The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 21

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 21

1.   Sorry State of Affairs at Dera Sachkhand Ballan of Jalandhar – I write this pain and worry at the Dera Sachkhand Ballan of Jalandhar, the so called Mecca of Dalits; particularly of the followers of Guru Ravidass. Again the Dera is in the news due to wrong reasons – the ongoing slugfest between the management of the Dera and Sant

Mandeep Dass and the Sangat (Audience/Followers) of the Dera at Sirsgarh in Haryana. Some vested interests within the Deras at Jalandhar and also in Sirsgarh, it seems, are exploiting the situation for their selfish ends. It is more so at the Jalandhar end, to my mind, as Sirsgarh Dera is an extension of the Dera Sachkhand Ballan and was being managed accordingly. It has also been observed from the social media that political activists have also jumped the fray. Both the sides are washing their dirty linen in public which tells poorly of the people at the helm on both sides. It is a matter of concern and worry as it tends to tarnish the image of the Dera Sachkhand Ballan and its Gaddinasheen Sant Niranjan Dass ji. I am writing this as a humble follower of Guru Ravidass and a small but thinking community activist. The current management at the Dera, seems to me, is a band of ill-informed self-seekers without any roadmap for the Dera and the community for its march forward. I have been following the Dera Sachkhand Ballan quite closely. Sant Ramanand knew me well and we had been discussing the activities and programmes of the Dera even while I was a serving diplomat. I wrote several times about this in my regular blogs in the larger interest of the community. I met Sant Niranjan Dass ji at least thrice along with Sant Ramanand in Jalandhar, Delhi and Vienna. Though

the current management at the Dera is blissfully not responsive at all yet occasionally I have been approaching them, as one way traffic, and saying my mind with a view to watch and safeguard the interests of the Dera and the community at large. The Dera raised a dust storm by shunting out ant Surinder Dass Bawa a few years ago and now it is being repeated with Sant Mandeep Singh. I don’t intend to elaborate the matter here but my only wish is that Sant Niranjan Dass ji must take stock of the ongoing sorry state of affairs at the Dera and throughout the dirty fishes out before they spoil and dirty the pond itself. People, the opponents of the community, are watching and rejoicing. In recent months, I wrote about the Dera Sachkhand Ballan in my blogs; one of the blogs says a bit more - https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2026/06/dera-sachkhand-ballan-of-jalandhar.html

Yeh Zbar Bhi Dekha Hai; Tareekh Ki Nazaron Ne

Lehmon Ne Khata Ki Sadion Ne Saza Payee

 

2.   Reminder – the 650^th Gurpurb of Guru Ravidass – The subject was much flaunted in the news some months ago. GOI under the leadership and BJP was trying to placate the followers of Guru Ravidass – named the Adampur Airport as Guru Ravidass Airport, PM Narendra Modi visited Dera

Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar,  Sant Niranjan Dass was honoured with the Padma Shree Award, a special train was started to Seergoverdhanpur in Varanasi (Kashi), Kalsh Yatras from Seergovardhapur to various holy sites in UP, Punjab, Uttrakhand and other destinations. But no real and concrete roadmap to celebrate and commemorate the solemn occasion of the 650^th Gurpurab of the great Guru has been announced so far despite the fact that many suggestions had been submitted to the GOI and BJP which may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2026/09/guru-ravidasss-650th-gurpurab-and-vote.html 

The Dera Sachkhand Ballan is pre-occupied with internal ramblings as stated in this blog. Perhaps, they have time to pursue the matter. I urge the civic society and the intelligentsia of the community and also the Dalit leadership of BJP to kindly see and consider and impress upon the GOI to come out of the lip service and do something concrete to observe the 650^th Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass in a befitting manner. The patience of the people is getting thin, to my mind.

Yeh Sochna Galat Hai; Ki Tumpar Nazar Nahin,

Masroof Mein Rehta Hoon; Magar Bekhabar Nahin

 

Ritualistic Reminder – International Day of Equality

A Ritualistic Reminder – International Day of Equality

It is the 11th year of my writing and reminding the GOI and other stake holders on the proposal; April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality since June, 2015. As a ritual, I had been writing
on the subject religiously in September in successive years about the time of the UNGA in New Year as the proposal has to be taken up with the international community through the UN. I did my duty by writing and reminding EAM DR. S. Jaishankar through my personal letter to him which is appended below. I am not aware as to what is stored for us in the days to come but I recall an Urdu couplet which I read recently –

Mere Rehbar Mujhe Gumrah Kar De

Suna Hai Manzil Najdik Aa Rahi Hai

The proposal on the International Day of Equality was made in the run-up to celebrate the 125^th birth anniversary of Babasheb Ambedkar in 2015 to the then EAM Sushma Swaraj which was later presented to PM Narendra Modi by the Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs in November, 2015 in a Memorandum in view of the two props and considerations – One, to honour one of the greatest sons of India in the contemporary times who fight to abolish the graded inequality prevailing in the Indian society and stood for universal

equitable world order and the Second, to promote and demonstrate India’s Soft Power through its Cultural Diplomacy. Though the proposal is still lying on the official desks and cup-boards of the EAMO and PMO yet it has become, over the years, all the more relevant in the current and emerging scenario – Equality and Fraternity in the world in the increasing avenues of conflict and tension which needs to be addressed effectively on one hand and PM Narendra Modi’s agenda of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ of which India’s Soft Power through Cultural Diplomacy is an integral element as pronounced from the rampart of the Red Fort - Lal Qila on August 15.  

It is very difficult to understand as to why GOI is sitting tight on the subject? On follow-up of the proposal by the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar and supporters of Equality and Fraternity living abroad; particularly in the developed world, the local governments/administrations in several countries like USA, UK, Canada,  among others have declared April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ at the province and city levels. It is not that the GOI is not aware of these developments. But

there is something more which is not allowing the leadership of BJP/RSS and their affiliated outfits to consider and take the proposal to the UN through diplomatic channels. Is it not the time for the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the other votaries of ‘Equality and Fraternity’ to urge the GOI to take an early decision in this regard? Any democratic party and its leadership cannot afford to ignore the wishes of the people as people have the instrument of Vote to get things done democratically. My humble submissions in this regard are that it will only be ‘foolhardy’ to ignore and side line the proposal to honour the icon of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar. If we do so still, it will be t our on peril. People are watching.

 

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

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

Appendics – Text of the letter dated September 21 , 2926 addressed to EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar

September 21, 2026

Respected Sir,

You may recall that I have been writing to you, off and on, on the proposal ‘April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality’ which is resting with the MEA/PMO for the last more than 10 years. My last blog on the subject would provide some more details: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2026/08/indias-soft-power-socio-cultural.html

I know that the proposal requires decision at the highest level before something could be said and done. I thought of approaching you again to catch up with your forthcoming address at the UNGA on September 26.  Kindly look into the matter and facilitate the GOI’s consideration and decision. The proposal, o my mind, exactly conforms to the Hon’ble PM’s vision of taking the ‘Soft Power – Cultural Diplomacy’ of India to further heights.

I am confident, Sir, my humble submissions will find due consideration with you. I really cherish the memories of working under your stewardship.

With personal regards,

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Minter of External Affairs, New Delhi

 

Guru Ravidass’s 650th Gurpurab and Vote Bank Politics

 

Guru Ravidass’s 650^th Gurpurab and Vote Bank Politics

I have been writing in my blogs on the subject.  Enough water has flown in the Yamuna and the Ganga since February 2026 when the issue of 650^th Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass started getting media focus prompted by the vested interests with a view to encash on the Dalit Vote Banks in the forthcoming State Assembly Elections in UP,
Punjab and other States. I thought of revisiting the matter to set it in its right perspective for the benefit of the stakeholder – political parties and the governments on hand and the followers of Guru Ravidass in India and abroad on the other. It became necessary as there are many loose ends which need to be tied up and take the matter to the table out of the lip service phase.

First, the State Governments in Punjab and UP –

Both in Punjab and UP, the governments are engaged and has taken or promised many steps to dedicate the programmes and projects to the memory of the great Guru. Though these steps are appreciable yet these require be fine-tuning for executing. . In Punjab, government has under taken to establish Guru Ravidass Bani Addyan Centre in Jalandhar near Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the foundation stone has
been formally laid. Government of Punjab must ensure that the Centre is completed and opened in February, 2027 as a befitting tribute to the great Guru. In addition to this, the ongoing project of Minare-e- Begumpura in Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur must be completed and opened to the public well before the Gurpurab in

2027. It will also be appreciated if SGPC also comes forward to observe the 650^th Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass in in a befitting manner. It goes without saying that the Sabads and Bani of the great Guru adorn Sri Guru Grant Sahib and forms the ‘heart and soul’ of the great Granth – the living Guru of the Sikhs. I don’t have the details of the concrete projects being undertaken by the UP government particularly at the birthplace of Guru Ravidass; Seergoverdanpur in Kashi. There was a proposal put forward by Dera Sachkhand Ballan to earmark and handover a chunk of land in the vicinity of the Seergoverdhanpur Mandir to the Guru Ravidass Seergoverdhanpur Mandir Trust. It will only be appropriate to handover the said land to the Trust before February, 2027. The Guru Ravidass Kalsh Yatras undertaken by the BJP and RSS raised enough dust and are over. Today, September 8, I heard that BJP and UP Government is planning ‘Samrasta Yatra’ from Seergoverthanpur to celebrate the occasion. Now is the time to do something concrete on ground. People are tired and no more interested in ‘sweet nothings’.

Second, the Central Government in Delhi – A charter of proposals and roadmap to celebrate and observe the 650^th Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass has already been submitted to the GOI – PM Narendra
Modi through the high-ups’ in the BJP and RSS and also the interlocutors like Dera Sachkhand Ballan and others which I list below for ready reference –

The following suggestions were mde through letters and blogs for consideration of the GOI -

·        National Function on the Guru Ravidass Jyanti in 2027 at Seer Goverdhanpur, the birth place of the great Guru at Varanasi.

· Functions at important places pertaining to Guru Ravidass and his legacy like – Dera Sachkhand Ballan at Jalandhar and Charan Cho-Ganga at Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur in Punjab, Guru Ravidass Temple at Tughlakabad in Delhi, Ravidass Chattri at Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, Sarnath/Budh Gaya in Bihar, Ahmedabad in Gujrat, Chennai in Tamil Nadu among others

· Issuing of Commemorative Postal Stamp and Coins.

· Inclusion of Guru’s Vani and socio-cultural message of Guru Ravidass in the syllabus and curricula of Schools and Colleges.

· All Universities should host functions to celebrate the 650th year of Guru’s Parkash Utsav appropriately.

· All schools and colleges should be advised to celebrate the occasion suitably.

· Establish Guru Ravidass Study Chairs at Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi, Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar, Panjab University at Chandigarh among others.

· Discussions and Debates on Guru Ravidass on Doordarshan

· Advise and direct all Indian Diplomatic Missions in the countries where members of the Ravidassia community are concentrated like the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Austria, Germany, and Italy among others.

· Special programmes on Guru Ravidass by the socio-cultural outfits like RSS, SGPC, Beas Satsang, Nirankari Satsang, Swaminarayan (Akshardham) among others, Chaitanya Prabhu outfits among others.

 

As of now, to my knowledge, no concrete pronouncement has been made by the GOI. The time is running out fast. The followers of Guru Ravidass are watching the entire process with concern and interest. They should not be taken lightly. The main issue of interest and concern is the historic Tuglakabad Guru Ravidass Mandir in Delhi. This issue must be resolved as early as possible. The land dedicated and offered by Sikandar Lodhi to Guru Ravidass must be restored to the community nt only as a spiritual and moral gesture but also as a concrete step to enforce ‘affirmative action’ to empower the socially weaker sections of the society and the followers of Guru Ravidass. RSS and VHP among others should step forward and extend their support in making the Tuglakabad Guru Ravidass Mandir a ‘Monument of Samrasta’, to my mind, in the larger interests of the society. I take the liberty of reminding the governments, political outfits and socio-cultural organizations to that the times have changed and rightly so. People are fully aware and awake to safeguard and pursue their interests at the festivals of democracy – Elections.

Third, Dera Sachkhand Ballan and other spiritual Deras – The Guru Ravidass Deras in Punjab and beyond have a definite role play and urge the Governments and Socio-cultural outfits like RSS, SGPC

among others to observe the 650^th Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass in a befitting manner – with solemnity and gaiety. Only the ‘Loaves’ by way of security paraphernalia, awards and other personal gestures should not make them contented. The Deras should represent their followers and uphold the flag of Guru Ravidass.

Meri Ada Ko Dabana To Khiar Mumkin Hai,

Magar Nai Awam Ki Abaz Kaun Rokega

 

India and Uzbekistan – Notes on Oral History

 

India and Uzbekistan – Notes on Oral History

I have been writing, off and on, in my blogs about some of my diplomatic and sometimes undiplomatic reflections of my work in the MEA and Indian diplomatic missions abroad. With reference to PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kyrgyzstan for SCO summit
meeting, I wrote about India and Kyrgyzstan. Some of my friends and readers kindly responded and advised me to write a bit more regularly on my reminiscences and reflections on my work and interaction during my diplomatic career.  I thought of picking the threads and do my bit for consideration and understanding of my readers and the society.

As PM Narendra Modi also visited Uzbekistan in conjunction with his visit to Bishkek, let me write about Uzbekistan, the country in Central Asia with which I happened to work and interact during my tenure as the Director of Central Asia Division in the MEA from September, 1997 – December, 2000. India has civilizational bonds with Central Asian countries, extended neighborhood. The Mughal invader, Babur was an Uzbek of Fergana Valley who made India his home in the 16th century. After Uzbekistan’s independence from the erstwhile USSR in 1991, India recognized and established full-fledged diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan in March 1992. Friendly relations between the two countries got a further boost with the recent visit of PM Narendra Modi. India and Uzbekistan elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a $5 billion annual trade target by 2030. New agreements were signed to secured long-

term uranium supply and rare earth cooperation, alongside pacts covering defense, digital infrastructure (UPI/UZQR), and Ayurveda. Both the countries reached and signed agreements to enhance cultural ties - Buddhist site conservation and an Aral Sea afforestation Grant. PM Narendra Modi also received Uzbekistan's highest state award - the Order of Oliy Darajali Do'stlik. The interesting part is that it is easy and less time consuming to fly to Tashkent from Delhi and Amritsar than to Bombay.

Some interesting anecdotes of my tenure as Director of Central Asia Division – It fell on me to be the Aide of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other Minister in signing the agreements at Hyderabad House during Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s visit in 2000. Obviously, the first agreement was signed by the PM Vajpayee and President Karimov. The next agreement was to be signed by EAM Jaswant Singh and his Uzbek counterpart. EAM Jaswant Singh have had sophisticated style to use good ink-pens on such occasions. Accordingly our Protocol provided, as usual, provided good pens for the purpose. It so happened that after signing the first agreement, PM

Vajpayee, subconsciously, kept the pen in the pocket of his jacket. When EAM Jaswant Singh came to sign, there was no pen. I, without looking here and there, took out my own simple ball-point from my pocket and handed it over to EAM Jaswant Singh. He was not only surprised but apparently a bit annoyed too. But there was no time to make any fuss. I got 7 agreements signed with my ball-point which included important Minister namely; Home Minister, L. K. Advani and Culture Minister, Ananth Kumar among others. Later after the signing ceremony, we moved to the PM’s lunch in honour of the visiting Uzbek President. There, I got the chance to humbly explain the fiasco to the EAM, a man of pleasant demeanor and style, Jaswant Singh. The pen was retrieved from the Hon’ble PM’s pocket through one of his personal aides. Later, with the courtesy of my colleagues in the PMO; Sunil Jain and Ajay Bisaria, I got an enlarged photo autographed by the gracious PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee which still adorns my small study at my home.  I visited Uzbekistan in 2000 as leader of an official team of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Shipping and Transport to study and explore the feasibility of rail-road transport of goods to the land located countries of Central Asia through the Iranian Port, Bandar Abbas. It was an educative experience as we could travel from Tashkent to the border of Turkmenistan by rail enjoying the Uzbek hospitality – butter-milk (Lassi) of camel milk etc. From Tashkent, our Embassy arranged a short visit to Samarkand and interaction at

the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre of Indian Culture; thanks to the courtesy and hospitality of my colleagues, Ashok Sharma and Vinay Kawatra. It was pleasant to visit and see the Indian Chancery building which we got in exchange of a plot of land in Chankyapuri in New Delhi with Uzbekistan, the first Central Asian country to get a plot for their Chancery at a prestigious location. I was involved in the process of completing the deal. I also recall my involvement in the filming and shooting of a Hindi movie in Uzbekistan, land of Indian songs and dance in our ‘near abroad’.

India and Uzbekistan enjoy warm and close friendly ties as partners in development. It is a matter of great satisfaction for me as the one who remained closely associated with the process of developing excellent relations between India and Uzbekistan.

 

India and Kyrgyzstan – Notes on Oral History

 

India and Kyrgyzstan – Notes on Oral History

India has civilizational bonds with the ‘Stans’ of Central Asia – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. India considers Central Asia as an ‘Extended neighborhood’ or ‘Near Abroad’ and rightly so.  PM Narendra Modi is visiting Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic) for the summit meeting of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisaion (SCO) on August 29-30. I thought of sharing some of my own memories of dealing with India’s diplomatic interaction to strengthen the friendly relations existing with Kyrgyzstan as Director of the Central Asia Division of the MEA – not from the archives but from the memory as ‘Oral History’ from October, 1997 to December, 2000.

Kyrgyzstan became an independent country in 1991 the wake of USSR’s disintegration. India recognized it in 1992 and established resident diplomatic mission in Bishkek in 1994. Friendly relations between the two countries, obviously, are underscored by warmth and understanding as desired. During my tenure as the Director of the Central Asia Division, I handled three important visits – Visit of VP Krishna Kant to Kyrgyzstan in 1999, visit of President Askar Akayev to India in 1999 and visit of Kyrgyz Parliamentary delegation to

India in 1999. On our side, both PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and EAM Jaswant Singh were fully alive to the situation and were keen to intensify and further cement the bonds of friendship not only with Kyrgyzstan but others countries of Central Asia too. It is one of my cherished memories that it fell on me to be the Aide of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the release function of the Hindi version of the Kyrgyz epic text – Manas which considered as the Ramayana of Kyrgyzstan at Hyderabad House in Delhi during visit of President Askar Akayev and also signing of some other agreements between the two countries. During the visit, one bizarre incident happened. It was decided to name a road in Delhi after the Kyrgyz epic Manas during the visit of President Akayev. Accordingly, the road in front of the St. Jesus Mary College in Chanakyapuri was identified and ordered to make it ready for the Kyrgyz President to formally inaugurate it. Late in evening, before the inauguration day, when the State banquet of the President of India in honour of the Kyrgyz President was in progress, I was sitting in my office in South Block. The NDMC senior official told me that there was a big problem as the St. Jesus Mary College and the Christian community had objected to the naming of the road and threatened to start ‘Dharna – Sit in’ to stop the work – laying the signage and plaque etc. I immediately brought it to the notice, through the Protocol Division, of my immediate boss, JS (CA) who was in the State banquet in Rashtrapati Bhawan. In turn, he informed and briefed the leadership; PM and EAM. It was decided and NDMC was instructed to immediately locate another road nearby and get it ready overnight for its inauguration next forenoon as scheduled. We could deliver avoiding yet an undiplomatic incident. The road named after Manas is located just off the main road, Sardar Patel Marg near Bapu Dham. I also recall yet another occasion which gave me considerable satisfaction in my diplomatic career. A terrorist incident happened in Kyrgyzstan sometime in 1999-2000 allegedly by the antiestablishment elements operating from the neighboring countries including China. The Kyrgyz Ambassador came and met me as the Joint Secretary (Head of the CA Division) was either on leave or out of the country on work and said that India being a victim of cross border terrorism should condemn the cross border terrorism in Kyrgyzstan.  He said that it would be the first formal reaction from India condemning the cross border terrorism in Central Asia and would be much appreciated. I listened to the Ambassador carefully and said I will do my best in this regard. I drafted a letter from EAM Jaswant Singh to his Kyrgyz counterpart and put it up to my superior (nominated JS in the absence of my regular senior)) with a detailed note on my meeting with the Kyrgyz Ambassador. He agreed and sent the draft letter to EAM. As I indicated above, EAM Jaswant Singh have had added interest in his dealings with Central Asia, he approved the draft letter and it was issued. It became the first formal reaction on the issue of cross border terrorism. On his return, my boss, Joint Secretary (CA) saw the papers and commented in a lighter vein ‘Ramesh you staged a coup in my absence’. Today when I read that PM Narendra Modi’s focus in the SCO Summit in Bishkek will be on cross border terrorism apart from other important issues of security and development, I got a sense of belonging in the diplomatic process in this regard.

During my tenure as the Director of Central Asia Division in the MEA, I visited Kirghizstan two times – one in transit when I accompanied Petroleum Minister V. Ramamurthy to Kazakhstan in early 2000 and second as Head of an official team of representatives from Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Shipping and Transport 
to study and explore the possibilities of rail-road routes and connectivity via the Iranian Port Bandar Abbas. During my second visit, I also visited the Osh University and interacted with the intellectuals at the Centre of Indian Studies established in 1997.  Those were the years of fulfillment in my diplomatic career. PM Narendra Modi has rightly said that his visit was to underline priority in reinforcing the ties with Central Asia.

 

Dhamma Yatra – Bodhi Tirth Asthan – A Spiritual Travelogue

 

Dhamma Yatra – Bodhi Tirth Asthan – A  Spiritual Travelogue

Dhamma Yatra – Bodhi Tirath Sathan is a small spiritual travelogue of 80 pages pertaining to the Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and beyond written by Bishan Dass Bains of the UK who is an active politician and community activist of the Labour Party and Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee of UK. The author, Bishan Dass Bains is a devout Buddhist and a staunch Ambedkarite fully engaged in Municipal matters as a Mayor and Alderman at his second home of choice in the UK. I reviewed his earlier book on social traits - Pride and Prejudice published by Malind Parkashan.

The book starts with Budh Vandhana, Trishna and Panchsheel with explanations by the author for the easy understanding of the common man. The Dhamma Yatra (26 October 2024 – 6 November 2024) was under taken by 12 devout Buddhists living in Europe under the umbrella of Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee of the UK to redeem their dream to visit places related to Lord Buddha. The publisher Harmesh Jassal of Malind Parkashan instead writing an

introductory note thoughtfully decided to give some details of Babassaheb Ambedkar’s Dhamma Yatras after his embracing Buddhism on October 14, 1956. The Dhamma Yatra which started on October 26 from Amritsar gives destination wise details of all the important sites related to Thathagat Buddha – Ambedkar Park Luchnow, Jaitvan Sarvsati, Lumbini (Nepal), Kushi Nagar, Vaishali, Kesaria Satupa, Nalanda, Girdhkoot Pahad (Rajgriha), Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Vipasna Golden Pagoda, Kanheri Guffavan, Chaitya Bhoomi, Rajgriha, Diksha Bhomi, Nagalok among others. The Yatris also thoughtfully visited the birth place of Guru Ravidass at Seergovardhanpur at Kashi-Banares. The yatra group later visited Ambedkar Bhawan Jalandhar and paid obeisance at Wolverhampton Buddha Vihar in UK. The author Bishan Dass Bains has shared his sense of satisfaction and spiritual solace with the visit of each site which is quite informative. The book concludes with the thoughts and experiences of some of the Yatris; Tin Chija Lukaian Nahin Ja Sakdian- Sooraj, Chand Te Sach by Devender Chander, Jiwan Di Yadgari Yatra by Jarnail Singh, Shikhyadyak Yatra by Dev Raj Badhan, Jithe Cha Othe Rah by Daulta Balley, Dukh Da Karan Agyan by Raj Kumr Baudh. These brief write ups give an overview of the spiritual travelogue – Boddhi Tirtha Sathan: Dhamma Yatra. The photos, both black and white and colour, add to the presentation of the book for the benefit of the readers. I am reminded of Allma Iqbal’s poetic assertions on Lord Buddha -

Qaum ne paigham-e-Gautam ki zara parwah na ki
Qadar pehchani na apne gohar-e-yak-dana ki

(The nation paid no heed to the message of Gautama, they failed to recognize the value of their unique jewel.)

Brahman sarshaar hai ab tak mae-e-pindaar mein
Shamma-e-Gautam jal rahi hai mehfil-e-aghyar mein

(The Brahmin is still intoxicated with pride, while the light of Gautama [Buddhism] is kept burning in the lands of strangers.)

 

India’s Soft Power – Socio-Cultural Diplomacy

 

India’s Soft Power – Socio-Cultural Diplomacy

India, of late, has acquired its due place and space in the comity of nations with regard to its ‘Soft Power” in the realm of Socio-Cultural contribution towards the new world order. It is a matter of satisfaction for ‘We the people of India’. With a view to promote and propagate ‘Peace and stability’ without resorting to violence, India initiated and declared October 2, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as International Day of Non-violence under the aegis of the UN in 2007-08. Similarly, on the initiative and lead of India, UN declare in 2014,  June 21 as the International Day of Yoga with regard to the humanities need to have a holistic approach to the health not only of body but also of mind and soul. India is one of the largest contributor of man-power and related paraphernalia to the ‘UN Peacekeeping Forces’ throughout. India always remained eager and ready to contribute its might to face the

challenges of natural calamities like earthquake, tsunami etc. particularly in its neighborhood in South Asia and near abroad in the Asian region. Under the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) has done a good job in sharing socio-cultural values and achievements with the world particularly with the developing countries. India, a large country with 1.4 billion people with a chequred civilizational edifice, is the largest democracy in the world. It has much to share and offer the world to establish an ‘Equitable World Order’ as stipulated in the Charter of the UN.

My immediate motivation to write on the subject emanated from the Independence Day Address of PM Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15. PM in addition to many important points specially narrated the roadmap to our destination of Vikshit Bharat by 2047 termed as ‘Sapta Dhara’ – Seven Pillars of the framework for Vikshit Bharat. One of these Sapta Dhara is ‘Soft

Power’ of India and rightly so. I will dwell on this point in this blog. There is no doubt about it that India has an immense ‘Soft Power’ to strengthen its ‘Socio-cultural diplomacy’ for the greater good of the world at large. India has positively contributed to spread the message of peace and non-violence, holistic approach to ensure good health and many more ways as briefly mentioned in the proceeding narration. I wish to underline and flag yet another preposition to strengthen our ‘Socio-cultural diplomacy’ by pursuing the Sapta Dhara of PM Narendra Modi. Kindly bear with me and read the proposal which commensurate with the ‘Seven Pillars’ of the Hon’ble PM to make India - “Vikshist Bharat”. 

My proposal to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN is resting with the GOI (MEA and PMO) since June, 2015. Since then, much water has flown in the Ganges and the Hudson River in New York but nothing much has moved in the corridors of power in New Delhi in spite of the fact that we have been reminding the GOI (EAM and PM) and also other Ministers in addition to the top hierarchy of RSS and BJP regularly and religiously. Though the ruling elite do not

escape any opportunity to remember Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the contemporary times, yet it is difficult to understand the silence and blissful ignorance of the GOI, BJP, RSS and other decision makers to consider and accept the proposal on the International Day of Equality. Can anyone in the GOI and RSS/BJP say that the proposal does not conform to the declared goals of Indian Establishment and that of the UN with regard to ‘Equality and the Equitable World Order’? I think the answer is ‘No’. The proposal exactly fits into the professed agenda of India and the world body, UN. It is a matter of satisfaction for me to note that the proposal has been taken seriously by the international community, courtesy the role played by the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar abroad; my interlocutors. Several States and Cities in Canada, USA, UK and other democratic countries have declared April 14 as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Day of Equality locally. GOI is fully aware of these developments. My last blog on the subject will give some more information on the subject which may be accessed at:- https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2026/04/international-day-of-equality-engaging.html

I conclude this with the hope that the Sapta Dhara – Seven Pillars of PM Narendra Modi, as pronounced from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 would pave the way to clear the proposal on International Day of Equality and GOI makes a diplomatic demarche

to the UN accordingly. It is almost a month to go when PM/EAM would address the UNGA, as usual, in September, 2026. They may consider and include the subject in their address at the UNGA not only to recognize and honour Babasaheb Ambedkar, icon of India and the world at large, for the lofty ideals of equality and fraternity but also to carry forward its ‘Soft Power’ through ‘Socio-cultural diplomacy.

IK Tarze Tugafil Hai; So Weh Unko Mubarak,

Ik ArzeTammana Hai; Who Hum Karte Rahenge