BABU KANSHI RAM – A Tribute

The birth anniversary of Babu Kanshi Ram (March 15, 1934) falls on March 15. I write this as a tribute to Babu Kanshi Ram, a great leader of men and a man of vision. With a scientific temper as trained scientist Babu Kanshi Ram, rightly called as Manyawar, was a missionary of the cause of the down trodden and under privileged of India. After Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he was the flag bearer of the rights of the neglected and discriminated sections of the society. In his life time, it is a matter of satisfaction that he succeeded in bringing about a sense of unity and purpose in the lives of dalits of India. Babu Kanshi Ram enthused a much needed awareness in the minds of economically and socially crushed people single handedly. It was a difficult job but he did it with élan. Babu Kanshi Ram succeeded in making his presence felt at the political landscape of India. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which graduated through the torturous journey of BAMCEF, DS4 under the able leadership of Babu Kanshi Ram not only registered its good presence in the Parliament of India but also succeeded in capturing power, under the stewardship of Kumar Maywati, in the largest state of UP, not once but four times. It was not a small fete. Babu Kanshi Ram’s premature departure (died in October 2006) from the scene was a great blow to the poor and neglected people of India.

While on the birth anniversary of Babu Kanshi Ram, I pay my humble tribute to the memory of the great leader, I wish the dalits and the backwards of India would stand up and carry forward the legacy of Babu Kanshi Ram in getting and ensuring their due share in the powers structures of India. Only then the soul of Babuji will rest in peace.

हर दर्दमंद दिल को रोना मेरा रुला दे, बेहोश जो पड़ें हैं शायद उन्हें जगा दे !