Ambedkar Jayanti at Hoshiarpur

 

Ambedkar Jayanti at Hoshiarpur

Courtesy Prof. Balbinder Kumar of the Region Center of Punjab University, it fell on me to be the Chief Guest at the Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations at Ambedkar Bhawan in Hoshiarpur. The solemn function was organised and hosted by Dr. Ambedkar Mission
and Welfare Society under the stewardship of Advocate Ramji Dass Badhan, a renowned personality in the legal and social circles in the region. On initial introductory interaction with the organisers and guest over hot snacks of Pakoras and Jalebis with masala tea, the customary floral tributes and vandhana (respect) to Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the contemporary times were paid with devotional fervor.

The formal part of the solemn function, presided over by the Retired Civil Surgeon, Dr. Pawan Shagotra, a renowned personality in the medical and health care, started with tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar by the speakers picked at random among the quality audience comprising of who’s who in the intellectual circles of

Hoshiarpur and its periphery. They all spoke with reverence and conviction duly recognizing and appreciating the contribution of the icon, Babasaheb and termed him as one of the builders of modern India. President of Society, Advocate Ramji Dass Badhan kick started the session with his introductory remarks welcoming the Guests. Picking up the threads given by the learned speakers, I, in my brief remarks, thanked the hosts for providing me an opportunity to come and interact with the cream of the community participating in the thoughtfully event to remember, Babasaheb Ambedkar. I recalled the sterling role played by Hoshiarpur in shaping the struggle and fight of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the early 1930s (Roundtable Conferences in London) by getting recognized him as the leader of the depressed and oppressed people of India facing the opposition and objections of he Congress Party led by Mahatma Gandhi – Role of Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia under the banner and flag of Ad-dharam Mandal in sending telegrams to PM of Britain and others listing support to Dr. Ambedkar as leader of the marginalized sections of the large chunk of the Indian society (as mentioned in the recently released book of Dr. Gurmeet Kallarmajri – Gadri Baba Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia Atey Ad-dharam (Maulik Likhtan) and son of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Yashwant Ambedkar contesting Lok Sabha elections from the Hoshiarpur constituency in the early 1960s. I also said that India, withstanding many onslaughts of times, was India because of Babasaheb Ambedkar as the Constitution of India worked as a dynamic document to ward off the dangers to the democratic edifice

so beautifully enshrined in the Constitution by our forefathers led by Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Constitution. I also took the opportunity to inform and brief the discerning audience of the proposal to declare April 13, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar as Internationals Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN and solicited their support. It was fully acclaimed by the audience. Dr. Hardeep Singh Bhatoa very ably steered the function as Master of ceremonies and his thought provoking brief speech underlining the role and contribution of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the emancipation and empowerment of woman folk of India, a much needed reform of the society.

The function was concluded with presenting of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s framed portrait to the desirous from the audience and a lunch of piping hot Puree-Chole. I came back to Jalandhar with a

sense of fulfillment in the process of learning as a humble Ambedkarite – the fragrance of Ambedkar was in the air; in the poetic express of Allma Iqbal –

Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri

(Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the rose
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden)

Urha Li Qumriyon Ne, Tootiyon Ne, Andleebon Ne
Chaman Walon Ne Mil Kar Loot Li Tarz-e-Faghan Meri

(The turtle‐doves, parrots, and nightingales pilfered away
The garden’s denizens jointly robbed away my plaintive way)