An Open Letter to BJP
Leadership – April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of
Equality
*****************
May 6, 2023
Respected Sirs
(Decision Makers in the BJP),
accordingly. Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs and MLAs under the leadership of Former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal took up the matter with PM Narendra Modi and submitted a Memorandum to him in this regard in November, 2015. For the first time to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, our PMI to the UN in New York observed the day at the UN on April 14, 2016 in which a semi-official delegation headed by Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal participated and mentioned about the proposal on International Day of Equality in his speech which was highly appreciated and acclaimed not only at the meeting at the UN but also by the followers of Ambedkar in India and abroad. On return, Atwal Sahib in a letter in May, 2016 to PM Narendra Modi, briefed him about the UN meeting on Ambedkar and informed him that the proposal on International Day of Equality was duly registered by him and requested the PM to kindly take up the matter by way of an official demarche to the UN to honour the icon of equality, Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Since then, we have been pursuing the matter with all concerned not with any agitational approach but with a suggestive and harmonious intent. Forum of Schedule Caste MPs and MLAs also submitted a Memorandum to the then Mahamahim Rashtrapati Ram Nath
.jpg)
Kovind also in the course of follow up of the matter. But it is a matter of regret and concern that GOI has not shown any visible interest in the proposal to date. GOI, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, has done many things internally in the country to recognize and honour Babasaheb. It is surprising that as to why the GOI is indifferent to the proposal which very well serves the twin purpose of carry forwarding and promoting the lofty ideals of the ‘Soft Diplomacy’ of India and to give further impetus to its agenda of ‘Empowerment’ by supporting and upholding the principles of ‘Equality’ with a view to achieve the goals of the world body to establish a ‘Just and Equitable World Order.
My latest blog on the subject which would provide some more
details of the position so may be accessed at: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/04/international-day-of-equality-when-will.html
With a view to revisit the subject, I wrote again on May 6 to
remind EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar with the hope to get some positive response. The
letter is appended below for information and perusal.
Through this open letter, I would like to request the BJP leadership to kindly consider and urge the BJP Government of PM Narendra Modi to kindly consider and take an early decision to make a diplomatic demarche to the UN to declare April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality. It is a matter of
 |
| First city to declare Day of Equality |
satisfaction to note that taking the lead, due to the efforts of my fellow Ambedkarites living abroad, many prominent cities and states of Canada, UK, USA, Australia and many other developed and democratic countries have already declared April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ in their respective places. The potent legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar is strong enough to carry forward itself and the day will come, sooner than later, when the proposal on International Day of Equality would see the light of the day. It is time for the ruling dispensation at the center that is BJP to take due note of this before things get too late. I am confident that the decision in this regard to take the matter to the UN would get full and hearty support of not only all political outfits but also the masses in India and abroad.
I conclude this with the hope that the BJP leadership would
listen and come forward to honour one of the greatest sons of India, Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar under the UN as we did for International Day of Non-violence and
International Yoga Day in the recent years.
I will continue to do my bit in this regard. With regard,
इक तर्ज़े तुंगफिल है; सो वह उनको मुबारक,
इक अर्ज़े तमन्ना है; वह हम करते रहेंगे।
Yours truly,
(Ramesh Chander)
Ambassador – IFS (Retired)
Jalandhar (Punjab)
Telehone: 9988510940
Enclosure: Text of the Letter of May 6, 2023 to EAM Dr. S.
Jaishankar
May 6, 2023
Dear Sir,
I am writing this again on the proposal of April 14, birthday
of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality resting in the
cup-boards of the esteemed MEA since June, 2015. We have been reminding you and
others concerned occasionally but nothing has been done by the GOI in this
regard as far as I know. My last letter
of July 25, 2021 to you, Sir, refers, which is appended below for ready
reference. My last blog on the subject
gives some more details of the matter which may be seen at: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/04/international-day-of-equality-when-will.html
It is by chance or design, I don’t know, you may agree, that
Ambedkar never got anything easily throughout his life and after his demise.
But at the same time, I believe that it is and would be difficult to ignore him
any longer. Not only in India but also beyond, increasing recognition of
Ambedkar is happening and rightly so. The proposal on International Day of
Equality is catching the attention of the international community over the
years. The local authorities of many cities and states of Canada, the USA, the
UK, Australia and other countries of the democratic and developed world have
already declared April 14 as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality in their
respective places. I am certain that our diplomatic missions around must have
sent dispatches to the MEA on the subject and you would be aware of these
developments.
You are a well
informed and a competent EAM to our good fortune. I have no intension to say
something more except to invite your attention to the proposal on International
Day of Equality and request kind consideration with a view to bring the matter
to its logical appropriation before the next UNGA in September, 2023. With this, Sir, you would not only be
carrying forward and promoting the ‘Soft Diplomacy’ of India as we did in
declaring International Day of Non-violence and International Yoga Day but also
honouring one of the greatest sons of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
I count on you, Sir. With regards,
Yours truly,
(Ramesh Chander)
Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Minister of External Affairs,
South Block, New Delhi
Enclosure: Text of the letter of July 25, 2021 to EAM: -
July 25, 2021
Dear Sir,
Ever since you have taken over as the EAM in May/June, 2019,
I have been writing to you about the International Day of Equality, my last
letter dated April 1, 2021 (copy enclosed for ready reference) refers. The
proposal to declare April 14, birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as
International Day of Equality was first made in June, 2015 to your predecessor
EAM Sushma Swaraj ever since the proposal is resting with the esteemed MEA.
I thought of reminding you on the subject in the run up to
the forthcoming UNGA in September, 2021. You would appreciate, Sir, Babasaheb
Ambedkar is increasingly getting international recognition. It is surprising
that our own government, which has taken many initiatives to honour one of the
greatest sons of India otherwise, is taking time to consider the proposal and
take a decision to make an appropriate demarche to the UN in this regard. I may
inform, which you may already be aware, that the State of British Columbia in
Canada proclaimed to declare April 14 as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality in
April, 2021. Some days ago in July, 2021 itself the Gray’s Inn in London has
named and opened Ambedkar Room and unveiled his portrait to recognize
Babasaheb. You may know that ‘Dr BR Ambedkar is the first person of the Indian
origin and the very second jurist in the world to have a room dedicated to him
at the Gray’s Inn. The Inn, previously had a room dedicated to Rose Heilbronn,
England’s first woman queen counsel and judge’ as reported by the Tribune of
July 22, 2021
I don’t feel any need to say much, Sir, as you very well know
and understand how to go about and what to do to get declared April 14 as
International day of Equality. There may not be more opportune time when India
will occupy the HeadChair at the UNSC and UNGA -76 in September, 2021 will be
presided over by Foreign Minister of our friend Maldives, Abdullah Shahid
I am confident that my submissions would find an urgent
consideration and a favourable decision is taken to see that the proposal is
sent and taken up at the UN appropriately. It would send a very positive
political signal within the country and to the international community in
under-pinning the ‘Soft Diplomacy of India’ to move towards establishing a just
and equitable world order.
With personal regards,
Yours truly,
(Ramesh Chander)
Dr. S. Jaishankar,
Minister of External Affairs,
South Block, New Delhi
Copy to:
1.
Shri
Narendra Modi, PM of India, PMO, South Block, New Delhi
2.
Dr.
Varinder Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi
3.
Shri
Ramdas Athawale, MOS, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi
4.
Shri
Som Parkash, MOS, Ministry of Industry and Trade, New Delhi
5.
Ms.
Meenakshi Lekhi, MOS, MEA, New Delhi
6.
Shri
Vijay Sampla, Chairman, National SC Commission, New Delhi
7.
Shri
Dushyant Gautam, MP, New Delhi
No comments:
Post a Comment