Babu Kanshi Ram – A
Tribute
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
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| 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.
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