International Day of Parliamentarism – June 30

 

International Day of Parliamentarism – June 30

Today, June 30, marks the annual celebration of the International Day of Parliamentarism, commemorating the founding of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 1889. The day recognizes the role of

parliaments in strengthening democracies. June 30 is observed as the International Day of Parliamentarism every year to commemorate the date on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was founded. . This special day, established by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 2018, serves as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by parliaments worldwide in achieving predetermined goals.

Parliaments play a crucial role as cornerstones of functioning democracies, requiring strength, transparency, fairness, justice, representation, and adaptability at all times. Against the backdrop of growing scepticism towards parliamentary procedures and democratic systems globally, the observance of the International Day of Parliamentarism carries significant importance.

This year, the world celebrates the 134th Anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the International Day of Parliamentarism 2023. The United Nations has designated the theme for this year as 'Parliaments for the Planet.' The theme underlines that climate action starts at home, urging parliaments and parliamentarians to:

1. Promote the reduction of carbon footprints.

2. Adopt greener policies.

3. Embrace a sustainable future

India’s parliament its parliamentarians, as the largest democracy of the world and also as an important member of the IPU, have special responsibility to celebrate and commemorate the lofty ideals of the International Day of Parliamentarianism as stipulated by the international community under the aegis of the UN. India has always upheld the flag of ‘international cooperation’ in achieving the ‘sustainable goals’ agenda of the UN as an integral aspect of its ‘Soft Diplomacy’. My recent blog on the International Day of Yoga may be of interest: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/06/international-day-of-yoga-soft.html 

In a democratic polity, parliaments and assemblies are the very edifice of the system of governance. As such and rightly so, father of the Indian constitution, was fully alive to the needs of ‘head and heart’ of the parliamentarians to succeed and sustain democracy for the benefit and welfare of the masses and said, “The educational qualifications can hardly be the sole qualification for membership of parliament.

 If I may use the words of Buddha, he said that man requires two things; one is ‘Gyan’ and the other is ‘Sheel’. Gyan without Sheel is very dangerous. It must be accompanied by Sheel by which we
mean; character, moral courage, ability to be independent of any kind of temptations, truthful to ones ideals. I am very keen to see that no member enters this august assembly who does not possess ‘Sheel’ in an adequate degree.” Many, including Mahatma Gandhi, objected to the decision to adopt a parliamentary system for India. It was Dr B.R. Ambedkar who initially pushed for a parliamentary democracy for an Independent India. Parliaments, the world over, are called the “Temples of Democracy’ for constructive dialogue and debate and also threadbare investigation and decision by the elected representatives of the people. For this, obviously, a definite sense and spirit of ‘Parliamentarism’ is needed particularly a country like India as Dr. Ambedkar later cautioned in 1953 and said, “Democracy will not work (in India), for the simple reason we have got a social structure which is totally incompatible with parliamentary democracy.”  We need to keep these historical realities in mind while running our parliamentary form of government.

Today, June 30, in an article appeared in the Hindustan Times,

Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla has rightly said, “People look up to parliamentarians to fulfill their expectations and aspirations. Through them they see the genesis of their progressive transformation encompassing the entire country.”

With this, I greet my fellow countrymen and the international community at large on the International Day of Parliamentarism.

International Day of Yoga – Soft Diplomacy of India

International Day of Yoga – Soft Diplomacy of India

Tomorrow, June 21, the international community under the aegis of

the UN, is celebrating International Day of Yoga – the event proclaimed by the UN in December, 2014 to promote ‘global health, harmony and peace’. It was done on the initiative of India as an important tenant of ‘Soft Diplomacy of India’ and the Day is observed in the entire world on each consecutive year. I wrote a blog on the occasion on June 21, 2015

https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2015/06/international-yoga-day.html

It has been officially stated “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is the theme for this year's International Yoga Day 2023, which beautifully captures our shared aspiration for “One Earth, One Family, and One Future.”  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the global celebration of yoga this year from the United Nations headquarters in New York who is on a state visit to the USA. Before leaving for the occasion, PM Narenda Modi said, "I will commence my visit in New York, where I will celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 at the United Nations Headquarters with the UN leadership and members of the international community” and added, "I look forward to this special celebration at the very location that supported India's proposal in December 2014 to recognize an International Day of Yoga.”

It is a matter of gratification to note that India has been, and rightly so, an active player in initiating and supporting ‘lofty ideals’ of Indian thought and philosophy for the benefit and advantage of humanity under its ‘Soft Diplomacy’ approaches. It may be recalled

that in June, 2007, on the initiative of India during the tenure of PM Manmohan Singh, the UN declared October 2, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as the International Day of Non-violence to promote the ‘philosophy of non-violence’ which is one of important aims of the UN to bring about ‘peace and prosperity’ in the world.

It is not the time to contend with the ‘laurels’ received and earned as of now. ‘We the people of India’ with the rich legacy of India that is Bharat have much to give to the world for the larger benefit of the humanity at large. In this direction, it may be added; a concrete proposal has already been made and floated to declare April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an icon of ‘Equality, Liberty, Justice and Fraternity’ and the chief architect of the Indian constitution, as International Day of Equality under the arrangements of the UN. Government of India is yet to take a decision on this in spite of the fact that the proposal was made in June, 2015 in the run up to  celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar. Much water has flown in the Ganges in India and the Hudson in New York but GOI is still sitting tight on the subject. We have been constantly following up the matter with the concerned authorities particularly; MEA and PMO in New Delhi. Many cities and states of Canada, USA, UK, Australia and other countries, taking cue from the proposal on International Day of Equality and  in cooperation and consultation with the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar, have already proclaimed April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ in their respective areas. Some more details are available in my latest blog on the subject: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-more-merrier-all-buddhist-and-guru.html

125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar at the UN,

While I greet PM Narendra Modi on the International Day of Yoga, I wish to register here my (may be termed) as an ‘utopian fantasy’ - PM Narendra Modi might share his mind or decision of the GOI to take the proposal on International Day of Equality to the UN through official and diplomatic channels while he leads the International Day of Yoga at the UN in New York on June 21. Of course, PM Narendra Modi is known for springing surprises and taking out of the box decisions. While doing so, he would not only be honoring, the greatest icon of equality, Babasaheb Ambedkar but also be carrying forward the ‘Soft Diplomacy’ of India in order to strengthen the UN in its forward march towards establishing an ‘Equitable World Order’. This gesture by India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi would be much appreciated not only in India but in the comity of nations at the UN.

Greetings on the International Day of Yoga.

 

One Hundred Years of DAV College Jalandhar – a Centenary Commemorative Volume

 

 One Hundred Years of DAV College Jalandhar – a Centenary Commemorative Volume 

On June 6, 2023 a well researched, written and also elegantly presented  – One Hundred Year of DAV College Jalandhar, in a ‘coffee table book ’ format, was launched at a solemn function at the DAV College in which I participated as one of the proud alumnus of

the great institution of the region. The book was formally released by one of the illustrious alumni of the College, Retired IAS and Chief Secretary of Punjab, Sarvesh Kaushal at a function presided over by yet another leading light of the galaxy of alumni corps, Prof. K.K. Ghai along with the author of the Book, Principal Jagdish Chander Joshi and Hon’ble Principal of the College, Dr. Rajesh Kumar. The function, attended by a representative section of the academic, intellectual, professional, economic and socio-cultural circles of Jalandhar and beyond was ably and aptly steered by Prof. Sharad Manocha. The centenary commemorative volume (1918 – 2018) was ready for the release in 2021 itself with the untiring and appreciative efforts of Principal J.C. Joshi and the College Management but due to one reason or the other it could not be done. Going by the dictum – Better late than Never, the book was released at a befitting function and is available at hand. I am confident that students, researchers and historians will find it as a great source as a ‘Comprehensive Reference Book’ as visualized by the author and publishers also. While speaking at the release, the author, Principal Jagdish Joshi, a highly qualified and acclaimed literary and academic personality – teacher, historian, poet, translator, and orator and above all a fine human being (a brief profile of the author is available on the rear title page of the book), rightly said at the release function:

मेरी तस्वीर के नक़श जरा गौर से देखो  ;

इसमें एक दौर की तस्वीर नज़र आएगी।

Principal Jagdish Joshi is one of my hand-holders in Jalandhar as a ‘Friend, Philosopher and Guide’ whom I met a few years ago on my return to Jalandhar, my native place on retirement from a long diplomatic career in and under the Ministry of External Affairs, courtesy my mentor and senior colleague, Ambassador Bal Anand. It is my good fortune that I could pick up the threads and in the company of Prof. Joshi and Ambassador Bal Anand and also my own Gurus (Teachers) namely; Prof. K.C. Mahendru and Prof. K.K. Ghai and could revive my association with my alma mater, DAV College Jalandhar, as a humble student of the great institution. As a blogger, I have written many a times in these columns about DAV College

From my ID Card of the College in 1967-68

Jalandhar on its multifaceted activities and today again I have decided to write something about this great work of Prof. Joshi, One Hundred Years of DAV College Jalandhar, not as an expert or an intellectual but as a layman and a humble student.

The very opening page of the book rightly says, “DAV College Jalandhar – 100 years of shaping lives”. The pages after pages of the book amply testify this assertion in consonance with the Emblem of the College which carries the lofty ideal – Tamso Ma Jyotir Gamya – ‘a prayer to our supreme creator to enlighten our minds’. The book has been rightly and reverentially dedicated ‘to the selfless services of the Stalwarts of the DAV Movement which resulted in the establishment of the DAV College Jalandhar on May, 1918.” The Messages of Blessings of the present day persona of the academic face of the DAV Movement; Punam Suri and R.S. Sharma, President and General Secretary of DAV College Managing Committee respectively set the ball rolling with the Message of Principal S.K. Arora in whose tenure the project of the Centenary Commemorative Book was undertaken. I still cherish the memory of my meeting and interacting with Principal S.K. Arora at the home of Principal Jagdish Joshi, the worthy author of the book over a relaxed evening, along with Ambassador Bal Anand, enjoying the gracious hospitality of our hosts, the Joshis. In the Introduction, the author termed the book as a ‘Comprehensive History of DAV College’  which would become a ready ‘Reference Book’ of ‘DAV College, an off-spring of the DAV Movement’ and rightly so. He gives the details of the planning and contribution of various authorities particularly the Principals and the academic faculty of DAV College in writing the book and duly acknowledges the ‘DAVite Sprit’ in which the project was completed.

The book has been thoughtfully divided into nine chapters with a view to do full justice to the various aspect of DAV College, its development and progress. The Chapter – I is titled as ‘The DAV Movement - Spreading Wings’ gives an overview of the DAV Movement in pursuance of the lofty ideals of Arya Samaj Movement of Swami Dayanand Sarswati (1824-1883) the exponent of socio-cultural transformation of the Hindu religion in the 18th centenary as termed by the author ‘to defuse knowledge and dispel ignorance’. Several men of vision and stature from Rai Bahadur Justice Lala Lal Chand to Dr. Punam Suri from 1886 to the present day guided the destiny of the DAV Movement as Presidents of the DAV College Managing Committee with more than 900 educational institutions (schools and colleges) including DAV University at Jalandhar. It has not only changed and fortified the educational edifice of the India that is Bharat but also transformed the socio-economic and socio-cultural scenario to usher the country into the 21st century to meet the challenges in the years to come. The brief profiles of the Presidents of the DAV College Managing Committee and Stalwarts of the DAV Movement given at the Annexure I & II to the Chapter – all men of sterling worth - is a definite source of inspiration to the younger generations. ‘Before the Beginning’, the second chapter, gives a brief account of the struggle Pandit Mehr Chand and his associates underwent to establish DAV College at Jalandhar on May 13, 1918. It is a matter of gratification to know that the land for the College (Temple of Learning) was donated by Mohammad Anwar Khan, a student of Pandit Mehr Chand. It reminds me of the historical fact of laying the foundation of the Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar Temple of Faith) by a Muslim Saint Mian Mir. We need to revive this spirit of brotherhood and oneness in our country as visualized by Allama Iqbal:-

आ गैरियत के परदे इक बार फिर उठा दें;

विछड़ों को फिर मिला दें नक़्शे दुई मिटा दें।

The next chapter – ‘How they reached thus far?’ -gives a bird’s eye view of the contribution of various Principals in the development and progress of the College since May, 1918 from Principal Pandit Mehr Chand to Principal S.K. Arora. It has been an interesting and chequred journey under the leadership of some of the academics and able administrators of the region who left no stone unturned in making DAV College Jalandhar a one of the best educational centre of Northern India over the last century. After doing my Matriculation from yet another Anglo-Vedic institution, Sain Dass School of Basti Nau, I joined DAV College in 1966 and graduated in 1970. These were the formative years of my career for bread and butter and life at large as a humble resident of Jalandhar. While going through the relevant pages of the book, my own cherished memories became alive. I regarded Principal B.S. Behl as one of the best educational administrator and an excellent human being. Author of the book, Principal Joshi is kind enough to accommodate me, a humble student of the great college, by including one of the anecdotes regarding blessings of my teacher of Political Science, Principal K.C. Mahendru on page 230. I would like to narrate yet another interesting and instructive instance of the functioning of Principal B.S. Behl with regard to the student welfare. It was sometime in 1968. I, along with my friend and a fellow BootanMandian, Ram Lal Dass, was going to College in our cycles. Two police constables were standing casually in the middle of the road near the old Sabji Mandi (Vegetable market) blocking the passage. Ram Lal casually and off the cuff commented something like this, ‘you are expected to facilitate the traffic and not blocking it’. The policemen in uniform did not like it and stopped us. A small tiff and argument followed which led us to the nearby police station. I tactfully expressed regret and offered apology and somehow managed to get out of this unwanted situation. On reaching the College, Ram Lal, in consultation with me, decided to inform the Principal of the unpleasant incident which we did in writing. In a day or two subsequent days, we were summoned to the Principal’s Office to confront a senior police officer, may be of the rank of Inspector/DSP, to explain the matter which we did. We found Principal B.S. Behl considerate and supportive of us. The police officer understood the message. He expressed regret on behalf of the erring policemen and promised to issue a general advisory to police personnel to deal with students carefully. Principal Behl further impressed and humbled us and won our hearts as a caring father figure. Perhaps with a sense of paying the debt of gratitude to his alma mater, Ram Lal Dass donated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Study Corner to the DAV College Library as mentioned on pages 56-57 of the book. My blog on the Study Corner may be of interest: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2017/10/ambedkar-study-corner-at-dav-college.htm

Ram Lal was instrumental in re-introducing my teachers; Prof. K.C. Mahendru and Prof. K.K. Ghai on my return to Jalandhar on retirement. They were kind enough to embrace and accept me whole heartedly and I benefitted immensely from their association. Prof. Mahendru even invited me their MLD Dayanand Public School Mahendru as a Chief Guest in one of the functions. Principal V.K. Tiwari was popularly known as ‘Student’s Principal’ and I met him on various social and educational events in Jalandhar some years ago. We developed an instant rapport and occasionally exchanged notes on matters of mutual interest and concern. He was a much acclaimed academician and a leader by his own right. His wife, Prof. Sarita Tiwari, a renowned multifaceted personality in her own right kept in touch and I reviewed in my blog, as a tribute to Principal Tiwar, her autographical book on her worthy husband; Principal V.K. Tiwari – Father Mere Puttran De which was later included by her in a book of tributes to the son of the soil, Principal Tiwari.

The College Management under Principal B.B. Sharma and Principal S.K. Arora and the present Principal Rajesh Kumar have been considerate and kind to me and had been occasionally invited me to various important functions to my advantage and benefit – Prof.

Speaking at the College

Manohar Lal Sondhi Memorial Lectures, referred to in the book, delivered by my senior colleagues in the IFS fraternity; Ambassador Sharat Sabharwal, an alumnus of the College, on India Pakistan Relations and by Ambassador Ashok Kanth on India-China Relations – Opening of Dr. Ambedkar Study Corner in the Library – 14th National Youth Parliament – Ambassador Bal Anand’s Lecture, Alumni Meets and several other occasions. I note with a sense of belonging that all these activities were duly recorded by me in my blogs available at: www.diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com

Chapter IV is donated to the ‘History of Academic Departments’ in the College which makes an informative reading and makes the College a ‘Centre of Excellence’ both in sciences, Commerce and Economics and Humanities. One can easily make out that how much effort and energy must have been invested to reach the level of progress made by the College over the decades gone by. The faculty to run and manage these Departments reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ in the academic and educational sphere in the region. The College publications; The Ravi Magazine and The DAV News were the established mouth-pieces of both the faculty and the students in the recent past but due to one reason or the other it could not keep pace with the changing times. The College Management informed at the book release function that both the Ravi and the DAV News were being revived; it is a matter of satisfaction to note. The Lajpat Rai Library of the College is one of the best college libraries in the region – well stocked and documented with almost 2 lakh books acquired from 1918 to 2018. Coming to Chapter V of the book, one can sense the flavor of excellence as it is said that the taste of pudding lies in its eating – the academic results is the true mirror of an educational institution and in that respect DAV College Jalandhar have been on the lead. The author has rightly observed, “Right from its inception, DAV College Jalandhar had had the privilege of glorious achievements in respect of annual examination results.” I recall that in the IFS fraternity, two of my colleagues and fellow alumnus; Harish Dogra and Sharat Sabharwal were Gold Medalists in Mathematics and Political Science respectively. Yet another illustrious alumnus who found mention in the book as a Judge at the International Court at The Hague (page 223) is Sat Paul Jalota who was the Head (Joint Secretary) of the Legal and Treaties Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. The next chapter deals with ‘Extra Curricular Activities’ - an important and inalienable aspect of education in the development of students. DAV College remained the flag-bearer in this respect having established a full-fledged Department of Extra-Mural Activities during the tenure of Principal Suraj Bhan, an icon of the DAV Movement. I vividly recall that during my years in the college in later half of 1960s it was compulsory for every student to become member of two Clubs/Societies with a view to explore and avail of inherit talent among the students for poetry, drama, debate, music and dance etc. The College and its Alumni are proud of recalling the glorious aspect of these activities in naming some of the legendary personalities like; Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh, Sufi Singer Hans Raj Hans, Diljaan, Sukhwinder Singh, Comedian Birbal (as told by Prof. Sharad Manocha), Actor and Satirist Jaspal Bhatti, Classical Musician Baldev Saran Narang (He visited and stayed with us at our official residence “India House” at Edinburgh (Scotland) where I was the Consul General of India and fully engaged and entertained us with his classical renderings for a couple of evenings), Sudarshan Faakir, Upendra Nath Ashk among others. I understand even Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Constitution of India spoke to the DAV College students on the Parliamentary Democracy in October, 1951 as mentioned in the Introduction and in Chapter IX of the book the author says, “One conspicuous feature of this chapter is that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar delivered a speech at DAV College Jalandhr on October 28, 1951. His views are still relevant about the real “Parliamentary Democracy”. Besides this, College has been a preparing base for the defense forces in motivating and training young students under the wings of NCC and NSS. Col. Manmohan Singh is a legendary personality living in Jalandhar is the flag-bearer of this defense forces brigade of the college. The next is an elaborative narration of Sports activities, yet another important aspect of education. It is a matter of satisfaction to note that the College remained second to none in sports too. The photo gallery of Sports Stars in the segment – Through the Lens Eye - is awesome and inspiring in almost all disciplines of sports. The College produced Olympians and players of National and International Standing to make ‘We the people of India’ proud. Skipping Chapter VIII, the last but one, I come to Chapter IX on the Distinguished Visitors – a galaxy of VVIPs; President, Vice-President, PMs, Governors, CMs, Judges, Ministers, MPS, MLAs, Highly placed Bureaucrats in the Indian Civil Services: IAS, IFS, IPS etc, Technocrats, Academics, Professional, Entrepreneurs and so on. The Hall Fame, a landmark on the DAV College Premises is adorned by the photos of these prominent visitors and serves in making history. Author Principal Joshi has rightly noted, “Eminent persons came to this temple of learning either on the specific invitation of the college or of their own choice (especially the alumni).” The appended speeches of Mahamahim Rashtrapati Rajender Prasad delivered in 1961 and the speech of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar delivered in 1951 would certainly be of great value for the research scholars. The second part of the book is – History: 100 Years Journey – Through the Lens Eye gives a pictorial presentation of various aspects of the contribution of DAV College Jalandhar in producing a reservoir of talented and intellectual Human Resource to make India a “VISHWAGURU’ in the years to come – results in culmination of ‘100 Years of Shaping Lives’. On a bit of personal note, I observe this with a sense of pride that as many as 5 of my fellow BootanMandians (residents of a non-descript locality of Bootan Mandi on Nakodar Road Jalandhar) found place in ‘Through the Lens Eye’ – Ambassador Ramesh Chander, Former Chief Parliamentary Secretary of Punjab, Avinash Chander, PCS Anupam Kler, PCS brother, Pawan Kumar and Sunil Kumar and a Community Activist, Ram Lal Dass, it is just a co-incident but gratifying.

All said and done, as a feeble attempt to say something on this great work of history and referral value – One Hundred Year of DAV College Jalandhar, I come to the conclusion with a few of my humble observation on one of the most important chapters – Looking Back. In fact, Looking back, to my mind, is always pregnant with the hidden desire of Looking Forward.  The observations and remarks by some of the ‘men of vision’ associated with the DAV College Jalandhar say all. Dr. Satish Kapoor’s reminiscences referred to the nuances of the English language grammar learnt from Prof. A.C. Deveshwar, a saintly teacher with complete mastery on the subject. With a view to join Dr. Satish Kapoor, I may humbly add that I still carry Prof. Deveshwar’s book on Grammar with me which I purchased from Mai Hiran Gate sometime in 1966 and I still consult it as and when required.

It has already become a long piece, not by design but by involvement, and I conclude this by thanking Principal Jagdish Joshi and his associates namely; Prof. Sharad Manocha, Prof. Dinesh

With Principal Jagdish Joshi at the launch of the book

Arora among others and the worthy Principal of the College, Rajesh Kumar for presenting this excellent book for wider circulation and benefit of the society at large. This narration may be closed by endorsing the poetic assertion of one of our fellow alumni, Asad who must be a diligent student, with my own sense of gratitude to my alma mater. I quote the Urdu couplet credited to Asad by Prof. Bansi Lal in his reminiscences on page 221-22 of the book:-

अगर उस्ताद की खिदमत निशाने कुफर ही ठहरी;

मेरा ईमान लेता जा मुझे यह कुफर देता जा।

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The More The Merrier – All Buddhist and Guru Ravidass Organisations in the UK Support the Proposal on April 14, Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality

 

The More The Merrier – All Buddhist and Guru Ravidass Organisations in the UK Support the Proposal on April 14, Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the International Day of Equality

I have been writing in my blogs about the International Day of Equality, a proposal made to the Government of India to declare

April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN. Since June, 2015, we have been reminding and pursuing the matter with the concerned authorities and all other stake holders. My last blog, urging the BJP leadership to consider and support, on the subject refers: http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2023/05/an-open-letter-to-bjp-leadership-april.html

The Government of India is taking its own time and sitting tight, it seems. But the proposal is potent one. It would be difficult to keep it under the carpet for long. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the proposal has caught the attention of international community and

various cities and states in the developed world like; Canada, USA, UK, Australia among others and they have declared April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ locally by passing Resolutions and Proclamations by the competent city councils and state legislatures. I wrote before and I reiterate it again that ‘We are not tired as yet’ and would continue to follow the matter. More and more people are joining to support the proposal – The More the Merrier:-

अकेले ही चले थे जानिबे मंज़िल;

लोग साथ आते गए; कारवां बनता गया।

Our brethren in the UK have given me a fresh opportunity write on the subject again. They under the banner of Federation of Ambedkar and Buddhist Organisations (FABO) has issued a Joint Statement on May 24, 2023 endorsed and signed by almost all registered and recognized Ambedkarite, Buddhist, Guru Ravidass Outfits in the UK to support the proposal on International Day of Equality to honour not only the greatest son of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar but also to strengthen the ‘Soft Diplomacy of India’ in establishing an ‘Equitable World Order’, one of the lofty ideals and objectives of the UN itself. The Joint Statement has been duly submitted to the High Commission of India in London for onward transmission to the GOI – EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and PM Narendra Modi. Chetna Association of Canada has already endorsed the Joint Statement and has requested the Consul General of India in Vancouver to forward their submissions to the GOI in New Delhi. I take this opportunity to thank my friends and associates at the FABO; Arun Kumar and Santosh Das among others and Jai Birdi and other friends at Chetna Association of Canada. The Joint State is appended to this for perusal and ‘Necessary Action’.

What is the expected necessary action in this regard? -

All the Ambedkarite, Buddhist, Guru Ravidass and all interested and concerned outfits abroad (foreign countries) may issue Joint Statements or individual statements or endorse the Joint Statement of FABO and write to the concerned Indian diplomatic offices (Ambassadors/High Commissions/Consul Generals) in support of the International Day of Equality and request them to forward their submissions to the Government of India in Delhi.

Here in India, all the stake holders and followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar and all other right minded fellow citizens should write to the GOI; EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and PM Narendra Modi and urge them to take a decision as early as possible and make a demarche to the UN in New York (USA) to get April 14 declared as International Day of Equality, an important step towards making India a “Vishwa Guru”.

It has been a long time since June, 2015 and the proposal is still resting in the cupboards of Ministry of External Affairs and PMO. Come on GOI; let us raise the flag of equality and honour the ‘Icon of Equality’, Babasahb Ambedkar. I conclude this ‘Reminder’ with a couplet which conveys our state of mind:

हर दर्दमंद  दिल को रोना करा रुला दे;

बेहोश जो पड़ें हैं; शायद उने जगा दे।

 

Appendex:-

JOINT STATEMENT

Declare 14 April, the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar as ‘International Day of Equality’

24 May, 2023

We, the following organisations, request the Government of India to make a demarche to the United Nations to declare 14 April, birthday of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao R. Ambedkar as „International Day of Equality‟.

It gives us Indians, wherever we are settled, immense pride when we see one of our iconic figures - Dr Ambedkar - recognised worldwide in the matters of equality and social justice. His enormous contribution towards a just society and equality has been acknowledged in many countries around the world. He has been honoured with statues, schools and rooms in institutions and library‟s named after him. Columbia University in the US, London School of Economics in the UK, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, York University, Toronto, Canada, Koyasan University, Japan, New Zeeland, Australia, and Hungary are some of the many places where his statues have been installed. In Hungary there is a school named after him. In Jamaica, a road „Dr Ambedkar Avenue‟ was inaugurated by the former President of India. There is a street „Ambedkar Way‟ in Auckland, New Zeeland. In London Gray‟s Inn, his Alma meter has honoured him by naming a room „Ambedkar Room‟ and installing his portrait donated by the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations, UK (FABO UK). Ambedkar Museum London has become India‟s pride for having only museum in the World named after any Indian.

Dr Ambedkar‟s contribution to social equality is as significant as that of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Dr Nelson Mandela. It is a matter of great pride for all Indians to observe when a number of organisations, institutions and local authorities in India, and around the world are honouring Dr Ambedkar by declaring 14 April, a day of equality. First City of Burnaby in Canada proclaimed this in April 2020, followed by a declaration that 14 April is „Dr B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality‟. This was followed by the Province of British Columbia, Canada in April 2021 that reaffirmed it again in April, 2022 and 2023. Vancouver also followed this and recognised 14 April as a day of equality. In the US, the state of Colorado has also declared as a „Day of Equity.‟ In the United Kingdom, City of Coventry made a declaration “Coventry City Council hereby declares 14th April as Equality Day in honour of the work of Bhim Rao Ambedkar for equality, liberty, fraternity and justice for all humans”. The time is ripe for the Government of India too to also recognise him as our national treasure and actively pursue the UN to declare 14 April as the International Day of Equality.

The UN in New York is not new to celebrating Dr Ambedkar. His birthday was celebrated at the UN on 14 April, 2016 and 2023. The leader of the Indian delegation to the celebrations, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal, former Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, supported this proposal in his address. In his report submitted to the Prime Minister on 3 May, 2016, Mr Atwal urged the Indian government to recommend to the UN that it declare 14 April as an International Day of Equality. By honouring Dr Ambedkar at the UN, India will not only strengthen its „soft power‟ in diplomacy but also promoting the UN goal of just world order based on equality.

FABO UK have been pursuing this proposal via the India‟s High Commission in London since 2015. We urge the Government of India to recommend this proposal to the UN General Assembly to be held in September 2023 to declare 14 April as an International Day of Equality. We hope you will pass on this proposal to the Government of India with a favourable recommendation.

Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford

Anti-Caste Discrimination Alliance, UK

Asian Rationalist Society, Britain

Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Bedford

Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Birmingham

Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Coventry

Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Oxford

Bhagwan Valmik Sabha Southall

Bhagwan Valmik Temple Wolverhampton

Buddha Dhamma Association, Southall Central Valmik Sabha UK

Dr Ambedkar Mission Society, Glasgow Dr Ambedkar Buddhist Organisation, Birmingham Dr Ambedkar Memorial Trust, London Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK Indian Scheduled Caste Welfare Association, UK

Indian Workers' Association, Great Britain

Jagat Guru Valmik Ji Maharaj Mandir, Gian Ashram, Birmingham Kanshi Radio Ltd Kanshi TV Punjab Buddhist Society, UK

Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha UK (SGRS-UK) and is the voice for all Shri Guru Ravidass Temples in the UK:

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Bedford,

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Birmingham

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Bradford

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Coventry

- Shri Guru Ravidass Temple Foleshill, Coventry

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Darlaston,

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Derby

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, East Ham

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Glasgow

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Gravesend

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Erith Kent

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Leicester

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Luton

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Northampton

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Southall

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Southampton

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Strood

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Strood, Medway

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Walsall

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Willenhall

- Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Wolverhampton