Book on Babasaheb Ambedkar Launched by MP Sushil Rinku

 

Book on Babasaheb Ambedkar Launched by MP Sushil Rinku                   

The book - Some Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and His Legacy: The Bits and Pieces was launched on November 14, 2023 at a brief and solemn function. The book, written by Ambassador Ramesh Chander, a

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.  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.  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.”   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.” The book was release by the dynamic politician and MP of Jalandhar, Sushil Rinku. Appreciating the book and its author MP Sushil Rinku

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.  A renowned writer and retired Post Master General of Punjab, Col. Tilak Raj 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 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.

It may be added that this was the second book of Ambassador Ramesh

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.

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:

Thanks with a sense of Gratitude

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

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: www.ambedkartimes.com

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.

(Ambassador Ramesh Chander)

Jalandhar, September, 2023

 

 

 

My friend and fellow BootanMandian – Ram Lal Dass: Flag-bearer of Pay Back to Society

 

My friend and fellow BootanMandian – Ram Lal Dass:  Flag-bearer of Pay Back to Society

 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

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’.

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

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  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

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 :

ਗਿਆਨ  ਦਾ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਹੈ ਐ ਭੀਮ ਤੇਰੀ ਹਰ ਕਿਤਾਬ,

ਲਿਖਤ ਤੇਰੀ ਬੇਮਿਸ਼ਾਲ ਹੈ ਤਰਕ ਤੇਰੇ ਲਾਜ਼ਬਾਬ ।         

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

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  in Nagpur, adoption of schools for much  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: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/search?q=ambedkar+study+corner

 

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

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.

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

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Honoured to be Associated with Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

 

Honoured to be Associated with Dr. Ambedkar Foundation 

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

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 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’.

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

Ambedkar namely; Celebrated Ambedkar’s 125^th Centenary Celebrations in 2015-16, Established Ambedkar Memorial at Alipur Road in  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.

Text of my letter dated October 27, 2023

October 27, 2023

Dear Director Parveen Thind,

With reference to your Office Memorandum dated October 26, 2023
nominating me as Member of the General Body of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, I thank you and  Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment,  Dr. Virendra Kumar for  associating me with the esteemed Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. I look forward to work with you as a humble follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

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.

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.

With regards,

Yours truly

(Ramesh Chander)

Shri Parveen Kumar Thind,

Director -Dr. Ambedkar Foundation

New Delhi

 

Copy to: Chairman of Dr. Ambedkar Foundation and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi

 

 

Model – UN 2023 at Police DAV Public School at Jalandhar

 

Model – UN 2023 at Police DAV Public School at Jalandhar

 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
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

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

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.  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

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.  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.  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.

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 –

Tu Pehle Baat Phir Baat Ka Andaz Paida Kar

Phir Zamane Mein Tujhe Koi Nazar Andaz Kar Nahin Sakta

 

Sheela Mahey: A Socio-Cultural Activist – An Obituary

 

Sheela Mahey: A Socio-Cultural Activist – An Obituary  

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

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.

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.  Some of the activities of Team Sheela, to my mind, are really thoughtful and must be appreciated.

 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.  She catered to the requirements like uniforms, stationery etc. of

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  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.

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?

बड़ी मुश्किल से होता है चमन  में दीदावर पैदा

 

International Seminar on Life, Time and Philosophy of Satguru Ravidass ji

 

International Seminar on Life, Time and Philosophy of Satguru Ravidass ji

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

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.

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

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:

Tum Chandan Hum Rind Bapre Sang Tuhare Wasa;

Neech Rukh Te Unch Bhayo Hai Gandh Sugandh Niwasa

 

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:

Shakti Bhi Shanti Bhi Bhakton Ke Geet Mein Hai;

Dharti Ke Wasion Ke Mukti Preet Mein Hai

 

Here is the Text of my Paper - Guru Ravidass: Harbinger of Social Harmony          

Guru Ravidass: Harbinger of Social Harmony

Guru Ravidass, 16th century mystic saint and social reformer of the Bhakti Movement was the harbinger of equality, fraternity and harmoy in the society.  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  -

Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara; Jo Ham-Sehri So Meet Hamara

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 Varna Vibastha, 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; Guru Nanak, Sant Kabir 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:

Begumpura Sehar Ka Naon; Dukh Andoh Nahin Jis Ke Thaon

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.

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 ‘secular, socialist and democratic’ constitution of India written under the stewardship of Babasaheb Ambedkar 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.

Guru Ravidass clearly laid the foundation of democratic socialism in the present parlance of good governance and said:-

Aaisa Chahun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann;

Chot- Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Prasan

 

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 –

Pradheenta Paap Hai; Jan Lyo Re Meet,

Ravidass Dass Pradheen Se Kaun Kare Hai Preet.

Guru Ravidass was dead against the caste based discrimination prevailing in the society. He said –

Ravidass Janam Ke Karne Hot Na Koi Neech

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 –

Mein Nahin Sandesh Swarag Ka Laiya;

Iss Bhutal Ko Hi Swarag Banane Aaiya

 

 I referred to the Samrasta agenda of the main stream of the society in the opening paragraphs.  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. 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 –

Iqbal Bada Updeshak Hai; Man Batton Se Moh Leta Hai

Gifftar Ka To Yeh Gazi Bana; Kirdar Ka Gazi Ban Na Saka

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Babu Kanshi Ram – A Tribute

 

Babu Kanshi Ram – A Tribute

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
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.

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 (BAMCEF),  Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS-4) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which culminated in a political

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

At Prem Shant's residence in Jalandhar

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”.

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.

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.

I leave it here as my humble tribute the great leader, Manyawar Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary.