An
Open Letter to Candidates in the Lok Sabha Election, 2024 – International Day
of Equality
Dear Candidates - aspiring MPs and the Voters
proposal to the then EAM Sushma Swaraj in June, 2015 in the run up to celebrate 125th birth anniversary of one of the greatest sons of India, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as declared and observed by the GOI. Later this proposal was brought to the attention of PM Narendra Modi by the Forum of SC MPs under the stewardship of the then Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal in a Memorandum submitted to PM Nareandra Modi in November, 2015. Accordingly, for the first time, the birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar was celebrated at the UN in New Year in April, 2016. The proposal
on International Day of Equality was duly made and appreciated at the prestigious function. On return from New York, Speaker Atwal Sahib wrote to PM Narendra Modi and submitted his report informing the Hon’ble PM that the proposal was made and requested the GOI to take it to the UN through diplomatic channels. The rest is history. Most of the correspondence and related documents are available in my various blogs at: www.diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com and me perused. The proposal is resting in the cup-boards of MEA/PMO since then. I have been making some retrained and constrained noises but could not illicit any response from the MEA/PMO/GOI. The reason for this blissful silence could either be ignorance or arrogance. I am sorry to say.
The positive fallout of the noises, I made was that, by now, many states and cities in in the US, Canada, the UK among other countries had already declared April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of
Equality’ and observe the day officially for the last many years. I will be failing in my duty if I don’t mention my interlocutors and supports abroad like Chetna Association of Canada, Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organizations of the UK and others who supported the proposal on International Day of Equality and interacted with their local counterparts to honour the iconic personality, Babasaheb Ambedkar.
It is surprising that in spite of the fact that all political parties are falling on each other to own Ambedkar but their response to the proposal to honour Babasaheb Ambedkar at the high pedestal of the UN is not getting their attention. With a view to address this lop-sided attitude of the politicians, I thought of addressing this open letter to all the candidates in the ongoing festival of democracy, Lok Sabha Elections, 2024. The response to my latest post on the Facebook has
further provoked my imagination to explore further support to the proposal. I urge all the candidates to kindly consider and support the proposal on April 14 to be declared as International Day of Equality. It will not only honour the greatest votary of equality, Babasaheb Ambedkar but also further strengthen cultural and soft diplomacy of India on the lines of International Day of Non-violence and International Day of Yoga. Before I quote that post, I conclude this with an often repeated poetic assertion –
Har Dardmand Dil Ko Rona Mera Rula De
Behosh Jo Paden Hain Shayad Une Jaga De
I take this opportunity to wish all the candidates in the fray all the best.
Yours truly,
(Ramesh Chander)
Ambassador – IFS (Retired)
Jalandhar
Text
of my Facebook post of May 12, 2024
April
14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International
Day of Equality
Since
June 2015, proposal on the International Day of Equality is resting with MEA
and PMO of the GOI. We have been reminding the GOI on the pending proposal
religiously and regularly but GOI has not responded. Why it is so? It is
difficult to understand in spite of the fact both the ruling outfits and those
of in the opposition are falling on each other to claim and own the legacy of
Babasaheb Ambedkar. But when it comes to real issues, they get blissfully
ignorant and silent.
I
have two humble submissions to make in these days of' Festival of Democracy
that is Elections:
i)
All candidates, particularly dalits and reserved category, should consider and
extend their support to the proposal on International Day of Equality.
ii)
All well-meaning and concerned voters may ask the candidates when they approach
them for votes to support the proposal and qualify to earn their votes.
It
is time to assert and demand due and rightful recognition to the greatest son
of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Some random comments by my friends:
VB SoniGreat suggestion.. I
am presently in Boston.wpuld be back just a few days ahead of the elections. If
approached by any candiadte I will certainly plug the line. Good luck.
Yes we must exert pressure on the candidates to support
our rightful demand.I will definitely do it.
Definitely, it needs to be taken up at this crucial time
of, as you rightly out, the festival of electoral democracy!!
Balbinder Kumar A very important initiative which is
to be done as early as possible. We make a team and exert pressure on every
political party. Jai Bhim
Definitely Sir...
Follow
This needs to be implemented,sir. Great suggestion.
Jai Bhim Jai Bharat
Kashmir SinghI will certainly take it up with the
contestants of different parties on reserve seat.
Kashmir Singh thank you. Let us also take this to the general seats
because Dr. Ambedkar was a great Nation Builder and worked towards inclusion for all.
Jai Birdi Yes,
Ambedkar was not the leader of dalits only. We the People of India proudly own
him
Mohit Bhardwaj Salute to you Sir.!
Good suggestion and must be followed till it is accepted
Vijay KumarIt is very good idea and suggestion
for the community at large ,, we are bound to ensure the dignity of Baba Sahib
, which will definitely boost the morale of our community too
Roop Sidhu Great
I fully support it
Yes It's a very good decision
It's a real tribute to our BABA SAHIB JI.
We are doing whatever we can do. But in India, people are
not pushing this agenda. They must ask the candidates for their commitment to
this cause.
Ramesh Chander Arun Kumar Thanks. I value your support. Our people don't
understand. Even the so called Ambedkarite outfits are not even aware of the
issue.
Only a minuscule percentage of Indian population is in
support of this important issue. Not even all Dalits, Tribes and OBCs.
Recently, politics played in Ottawa during Equality Day
celebration is very disturbing.
Ramesh Chander Zile Singh thanks Zile Singh ji. We would catch up on phone. I
value your support.
Chaman Lal Great initiative, a befitting
tribute to Baba Saheb, the great humanist emancipator! I shall make it a point
to get in touch with various organisations to strongly take up with their
fellows and politicians and push up the issue with them! Thank you!
Col Tilak Raj *It's a praiseworthy suggestion. All candidates contesting Lok Sabha elections must declare in their manifesto that they would do everything possible to achieve this goal.*
Ramesh Chander Chandigarh – Highly appreciate your enduring efforts in having our only par excellence saviour Dr. Ambedkar’s birthday,April 14, to be declared as International Day of Equality.
Jai Pal Singh Kharar - We will definitely ask this question from the candidates coming for votes..
Lekh Raj Nayyar - Full support.
Surinder Bhatti – Sir I really support.
Malkit Singh Beas – Would persue as suggested. Commendable.
Mohit Bhardwaj Advocate – Salute to you Sir.
Madhu Rachana Advocate – Very effective. We are with you, Sir/Ramesh Muley Pune – We support you, Sir earnestly.
Ronki Ram Chandigarh – Definitely, it needs to be taken up
Tirath Ram – It is a great suggestion to achieve the long pending agenda with GOI.
In
addition to this, I have received several message of support and the course of action
to carry forward the proposal on International Day of Equality. I think, the
candidates in the elections and their political parties would take note of the
emerging scenario and respect the wishes of their masters that is “We the
people of India”
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