkXB4IMRNE8qAzc_r7yZiBn79dKDz7Yj7zNC8GtlQxfe36FjUh7sPEarXqPl967H-eaanRcqlNcOqAqezsAqTNF4F5awfPGUsccyur4dzX0E6u_3l4OX_T4QYPuW1RqxOTI8q1tZaStnR8T1vTRLM2iAFs9k/w400-h225/939734-constitution-day.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> had been fears and concerns floating around about change of the
constitution by vested interests in the ruling outfits and right-wing Hindutava
elements; particularly ever since the BJP government came into power in 2014.
Right or wrong, BJP and RSS leadership had been rejecting these apprehensions.
Nevertheless, the ‘confidence deficit’ persisted and remained which adversely
affected the credentials of the government and its professed agenda of “Sab Ka
Sath – Sab Ka Vikas – Sab Ka Vishwas”. Of late, the issue has again been
revived by the ‘seemingly, ‘motivated’ views of non else but a very highly
placed Aide of PM Narenda Modi, Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory
Committee of PM who in an article to coincide with the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
– Independence Day of India wrote, “Much of what we debate begins and ends with
the Constitution. A few amendments won’t do. We should go back to the drawing
board and start from first principles, asking what these words in the Preamble
mean now: socialist, secular, democratic, justice, liberty and <a href="https://www.livemint.com/topic/equality" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">equality</span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> We the People have to give ourselves
a new Constitution.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bibek Debroy said
this in the background of his thinking, “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav means we have
in mind a template for India in 2047. The bedrock of all policies is set by the
Constitution, which was adopted on November 26, 1949 by the Constituent
Assembly and came into force on January 26, 1950. However, no Constitution
should be cast in stone. It is meant to be dynamic and is supposed to reflect
the will of the people through Parliament, a point which was repeatedly made
during the Constituent Assembly debates. India’s Constitution today isn’t what
we inherited in 1950 and rightly so.” Recently speaking in the Rajya Sabha,
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi also expressed his doubts on the so called ‘basic
structure of the constitution’. People think that these utterings are
deliberately and purposely made to ‘test the waters’ by the ‘Hindutava’ forces
who intend to change or even abrogate the constitution. Let us wait and see. But
there are many questions which need to be answered in this regard – Though it
was clarified that these were the personal views of Bibek Debroy yet it would
need to be clearly stated by the Government of India, BJP, RSS and the main
stream of the civil society as to what was there thinking on the subject? It is
an important issue. Keeping the issue hanging in the air would amount to
playing with fire and ushering India that is Bharat into “Grammar of Anarchy”
as warned by Babasaheb Ambedkar himself. The concerned masses particularly<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DU_F40RyV6YOmdXXPLgWO02T-j-UxHP7gDkCRTSPYWb7XUx84jG9cJavLjZlZ8Wbfy9M_OMmsAQte8sKbbfI5R_BTSuacdCSBVZQVckzfAK0IpElhwVjmyv18c_RCXmX4qv_NSllvgAeOol5sNEzunGE3yx6-U0xS47R8OKkdkxYBepQFxBUtyJAdVs/s866/1693749281591.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="866" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DU_F40RyV6YOmdXXPLgWO02T-j-UxHP7gDkCRTSPYWb7XUx84jG9cJavLjZlZ8Wbfy9M_OMmsAQte8sKbbfI5R_BTSuacdCSBVZQVckzfAK0IpElhwVjmyv18c_RCXmX4qv_NSllvgAeOol5sNEzunGE3yx6-U0xS47R8OKkdkxYBepQFxBUtyJAdVs/w400-h264/1693749281591.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talk in Jalandhar to oppose the suggestions of Bivek Debroy</td></tr></tbody></table><br />
belonging to the socially oppressed and depressed segments of the society,
minorities and secular forces in the diversified and multi-racial and
multi-cultural society are already worried and ready to challenge such uncalled
for ‘misadventure’ to change the constitution of India. India is India only
because of the constitution. We would ignore this ground reality at our own
peril. ‘We the people of India’ must not be oblivious of the nefarious designs
of the vested interests to ward off the country of the dangers ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Chupa Kar Asteen Mein Bijliyan Rakhi
Hain Gardoon Ne<br />
Anadil Bagh Ke Ghafil Na Baithen Ashiyon Mein<br />
(The sky has kept thunderbolts concealed up its sleeve<br />
Garden’s nightingales should not slumber in their nests)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Ambedkar Power –
Growing Relevance</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> – It
may seem somewhat strange and even bizarre to coin a word like ‘Ambedkar Affect’.
It may also be called a farfetched preposition – Ambedkar Power is getting
increasingly visible in the polity and socio-economic structures of the country
and with this relevance of dalits or the weaker sections is getting new
meanings. I don’t know whether I</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s1wq5w-lcK-hWWErc-0Tr9c41ICqnN6-E30gdD2aZ7i97ma5KzL5cFo5i82ySkyl8VSVV4AkcZbQ_bvThYVaOsYSBuBCkYjB32ScodbxuuwGyS7QnKf0Kh00f21vPbqzdpbtagXWXRZtGEUahGKAzL3Jr7tOKRGVbrBdhGjrFfnOhdnU06ojHB3Ju6g/s300/ambedkar.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="300" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s1wq5w-lcK-hWWErc-0Tr9c41ICqnN6-E30gdD2aZ7i97ma5KzL5cFo5i82ySkyl8VSVV4AkcZbQ_bvThYVaOsYSBuBCkYjB32ScodbxuuwGyS7QnKf0Kh00f21vPbqzdpbtagXWXRZtGEUahGKAzL3Jr7tOKRGVbrBdhGjrFfnOhdnU06ojHB3Ju6g/w400-h289/ambedkar.gif" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> would succeed in making my point but
nevertheless, I would try and say it anyway. One may recall in 1946 when the
first interim government was formed, Congress Party and Muslim League were
given equal number of Ministerial berths in the Council of Ministers. Dalit
identity by then was already established. Congress Party nominated Jagjivan Ram
to give representation to dalits (Ambedkar was not in the reckoning as he was a
staunch opponent and critic of Congress Party) and to match the Congress Party,
Muslim League nominated Joginder Nath Mandal to accommodate dalit interests.
This drama of owning or appropriating dalits started well before the
independence. And it continues till today in one way or the other both by the
Congress Party and the newly emerged the other biggest party, BJP. Ambedkar and
his legacy, to my mind, are solely responsible to bring about this visible
scenario with regard to dalits or Scheduled Castes to come in the national
reckoning. It seems that it, the Ambedkar Affect, would remain so in the years
to come. Congress Party appropriated Babasaheb Ambedkar by nominating him to
the Constituent Assembly, making him the Chairman of the Drafting Committee to
write the Constitution, appointing him the first Law Minister of India
(Pakistan did the same to Joginder Nath Mandal but later things changed and it
is a separate issue). Congress Party promoted Jagjivan Ram and the likes of D.
Sanjivayya to counter Babasaheb Ambedkar and later the likes of Buta Singh,
Chand Ram, Yogendra Makwana etc. came to the centre stage and roped in B.D.
Khobragade, B.P. Maurya, Ram Dhan among others to give representation to SCs in
the power structures of the country. BJP in the run up to become a pan-India
political force n the 1970s, started looking for SC faces to attract the SC
vote banks and brought to their fold educated SCs like Ram Nath Kovind, Suraj
Bhan, Sonkar Shastri, Sanjay Paswan among others. Congress Party made K.R.
Narayanan first Vice President and then President of India to please the SC
communities as a well thought-over strategy. ‘Ambedkar Affect’ was at work in
shaping the political landscape for the SCs in the scheme of things of both
Congress Party and BJP. BJP made Ram Nath Kovind the President of India,
recognized Ambedkar by making memorials and celebrating Ambedkar’s 125th birth
anniversary, appointed a couple of Governors, made Droupadi Murmu, the
President of India. BJP is fully aware of the Ambedkar Affect in the electoral
aspects to remain in the corridors of power not only in Delhi but also in the
state capitals. In turn, Congress Party picked up Mallikarjun Kharge as the
President of Congress Party. Though Kharge Sahib is a leader by his own right
yet Ambedkar Affect also played its role in his alleviation to the coveted
position.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">To cut the story short, I come straight to the new political
phenomena coming into</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u5Z53vhg3ZmGn8NvTw9lWoSdeCetTqF0taqt7NnUZciqtqgmtyvTqywqS_MNUSJw10UP79PlWMRiVSkxiLyhIGIvINubHeQxEI0fWECorABjNcdkR-pSlPwXYJj-32p0onyLM1dZ7lGPPUybE_6mDNgJAZbbGNr1TN26HG9GGemf94iE3XG5T2_y_1k/s621/22814158_10210621559512289_1528024047990623169_nmmnhnb.,lkm.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="621" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u5Z53vhg3ZmGn8NvTw9lWoSdeCetTqF0taqt7NnUZciqtqgmtyvTqywqS_MNUSJw10UP79PlWMRiVSkxiLyhIGIvINubHeQxEI0fWECorABjNcdkR-pSlPwXYJj-32p0onyLM1dZ7lGPPUybE_6mDNgJAZbbGNr1TN26HG9GGemf94iE3XG5T2_y_1k/w400-h246/22814158_10210621559512289_1528024047990623169_nmmnhnb.,lkm.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Ambedkar Affect</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /> play in tactical and strategic political moves of BJP to
counter Ambedkar Affect and to amend the Constitution of India, linked with the
persona of Ambedkar and his legacy, to promote their subtle agenda of Hindutava
by firing the salvos from the shoulders of SC leaders in the BJP – appointed
Arjun Meghwal as the Law Minister to oversee and pilot the controversial legislative
framework at this crucial and challenging times and more recently appointed
Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind as Chairman of the Committee to
study and make a report on the issue of ‘One Nation – One Election’. I don’t
know exactly whether in the past any government made a Former Mahamahim to
Chair a government committee to carry forward its political agenda. Anyway it
is a separate matter. The crux of the matter is ‘Ambedkar Affect’ - Ambedkar Ka
Zaddu Sar Chad kar Bol Raha Hai. Ambedkar Power is a potent power and will
remain so in the days to come. Allma Iqbal’s poetic assertion fully explains
the scattered fragrance of Ambedkar Power in the socio-political and even
socio-cultural life of the country:-<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch
Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne<br />
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri<br />
(Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the
rose<br />
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Urha Li Qumriyon Ne, Tootiyon Ne,
Andleebon Ne<br />
Chaman Walon Ne Mil Kar Loot Li Tarz-e-Faghan Meri<br />
(The turtle‐doves, parrots, and nightingales pilfered away<br />
The garden’s denizens jointly robbed away my plaintive way)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-65346487109380627632023-08-29T09:13:00.004+03:002023-08-29T09:14:26.441+03:00Des Raj Kali – a literary and Intellectual Stalwart: an Obituary<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Des Raj Kali – a literary
and Intellectual Stalwart: an Obituary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Des Raj Kali, born in 1971, a friend of mine, passed away on
August 27, 2023 after a brief illness at a young age of 51. It was shocking
news on this sultry Sunday. The sad news spread like a wild fire since morning
in the social media. If one simply goes by the condolence messages and remarks
by the people, one can easily say that Kali Sahib was much liked and accepted
son of the soil. I met Kali Sahib, popularly addressed as Kali Bhaji in his
friends’ circles,</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr19MU64wsjbBn2YeU-Alym1zwFvHoGwtWWmIogEu8kvt_JjqJcGIp5ZZaG7G05Afv81ivHx-T6F0R9QkuSMLwAcbyoJ5emDDJFDSddPsHApIIApislE-YBvLcmWObidm3AGrG4Tefx-i7lBael6qTHeCmOutjJ0w7oSQmCij8KL9kVj1mckJj6seXMiI/s206/42943858_1847952148591495_3469796008471298048_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr19MU64wsjbBn2YeU-Alym1zwFvHoGwtWWmIogEu8kvt_JjqJcGIp5ZZaG7G05Afv81ivHx-T6F0R9QkuSMLwAcbyoJ5emDDJFDSddPsHApIIApislE-YBvLcmWObidm3AGrG4Tefx-i7lBael6qTHeCmOutjJ0w7oSQmCij8KL9kVj1mckJj6seXMiI/w400-h400/42943858_1847952148591495_3469796008471298048_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> only after my retirement from my diplomatic career and return
to my roots in Jalandhar. He was already a known figure in literary, media and
social circles. My friend and a senior colleague, Ambassador Bal Anand who
himself was a literary enthusiast, on a visit to Jalandhar, mentioned about Des
Raj Kali and his magazine ‘The Lakeer’ and advised me to meet him in the
process of settling down and finding a meaningful social space in Jalandhar.
Subsequently, I met him several times in the social milieu and made
acquaintances with him. I found him an interesting and knowledgeable man but a
little ‘haughty’, if I take the liberty of saying so. May be his social
background, political orientation (leftist ideology), association with Gadrite
movement, understanding and affiliation with the thoughts of Babasaeb Ambedkar
and Babu Kanshi and above all his own thought process as a self made
intellectual, were some of the attributes which made him a proud man and
rightly so. As I said, Kali Sahib belonged to a socially marginalized family of
Mithapur, then a village in the outskirts of Jalandhar. Today only I came to
know that he was one of my fellow alumni of Jalandhar DAV College. My first one
on one interaction held a few years ago when he interviewed me for the
mouth-piece of weaker sections of the society, the Apni Mitti run by Ajay Ram
Dhan. I found Kali Sahib exactly what I heard of him, full of confidence,
professionally experienced, social involvement and commitment. I was impressed
by his candid demeanor. Later, I interacted with him quite extensively with
regard to socio-political matters of mutual concern in league with my friends,
Rajesh Bagha and Inder Iqbal Atwal of BJP and Jiwan Singh of LIC among others. He
was not a blind follower of traditions rather stood his ground in holding on
his own as he pleased. With the demise of Des Raj Kali, a wide void has come in
the intellectual circles of Jalandhar and beyond. His presence will be missed
greatly in the days to come.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">After this a somewhat personal note, I must salute Kali Sahib
for his self earned stature of an astute political commentator, free and fair
journalist, a literary genius and communicator, a dedicated social activist and
an excellent human being. The Tribune has rightly termed Kali Sahib ‘was best
known as a Punjabi crossover writer who took the region's Dalit ethos to the
world’. Kali was a renowned author of story books, novels and literature
pertaining to the weaker sections of the society with both national and international
acclaim - from the Jaipur Lit Festival to Nottingham Trent University in
England, Montpellier University, France and Monash University, Australia, among
others. Several of his books have been translated in other languages. Kali
Sahib was a consummate broadcaster as an apt interviewer and political
commentator with his insights on his Youtube channel Barqtan WebTV on wide
ranging issues. He also edited and published a quarterly literary magazine The
Lakeer and also did stints at the Nawan Zamana and the Dainik Bhaskar. Des Raj
Kali produced hundreds of articles on dalits, culture and literature in various
magazines like the Tehalka. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With the passing away of Kali Sahib the literary and
intellectual circles in and around Jalandhar has lost one of his vocal and
candid spokespersons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">With this as a humble tribute to Kali Bhaji, I stand with the
bereaved family in their hour of grief. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(246, 246, 246); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">न</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">हाथ</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">थाम</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सके</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">न</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">पकड़</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">सके</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">दामन</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(246, 246, 246); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">बहुत</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">करीब</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">से</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">उठकर</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">चला</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">गया</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Mangal","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">कोई</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(246, 246, 246); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span face=""Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-52664150021302684362023-08-25T17:09:00.004+03:002023-08-25T17:10:29.694+03:00Thus spoke PM Narendra Modi from the Red Fort on Independence Day<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Thus spoke PM Narendra
Modi from the Red Fort on Independence Day<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I wanted to write earlier on the speech of PM Narendra Modi
delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the Independence on August 15
but some other events overtook, hence this delay. Nevertheless, I tend to say
my mind on the subject. In a customary address every year, PM of India
addresses the nation since</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PxlMD87kQqx7UPQ05NFKVdHS7bgAYKpiRCAB8JmulVTgr-y7nP48awnbFEJJufQUsEIrkH7eFN21frFMW5xeI0yYFmFHtKLXz_eCewVYM7oniKcBnN4DDG56WFgH-TkLOgvj5VTnxzOdtfF4xu6jtfFMwuj_VPpsVl6DABWFNqEoQbP3S7LljEKsaQU/s215/download%20(1).jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="215" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PxlMD87kQqx7UPQ05NFKVdHS7bgAYKpiRCAB8JmulVTgr-y7nP48awnbFEJJufQUsEIrkH7eFN21frFMW5xeI0yYFmFHtKLXz_eCewVYM7oniKcBnN4DDG56WFgH-TkLOgvj5VTnxzOdtfF4xu6jtfFMwuj_VPpsVl6DABWFNqEoQbP3S7LljEKsaQU/w400-h309/download%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> independence in 1947. PM Modi spoke from the Red
Fort for the 10th time ever since he took the reins of the county in 2014. Before
coming to the content, message and crux of the speech, I must add that PM
Narendra Modi certainly add colour to the ceremony – meticulously dressed in a
traditional Kurta-Pyzama and every time wearing a new style of a colouful
turban representing one region or the other. It goes without saying that he is
one of the finest orators who can make his audience spell-bound <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">– a Zaduvian Mukarar. <o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Such speeches ought to present and explain ‘State of the
Nation’ and to be meaningful. The incumbent PM is expected to be a statesman
who should take the people into confidence including the opposition without
caring for the brownie points for narrow political agenda. It is a matter of
gratification to note that since independence in 1947, India has come a long
way in establishing herself as the largest</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvDu1D87nL72lu6v3lt6nFhgjTUKutIjnsYGpXY0Hphub4E2s_ECLOeaECwr-DeTCSxj7sZSsQCqg_X6hcuKSKYU9FvxlqwV8Fj87sf9oR4_B40HULZcrjRcU9iJkvfhRCAOeK6cppsggKsoWRlgG-yyv0on3CHr0MfqcJbZoq8k0EgJzD72n96BGrtk/s796/2023_8$largeimg_140853912.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="796" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvDu1D87nL72lu6v3lt6nFhgjTUKutIjnsYGpXY0Hphub4E2s_ECLOeaECwr-DeTCSxj7sZSsQCqg_X6hcuKSKYU9FvxlqwV8Fj87sf9oR4_B40HULZcrjRcU9iJkvfhRCAOeK6cppsggKsoWRlgG-yyv0on3CHr0MfqcJbZoq8k0EgJzD72n96BGrtk/w400-h256/2023_8$largeimg_140853912.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> democracy of the world, one of the fastest
growing economies, enjoying demographic advantage, one of the established and
growing reservoirs of highly skilled manpower among other favorable attributes.
We can safely say that ‘India has arrived but we are yet to go a long way to
reach’. The challenges are heavy to remain on track – majoritarian approach,
socio-economic inequality, growing political intolerance, growing communal
chasm, corruption, political and constitutional immorality, institutional rot,
weakening Checks and Balances on the organs of the state that is Executive,
Legislature and Judiciary, eroding free and fair media are some of the points
which offhand come to my mind. We need to ward off ourselves from these dangers
to keep India that is Bharat on rails. It is incumbent on our leadership
particularly the PM to uphold the healthy tradition of addressing the nation
from the Red Fort to lead the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘tryst
with destiny’</b> on which we embarked upon on the early morning of August 15,
1947.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">In this blog, I would try to capture the essence of the
speech of PM Narendra Modi delivered this year from the ramparts of the Red
Fort.<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="vdo_ai_cross" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="" style='width:24pt;height:24pt'/><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img height="32" src="file:///C:/Users/CMZ/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" v:shapes="vdo_ai_cross" width="32" /><!--[endif]-->PM Narendra Modi or may be his speech writers
often come out with interesting acronyms which make the speech interesting and explanatory
to the general public. I mention here a few such expressions used in the speech
this year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Deviating from the traditional format
of addressing the audience as Mere Pyare Deshvashio (dear citizens) or Bhaio
aur Behano (Brothers and sisters), PM Modi came with a new format as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mere Parivar Jano</b>. PM Modi is a ‘astute
communicator with skills of deliberate wordplay’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Urged to wage a war on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“corruption, dynastic politics and
appeasement”</b> – An often repeated assertion of PM Modi to castigate Congress
party. Corruption, to my mind is a national malady – Iss Hamam Mein Sab Nange
Hain, irrespective of the party. As regards dynastic politics, it is a fact of
public life of Nehru-Gandhi family, right from Moti<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lal Nehru to Rahul or Priyanka, the family
has been fully involved in the freedom struggle and politics and governance of
the country’s politics. It does not, it seems, has any adverse effect on the
politics of the country. Coming to appeasement, it is clearly aimed to target
the minority community as a considered policy of the ruling right wing Hindu
outfits. The fact of the matter, to my mind, is that the currently ruling
dispensations themselves resort to the so called ‘appeasement’ of the majority
community to polarize the society for political gains. It is for the people to
understand these political machinations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">PM said that appeasement policies had
‘murdered and destroyed social justice’. He did not explain it how?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly I could not understand as to what he
wanted to say. The statement seems to be counter-productive and self
contradictory. I will be happy if someone can educate me on this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">PM named two major attributes of
nation building - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unity and national
character</b>, describing the latter as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a
“catalytic agent in any nation's progress”</b> – Of course, these are some of
the important attributes for the development and progress of the country and
the society at large as PM Modi himself asserted in the address that we should <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Reform, Perform and Transform’</b> to make
India a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘developed country ‘by 2047</b>’,
the centenary year of free India. Let us admit that the much needed ‘unity’ is
under threat and divisive tendencies are getting strong. We are to arrest this
trend – the sooner the better. As regards national character, we are yet get
democratic and scientific temper and also just social order. We need to think
and shed ‘double talk’ on the caste ridden society and try every best to bring
about “Samrasta” as professed and propagated by RSS and BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Stressed on the specific attributes
of the Indian reality – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Demography,
Democracy and Diversity’</b> – Yes, these are very important aspects of India’s
polity. We are set to be world’s largest populated country surpassing China.
Now it would be up to ‘we the people of India’ and our rulers to drive
‘demographic dividend’ out of the emerging situation or let the opportunity
slip with narrow political agenda. It has a direct bearing on the other two
that id Democracy and Diversity. Over the recent years, it has been observed
that our ‘democratic credentials’ are getting weakened with institutional rot,
constitutional immorality and divisive politics in the ground situation of
‘socio-economic inequality’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diversity,
of course, is the fact of our socio-cultural life with multi-racial,
multi-lingual, multi-religious edifice. We are to maintain this as a secular
country as stipulated in the constitution of India. It could only be maintained
if the majority gives enough and credit-worthy assurances to the minorities and
give them due space not only in the polity but also in the socio-economic life
of our country – ‘United we stand and divided we fall’ is the catchword which
should guide us in the years to come without resorting to ‘camouflaged’
approaches. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-rkd-fh85B1tWjUhVJY83Yt9x_f2YXiJcapUJGzfnu5dauao1RImbZ0uy4jGQRURrbU2pjZjkHXLYh1E7YQd_5kLD_mgSKZxsUusa0zw23D7Zvouhw0VHy2Gl1S30WZ514QmN3TA72Ca04OyH1rB4QFq-aehJR-yapY6cfxcYyDGM3I_ooPI0Q5zcOo/s285/buddhham%20sarnam.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="285" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-rkd-fh85B1tWjUhVJY83Yt9x_f2YXiJcapUJGzfnu5dauao1RImbZ0uy4jGQRURrbU2pjZjkHXLYh1E7YQd_5kLD_mgSKZxsUusa0zw23D7Zvouhw0VHy2Gl1S30WZ514QmN3TA72Ca04OyH1rB4QFq-aehJR-yapY6cfxcYyDGM3I_ooPI0Q5zcOo/s1600/buddhham%20sarnam.jpg" width="285" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">PM Modi repeatedly used the lofty
dictum of Gautama Buddha <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Bahujan Hitaye
– Bahujan Sukhaye”</b> in his speech, it seems, as a<br /> tactical ploy to address
the vote banks. There is no harm in this subtle approach. Buddha, of course, is
the flag bearer of Indian tradition and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">ü<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">Communl strife; particularly the
recent events of Manipur and Haryana, to my mind, should have got more attention
in the speech. Communalism is the biggest threat to the idea and spirit of
India that is Bharat. But, it seemed, it did not fit in the strategic thinking
of PM Modi. He chose to avail of the opportunity to take political advantage to
carry forward his or his party’s political agenda, unlike a statesman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Columnist Rajdeep Sardesai has raised a
question on this in an article in the Hindustan Times, “From the Red Fort, PM
Modi hinted dynastic politics, corruption and appeasement will be his three
weapons for 2024. But after nine years in power, will they work as well as they
did in 2014?” Only the time will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2ZXVJm1lrphV9kaFbvYcoSphny0NoEwrxDESd9o9Du1SfkP-SPoBIH_agPGGjyeuZ5nKbi2gbO-NOa-QC189HpGXZpAGyB0cYfMWAiH_yaPwdQj2vtTVwUSoMpCsXaz8aXH3aN-vTE7s8qDPx8ms659zAUoh-B0mNwFBKrbva5SBMOcJ-Nz3UfSDXVQ/s300/.,mnjhb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="244" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2ZXVJm1lrphV9kaFbvYcoSphny0NoEwrxDESd9o9Du1SfkP-SPoBIH_agPGGjyeuZ5nKbi2gbO-NOa-QC189HpGXZpAGyB0cYfMWAiH_yaPwdQj2vtTVwUSoMpCsXaz8aXH3aN-vTE7s8qDPx8ms659zAUoh-B0mNwFBKrbva5SBMOcJ-Nz3UfSDXVQ/s1600/.,mnjhb.jpg" width="244" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">India is on the move. PM of the day will address the nation
again on August 15, 2024. Let us rise ourselves above the petty political
considerations as citizens of a great country. I conclude this with a quote
from my icon, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Babasaheb Ambedkar, “I do
not want that<br /> our loyalty as Indians should be in the slightest way affected by
any competitive loyalty whether that loyalty arises out of our religion, out of
our culture or out of our language. I want all people to be Indians first,
Indian last and nothing else but Indians.”<o:p></o:p></b></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Chisti Ne Jis Zameen Pe Paigame Haq Suniya;<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Nanak Ne Jis Chaman Mein Vehdat Ka Geet Gaya’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Mera Watan Wahi Hai, Mera Watan Wahi Hai<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4192205445348368790.post-3218519448592481652023-08-17T09:56:00.004+03:002023-08-17T09:57:26.424+03:00Bindeshwar Pathak – A Humble Tribute<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bindeshwar Pathak – A
Humble Tribute<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bindeshwar Pathak (April, 1943 – August, 2023), a man of
sterling worth in the field of sanitation, health and environment, passed away
on August 15, 2023. Pathak Sahib was a social reformer and a social
entrepreneur particularly with regard to the vulnerable sections of the society
commonly called the Safai Karamcharis belonging to lowest</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MKbXhv2t997s1EOtwaHz3LnVVpczSXNw412VEO3D8HgT5sY1YstI3ffKsZ8EWVV7Uc5mkye3G3VDFb90Ut3nS5w3gnvmgsPq6MH0_O_V-8bT1Gwuld2RTCxFJY6i4w3UKyz5FHWUck-ZsEbRVpUfK24x2Kl0AhL2qlrfyU5EXuKiFn5kXtFB-EQy-ao/s287/220px-Bindeshwar_Pathak.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MKbXhv2t997s1EOtwaHz3LnVVpczSXNw412VEO3D8HgT5sY1YstI3ffKsZ8EWVV7Uc5mkye3G3VDFb90Ut3nS5w3gnvmgsPq6MH0_O_V-8bT1Gwuld2RTCxFJY6i4w3UKyz5FHWUck-ZsEbRVpUfK24x2Kl0AhL2qlrfyU5EXuKiFn5kXtFB-EQy-ao/w307-h400/220px-Bindeshwar_Pathak.jpg" width="307" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> strata of the Hindu
society in the caste ridden social order of India. The Wikipedia profile of
Bindeswar<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pathak writes that he first
came to understand the plight of scavengers in 1968 when he joined the
Bhangi-Mukti (scavengers’ liberation) Cell of Bihar Gandhi Centenary
Celebrations Committee. During that time, he travelled throughout India, living
with scavenger families as part of his Ph.D. research. Drawing on that
experience, he resolved to take action, not only out of sympathy for the
scavengers but also in the belief that scavenging is a dehumanizing practice
that would ultimately has a destructive impact on the Indian society. He
established the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulabh_International" title="Sulabh International"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sulabh International</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> a social service organization
in 1970. The organization worked to promote human rights, environmental
sanitation, and non-conventional sources of energy, waste management and social
reforms through education. He was the Brand Ambassador for Swachh Rail Mission
of Indian Railways. His work is considered pioneering in social reform,
especially in the field of sanitation and hygiene. He received various national
and international awards for his work with this organization. He was presented
with the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public
Administration, Academics and Management for the year 2017.He was conferred
with <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_Bhushan" title="Padma Bhushan"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Padma Bhushan</span></a></span>,
India's third-highest civilian award in 1991.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Bindeshwar Pathak was rightly called a social entrepreneur.
The Tribune in its obituary to the departed soul said, “Sulabh reported a
turnover of Rs 490 crore in the fiscal 2020. Not just toilets, Sulabh has set
up a number of vocational training institutes. Here, liberated scavengers,
their sons and daughters and persons from other weaker sections of society are
given training in various vocations like computer technology, typing and
shorthand, electrical trade, woodcraft, leather craft, diesel and petrol
engineering, cutting and tailoring, cane furniture making, masonry work, motor
driving. The purpose of imparting vocational training to them is to give them
new means of livelihood, alleviate poverty and bring them into the</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12VrF2hsK9c1xrER18hsFVh6m913e7EhI0wWi6XFwYVGPmmKop6tlvyRyOvOfNgOwX2_l2o_deGZhR1uHgNJ0IbSnxCxAXlH9lVykvp1PAijSU1NJdcazP3-5guzx8bTROadrd4InWf0PLsN-QXSNRz_xS4sQy9WM4z9SeJI0qpLAbN9cQtBLe9yJXZk/s286/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12VrF2hsK9c1xrER18hsFVh6m913e7EhI0wWi6XFwYVGPmmKop6tlvyRyOvOfNgOwX2_l2o_deGZhR1uHgNJ0IbSnxCxAXlH9lVykvp1PAijSU1NJdcazP3-5guzx8bTROadrd4InWf0PLsN-QXSNRz_xS4sQy9WM4z9SeJI0qpLAbN9cQtBLe9yJXZk/w400-h246/images.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> mainstream
of society. From setting up an English medium School in Delhi for children of
manual scavengers to providing financial assistance to the abandoned widows in
Vrindavan or establish a museum of toilets in the national capital, Pathak and
his Sulabh have always worked towards the upliftment of the marginalized.” The
Obituary <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>added, “A pioneer of public
toilets in India, Bindeshwar Pathak came to be known as the “Toilet Man of
India” long before the Swachch Bharat Mission made toilets a part of public
discourse, even as he was often ridiculed, including by his father-in-law, for
the work he was doing.”<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Subsequently, PM Narendra Modi started the new project to
address the issues dear to Pathak Sahib under the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan also
called as the Clean India Mission or Clean India drive, of course a laudable
initiative. Swachh Bharat Mission, Swachch Bharat</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlk0nr0_cYKZUOM-BruKhBB3j2yZpRp-nd2-rUHIsXss7EdOVhplP1-Uz6NXiGneH1gn25HBIjuiovK_8t091Xx5jy37dXAgFs7YsSkSDwCF0a2ZPRaDsXYhtLxPkUDvzrGrBMoYmmrZyksYd5xNkFmV0MiriFLee3HQ4nFv2ZGVAgh19pnnNjwTY1tU/s300/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlk0nr0_cYKZUOM-BruKhBB3j2yZpRp-nd2-rUHIsXss7EdOVhplP1-Uz6NXiGneH1gn25HBIjuiovK_8t091Xx5jy37dXAgFs7YsSkSDwCF0a2ZPRaDsXYhtLxPkUDvzrGrBMoYmmrZyksYd5xNkFmV0MiriFLee3HQ4nFv2ZGVAgh19pnnNjwTY1tU/w400-h224/download.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> Abhiyan, or Clean India
Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India in 2014
to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management. The program
also aims to increase awareness of menstrual health management. An
estimated 1.3 million Dalits (the lowest group in the Hindu caste hierarchy) in
India eke out a living through the most degrading practice of manual
scavenging, an occupation which involves cleaning open toilets and dry latrines
and carrying human excreta with bare hands. In cities and towns, Dalit workers
are often employed in the maintenance of sewer systems, sweeping of roads and
collection of garbage. Apart from being employed to clean toilets in individual
households, they are also engaged in cleaning community dry latrines, roadside
open toilets, railway stations, government hospitals and other public places. Pathak
Sahib really did a great job in flagging an important issue of degraded human
activity, the manual scavenging – experience which, to my mind, was wrongly
called ‘a spiritual experience‘ by Mahatma Gandhi and later by PM Narendra Modi
– <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to Hell with such a spiritual
experience. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I have had an occasion to meet and interact with Bindeshwar
Pathak some years at a seminar on Guru Ravidass at the Jawaharlal Nehru
University (JNU) in New Delhi. I was impressed by his clarity of</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEd3BYCDqRHlb63IVh7YBMPne7rakaRRPsWWcKFfdsj6rEqguFjjOI_Ag3boieCNNmDsumu8z7J1Cn_fXjYYxRbffsb5BiV7QzccicDIXEafcGGlnoYh2ug5HMEH9Kv-oUATwmnFbjGNEiacjxeAQhhNhjx7xFqA9IDt7KRnZr9i-qA94YVC3UiFz7Wo/s806/jnu5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="806" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEd3BYCDqRHlb63IVh7YBMPne7rakaRRPsWWcKFfdsj6rEqguFjjOI_Ag3boieCNNmDsumu8z7J1Cn_fXjYYxRbffsb5BiV7QzccicDIXEafcGGlnoYh2ug5HMEH9Kv-oUATwmnFbjGNEiacjxeAQhhNhjx7xFqA9IDt7KRnZr9i-qA94YVC3UiFz7Wo/w400-h281/jnu5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> thought and
conviction to carry forward his lofty mission to empower the weaker sections of
the society; particularly the Safai Karamcharis. Pathak Sahib, 80, died on
August 15, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav soon after unfurling the national flag, it
has been reported in the media – a glorious departure. India needs a few more
sons of the soil like Bindeshwar Pathak:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Badi Mushkil Se Hota
Hai Chaman Mein Didawar Paida<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">And – <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Jis Dhaj Se Koi Maktal
Mein Gya; Woh Saan Salamat Rahti Hai,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yeh Jaan To Aani Jaani
Hai; Is Jaan Ki Koi Baat Nahin</span><o:p style="font-size: 18pt;"></o:p></span></b></p>ramesh chanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03980859691123019970noreply@blogger.com0