Nave Nibandh – Collection of New Essays

Amb. Bal Anand

Ambassador Bal Anand, a senior colleague in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) during our diplomatic service and one of our family friends is an intellectual and a literary personality apart from his professional acumen as a diplomat. His latest book ‘Nave Nibandh’ – a collection of new essays, which he very kindly sent to me with personal greetings and dedication, is in hand. It is Ambassador Bal Anand’s second book in Punjabi. Earlier, he wrote ‘Sukh Sunehe’, a collection of letters exchanged with his friends in literary and social circles. I wrote about this book in my blog: diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com in August, 2014. It is gratifying to write that Ambassador Bal Anand has a masterly flare and attribute in writing good prose both in Punjabi and English languages. It is an excellent co-curricular activity in the post retirement life. He rightly writes in his brief bio-profile, given at the back cover of the book, that his hobbies are “free-lance writing, brain-storming and friendship”.

Nave Nibandh is a bouquet of essays on diverse subjects of contemporary relevance. It is a kaleidoscope of thought provoking, informative and interesting ideas and issues concerning the society at large. I think the collection would be a useful study material for the young aspirants to sit and write competitive examinations.  In the essay on education, the author underlines the importance of education with a poetic quote from a famous Punjabi poet Dhaniram Chatrik and rightly so:

ਜਿੰਨ੍ਹਾ ਵਿਦਿਯਾ  ਦੀ ਜੋਤ ਜਗਾ ਲਈ ਹੈ, ਉਨਾ ਕੁੰਜੀ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨੇ ਦੀ ਪਾ ਲਈ ਹੈ !

With this, I wish Ambassador Bal Anand all success and good personal health in the years to come. I am confident that the book ‘Nave Nibandh’ would be well received.

Guru Ravidassji’s Prakash Utsav at Bootan Mandi

Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar, my native place, is a non-descript locality on Nakodar Road (Ambedkar Marg). The Mandi once was a thriving business centre for raw and tanned leather. Most of the residents belong to dalit community of Chamar (Ad-dharmi) extraction and as such are the followers of Guru Ravidass.  The birthday anniversary of Guru Ravidass is celebrated at the Mandi with great devotion and gaiety traditionally for about a century. The celebrations culminate into the Shoba Yatra or Nagar Kirtan (previously called Jaloos) one day before the Prakash Utsav or Gurpurab (previously called Janam Din) and the religious Congregation in the day time and grand reverential song and poetic Darbar on the day of Gurupurab. With the increasing political and socio-economic profile of Bootan Mandi, the occasion became an important event in the socio-cultural life of Jalandhar over the years. Traditionally it was a sober and solemn occasion and was observed under spiritual norms. Later on, with the changing times, it has tended to become a common Mela type event with all fun and frolic around. The entire area, in and around Bootan Mandi, is cordoned off for the event. Each and every building and even the private houses are decked and illuminated for a week or so. The Prabhat Pheris (street recital and singing of Gurbani in the moorings) start about two weeks in advance. The community kitchens (langars) are set up and served on both the days at several places. The entire area becomes a gallery of large hoardings of congratulations on the Gurupurab of the great Guru.

Singer Surinder Shinda at Bootan Mandi

With this background, I would like to touch another aspect of the celebrations at Bootan Mandi. In the mid 1960s dedicated youth took over the reins. I remember and recall my cherished memories of excellent Kavi Darbars (Poetry Recital) in 1965-66 under the guidance of Pritam Ramdaspuri and leadership of Seth Durga Dass and Prem Shant. Some of the known poets like Vidhata Singh Tir, Hazara Singh Mustak, Kartar Singh Balaggan, Charan Singh Safri, Gurdass Ram Alam and others mesmerized the audiences with their poetic renditions. For the next three years, the responsibility to maintain the tradition fell on my slander strength as the General Secretary of the then Guru Ravidass Youth Club. I did my best in the face of many odds as the trend of inviting famous singers rather than poets was getting favour merely because of attraction to glamour. Over the years, the organizers could not resist and the culture of dance and song by an array of the best singers in Punjab creped in. The lure of money and the urge to get famous attracted the best of talent to perform at Bootan Mandi on the Gurupurab. My brother, Paramjit Mahey, also remained at the helm as General Secretary of Guru Ravidass Educational and Charitable Trust for many years. The traditional Gurudwara was transformed into an elegant Satguru Ravidass Dham with the efforts of the then Mayor of Jalandhar, Surinder Mahey and his associates. Now, the Dham is the focal point of Gurupurab celebrations. The song writers like Rattu Randhawa, Chann Gorayanwala, Madan Jalandhari and others penned lyrics invoking the beauty and gaiety of Bootan Mandi in the celebrations. The famous singers namely Hans Raj Hans, Kanth Klair, K.S. Makhan, Master Saleem, Nooran Sisters, inter alia, gave their voice to the songs and enthralled audiences over the years. It is a matter of pride for the Bootanmandians. 

Singers Sardool Shikander and Noorie at Bootan Mandi

The legendary Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans remained one of the regulars for many years to perform at Bootan Mandi.  He sang with élan:

‘Sohne Punjab Da Shehar Jalandhar;

Bootan Mandi Jisde Andar !’

In a lighter vein, he devised his own folklore called Mahia:

 ‘Do Pattar Anaraan De, Jehne Sanu Milna Hove Vehde Aajo Chamara De”

Another famous Punjabi singer Kaler Kanth beautifully sang:

‘Bootan Mandi Aajo; Jene Dekhna Nazara e”

This song became the tune of spontaneous bhangra in the Shoba Yatras for many years.

Shobha Yatra at Bootan Mandi

Adding to the dance and song sequences, Master Saleem:

‘Aawo Sangate Ajj Nachiye Ta Gaayiye Appan,

Bootan Mandi Janam Dihada Khusiyan Naal Maniye Appan’

Babbu Jalandhria referred to the Mela at Bootan Mandi:

‘Bootan Mandi Mela Lagda Ravidas Piare Da’

Nooran Sisters last year stole the show at Bootan Mandi with with their rendition in the Qawwali style:

‘Bootan Mandi Lag Janda Dil Bhagto”

It may be added that Nooran Sisters are the grand-daughters of the famous folk singer Bibi Nooran who was a resident of Bootan Mandi.

Appreciating the illuminations and fire work at Bootan Mandi on the Gurupurab, the famous singer K.S. Makhan sang in his imitable style:

‘Sajavat Karke Karti Jhandi, Lishkaan Maare Bootan Mandi’

Satgurr Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi

These were some of the picks which I could gather off the cuff. There may be many more. It is a matter of gratification for Bootan Mandi and its residents. But at the same time, it evolves responsibility to maintain and improve the content and tenor of the celebrations of the Prakash Utsav of the great Guru Ravidass in the coming years. It will be a befitting tribute the Guru.

Greetings and Congratulations on the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidassji on February 3.

Republic Day – January 26

India is celebrating 66^th Republic Day on January 26. It is a great Day in the history of India. I greet and congratulate my fellow countrymen on the Republic Day. It has come a long way since 1950 when the constitution of India was promulgated and India became a Republic under the constitution. India is the largest democracy in the world. The second largest country, population wise, with 1.25 billion people, is one of the fastest growing economies. India has created a due space for herself in the comity of nations through diplomatic interaction. The polity and the society are governed smoothly under the constitution. It is a matter of great satisfaction. We take pride in this and rightly so. Though it seems that we are on track yet still we are to go a long way to fully redeem the pledge we took in the famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech of PM Jawaharlal Nehru at the dawn of independence on August 15, 1947. The political democracy is yet to be transformed into social and economic democracy as visualized by our leadership particularly by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, father of the Indian constitution. 

There are problems and difficulties which are to be tackled, if we intend to see that India remains on rails of development and further progress. Mere rhetoric on good governance, corruption free polity and economy and also society, casteless society, social empowerment and communal harmony will not do and deliver. Something concrete has to be done. The current issues of religious conversion, the so called Ghar Vapsi, and Hindu Rastra, which divide the society and create communal tensions, should be avoided. In this regard, it is advisable to read and consider the warning Dr. B.R. Ambedkar gave in the run up to our Independence in his book Thoughts on Pakistan or Partition of India. He said, “If Hindu Raj does become a fact, it will no doubt be the greatest calamity for this country. No matter what the Hindus say, Hinduism is a menace to liberty, equality and fraternity. On that account, it is incompatible with democracy.”

 With this, I conclude by wishing ‘Long live the Republic of India’.

Pseudo Secularism – A Case Study

Secularism, as one of the tenants of the Indian polity and society, is currently in news in the wake of religious conversions as ‘Ghar Vapsi’ initiated by the hardcore Hindu outfits. The subject is debated thoroughly by the concerned intellectuals and the society at large from their varied perspectives. I would like to add yet another aspect to the debate which I call a case study.

There is an old locality called Bootan Mandi, situated at Nakodar

Traditional Drum (Tamak) leading the Gurupurab Shobha Yatra in Bootan Mandi

Road (now named as Ambedkar Marg) in Jalandhar.  Not many years before, it was a slum area having   a traditional leather market both for raw and tanned leather. The businessmen and the other residents of Bootan Mandi and nearby localities like Jalowal Abadi, Bootan Pind, and Sidharth Nagar, Ravidass Nagar etc. predominantly belong to dalit community of Chamar (Ad-dharmi) extraction with a population of around 5000-7000. Most of the residents of the area originally migrated from the nearby villages of Dhanal and Nangal in the 1920s and engaged themselves in the leather business. Some of them, with astute business sense, like Seth Kishan Dass and Seth Munshi Ram and others, migrated to Calcutta (Kolkata) and Kanpur and achieved a good measure of success. The Mandi became a rallying point and centre of success and prosperity with more and more enterprising people joining hands from the nearby villages. They spread their wings to other leather markets in Madras (Chennai), Calcutta (Kolkata), Kanpur, Meerut, Amritsar, Malerkotla, J & K, Ambala etc. Some Christians from Amritsar and Gurdaspur, Muslims from Madras (Chennai) and Sikhs (Bawa Skin and Lotus Bawa) came and established themselves in the leather business. Bootan Mandi became the focal point for political as well as socio-economic empowerment of dalits of Doaba region of Punjab.

Ramesh Chander at a function in Bootan Mandi

In politics, people of Bootan Mandi excelled. Seth Kishan Dass became MLA before independence in 1947, Dr. B. R Ambedkar visited Bootan Mandi and stayed with Seth Kishan Dass in 1951, Piara Ram Dhanowalia,  who had his leather business in Bootan Mandi, became Minister in the Punjab Government in 1967, Seth Khushi Ram became Vice President of Jalandhar Municipal Committee in early 1970s, Surinder Mahey rose to the coveted position of Mayor of Jalandhar in the early years of the decade of 2010, Avinash Chander, grandson of Seth Kishan Dass, is currently Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the Punjab Government. Seth Satpal Mall and Prem Shant are holding responsible positions in the Congress Party and BSP respectively. Babu Kanshi Ram of BSP used to stay with Prem Shant during his Jalandhar visits in the early years of his political career. Personal egos and hunger for positions played their role and the Mandi got divided politically. Seth Kishan Dass and Seth Dhanu Ram and others followed Dr. Ambedkar and his political legacy. Seth Khushi Ram and some more associated themselves with Congress Party. In subsequent years, BSP stole the lead. Now a days, people are divided and losing steam and say in the political fortunes of dalits.

  As I said earlier, the Bootan Mandi area did well economically in the post independence years particularly in the 1970-80s. But in the changing times and requirements of business etiquettes, the Seths of Bootan Mandi lagged behind. They could not offer the desired training and matching education to their children to take care of their traditionally run leather businesses. It is a matter of regret and is not so gratifying. Nevertheless, the success registered by Seth Mool Raj and his son Steven Kler, Harish Mahey, Seth Thakur Dass in the leather business is considerable and appreciable. As a sign of upword social mobility, some of the prosperous Seths shifted their residences to the nearby posh GTB Nagar but remained integrated with Bootan Mandi otherwise.

In the services and educational sphere, Bootan Mandi has a mixed record. The Seths of the Mandi with prosperous businesses did not pay much attention to the education of their children. Most of them preferred to engage them in their traditional leather business without much education. It worked against them in the changing scenario and lost the lead to outside players in the business. As regards services, one of the sons of the soil with poor economic background- that is me (Ramesh Chander), to add it with all humility - could graduate to be inducted into the coveted Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and rose to become an Ambassador. Sushil Sheemar is yet another worthy son of Bootan Mandi who qualified and joined Indian Tele-communications Services (ITS) and is occupying a senior position as a Director with good prospects. His wife Jaswinder (Lovely) Sheemar is an Additional Sessions Judge. Pushpa Rani is also a senior Civil Judge in the judiciary. Seth Mool Raj’s (son of Seth Kishan Dass) family made a fair contribution in this regard. His daughter Anupam Kler and daughter-in-law Babita Kler are occupying senior positions in the Punjab Civil Services (PCS). Two worthy sons of the soil, Sunil Kler and Pawan Kler, sons of Keshava Nand made it to the PCS as young officers. Some of the educated lot namely Manohar Mahey, Ram Lal Kainth, Ashok Kler, Jagdish Mahey, Tarsem Mahey, Sita Ram Mahey, Pradip Madhas, Mohinder Mehta and others could register their mark in the banking sector. Satpal Mahey and Vinod Kaul made their grading in the insurance sector with senior positions. Jagdish Mahey who is already a Divisional Manager in Canara Bank is definitely set to go further up. Mahesh Chander is an up-coming young man in the education sector, currently teaching at Sant Baba Bhag Singh Educational Complex. Many young boys and girls of Bootan Mandi and its periphery are qualified doctors in the health and medicine sector. With all this, somehow, I have a distinct feeling that given the sound financial background of the leather businessmen in the area, their share in the coveted services like IAS, IFS, IPS and other Allied Services is negligible. It remained an unsatisfactory position.

When I started writing this piece, I did not intend to touch on many details mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. Let it be as it came. Now I come to the captioned theme of pseudo-secularism. Over the years, Bootan Mandi, knowingly or otherwise, has become a seat and living example of pseudo-secularism. Though the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of the area are dalits (Ad-dharmi) yet it can boast of having a few families of Muslims, Christians and Buddhists as well. Some Sikhs also have their businesses in the Mandi.  There is an old Sikh Gurudwara called Dera Santpura. The Guru Ravidass Gurudwara has been re-christened as Satguru Ravidass Dham. Of late, as a short sighted approach to my mind, the newly floated granth called Amritvani of Ravidassia Dhram of Dera Schkhand Balan, has been installed in the Dham replacing Gurugranth Sahib. It has fractured the community. Nearby the Dham, there is a Mosque which was built on the initiative of Seth Satpal Mall and others to placate their Muslim business partners in Madras (Chennai) and J&K. The Mosque also runs a Madrassa (school) for the benefit of the Muslim children. There is yet another site called Guru Ravidass Mandir where the Granth Sahib adorns the place. This Mandir is sandwiched by the Church and the Budh Vihar to serve the neo-converts to Christianity and Buddhism. There are a couple of Darghas of Muslim Pirs in Bootan Mandi apart from individual religious places like the Dera of Sant Lalji Dass and Sant Bibi Malawi Mandir. I am told that Nirangkari Satsang Ghar is being opened near Buddh Vihar. All the major political parties like Congress, BJP, Akali Dal, BSP etc. are active in the area. Some socio-communal organizations like Guru Ravidass Educational and Charitable Trust, Vigilant Brotherhood International, Boudh Mahasabha, Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Trust, Dr. Ambedkar Bhawan Trust, Samta Sainik Dal and outfits pertaining to Christians and Muslims have their offices and functionaries in and around the Mandi.

Having told this long story, now let me conclude by telling why I termed it as ‘Pseudo-Secularism’? Not in the distant past, Bootan Mandi was the nerve Centre of the dalit community in the region. The Ad-dharam Mandal under the leadership of Babu Mangoo Ram and the struggle and mission of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was fully supported and endorsed by the worthy sons of Bootan Mandi like Seth Kishan Dass, Seth Sunder Dass, Seth Khushi Ram, Pritam Ramdaspuri, and Seth Dhanu Ram among others. The mission and philosophy of Guru Ravidass was the guiding force behind all socio-political and even economic activity.  It is a matter of regret that, over the years, it has gone to the wind. The Mandi is fast losing its space and sheen in community matters. The economic and business standing is slowly getting eroded.  The in-fighting to safeguard the selfish interests of the self appointed Karta-Dhartas (leadership) is increasingly becoming the bane of the community.  As regards the outfits working in the area, I must add, taking the risk of inviting the wrath of some of my friends, that these organizations are active only to the extent of photo-opportunities occasionally.  In most of these outfits, vested interests are at work just to claim some position and recognition in one way or the other. Most of the inhabitants are dalits to the core including the neo-converts. The social mobility, seen in the society at large, is missing in the community in Bootan Mandi and its periphery, in spite of the professed spiritual and social diversity. That is why I call it pseudo-secularism. The pseudo secularism has not helped or empowered the society in anyway, rather it has further divided the society. I write this with a heavy heart being a humble son of the soil.

हर दर्दमंद दिल को रोना मेरा रुला दे

बेहोश जो पडें हैं शायद उने जगा दे !

It is my humble tribute to Guru Ravidass on his forthcoming Gurupurab in the first week of February, 2015. The traditional solemnity and reverence in which the day was once celebrated in Bootan Mandi is fast fading, giving way to hooliganism and self gratification of the men at the helm of affairs.

Bharat Ratan Atal Bihari Vajpayee



With PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee & Krygyz President

Bharat Ratan, the highest civilian honour in India, has been conferred on PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 90^th birthday on December 25, 2014. It has also been decided by the Government of India to observe the Day as Good Governance Day every year. It is a well deserved recognition to the worthy son of India to put him in league with the galaxy of Indian leaders of the Indian society.

The occasion gives me an opportunity to recall my own cherished memories and recount my brief encounters with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  I first saw young Vajpayee in 1968 in Jalandhar when I was a student at the local DAV College. As a student, I had a good interest in the socio-political activities in and around Jalandhar.  The annual session of the then Jan Sangh was held in Jalandhar.  Atal Bihari Vajpayee was elected as the President of Jan Sangh. He was taken, I vividly remember, in a regal horse-driven carriage in a procession around the city. I saw the procession, standing in the crowd, at the famous Patel Chowk. I don’t remember as to what he said in Jalandhar but I certainly recall that he was the talk of the town for his spell-bound oratory.

I went to Delhi in March, 1970 to join Ministry of External Affairs as a junior official. I had a good interest in the day to day politics of the country as an aspiring apprentice and as such it was natural to follow Atal Bihari Vajpayee, an able and lively politician. In spite of some spicy stories about his personal life, he commanded all respect and acceptability in the political and social circles of the society at large. In slow progression, I also rose in the ranks of the MEA and was posted in the PMO during the emergency years for protocol and hospitality duties not only for the foreign visiting delegations but also for the cabinet meetings and other related matters. After the emergency was lifted and elections were announced in the early months of 1977, I distinctly recall Vajpayee speaking at a mammoth public meeting on Rajpath, probably the last public meeting before the canvassing came to a close. It was a spirited and emotional speech, an excellent piece of oratory. The Congress Party and PM Indira Gandhi were trounced in the elections. The rest is all history. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was appointed as Minister of External Affairs in PM Morarji Desai’s Government. It fell on me to escort Atal Bihari Vajpayee from his office in South Block to the Conference Room in the PMO for the first Cabinet meeting of the Janta Government. It was a pleasant experience. Later in the evening when I reached home, my wife told me that I appeared on the TV with Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was delighted.  I witnessed him speaking in Hindi at the delegation level talks with the Foreign Minister of the then USSR, Andrei Gromyko in the Committee Room of the MEA. It was for the first time, I understand, when any Indian Minister of External Affairs spoke in Hindi with his foreign counterpart.

During my long diplomatic career, I could have some more intimate moments with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.  He visited Peking (now Beijing) in 1978. We at the Indian Embassy arranged a tea party for him to meet the slander Indian community in Peking and the Embassy staff. I was looking after the service and hospitality. Vajpayee, as it is well known, has a great sense of humour. We offered him Pakoras. He was not inclined to pick up one. I said, ‘ Sahib Leejiye. Garam Garam Hai.’ He touched the Pakoras and retorted, “Agar Yeh Garam Hai To Thanda Kya Hota Hai.’ We all laughed.  During the course if my duties and work from 1998-2000 when I was the Director of Central Asia Division in the MEA, I had a couple occasions to come close to Vajpayee during the state visits of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. I was to help our leaders to sign the Agreements during one of these visits at the Signing Ceremony at Hyderabad House. The first document was to be signed by the visiting President and our PM. Two special pens are generally kept for the purpose. I got the documents signed by PM. After the signing, PM instead of keeping the pen on the table, subconsciously, put it in his pocket. The next document was to be signed by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. There was no time and option.  I immediately pulled out my pen from my pocket and gave it to the EAM for signature. Jaswant Singh is fond of good pens and knew that there has to be a special pen for the purpose. There was no time to discuss. He reluctantly signed the documents with my personal pen. All the remaining documents were also signed by other dignitaries including Lal Krishan Advani and Ananth Kumar with my pen.  Later, I explained the mishap to the Chief of Protocol and EAM Jaswant Singh. He smiled. Later, with the help of my friends in the PMO, Ajay Bisaria and Sunil Jain I obtained one of the photographs of these ceremonies autographed by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I keep it as a prized possession.



With PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee & Uzbek President

With this, I wish PM Atal Bihari all the very best and good recovery from his health problems.

Some Random Thoughts of a Novice

Today, December 19, I have become grandfather for the sixth time. Sulekha, wife of my son Rupesh, has given birth to a baby girl

at a hospital in Jalandhar.  Both the mother and the baby are fine. We already have five grandchildren – Pallavi and Arvind; son and daughter of Anju and Naresh, Komal and Tanya; daughters of Vaishali and Jatinder and Suhani; daughter of Sulekha and Rupesh. Now. the fifth i.e. Suhani is 5 plus. My son Naresh lives in Sweden. Pallavi and Arvind were born in Stockholm. They are in their teens. Komal and Tania were born in Faridabad where my daughter Vaishali lives. Suhani was also born in Faridabad in the care of Vaishali and Jatinder before Sulekha and Rupesh moved to our small flat in Gurgaon on return from Prague. On my retirement in December,2010, I came to Jalandhar and Rupesh and his family also followed me in Jalandhar subsequently in the beginning of 2013.

It is for the first time for me that I am around at the time of an addition in our family. We have been moving from one place to another in my diplomatic career. I recall that my wife visited Stockholm in 1999 to be with Anju and Naresh at the time of birth of Pallavi, our first grandchild. We were posted in Delhi. Vaishali and Rupesh, my daughter and son, went to Stockholm when Arvind was born in 2001. We were posted in Tokyo. Komal and Tania, daughters of my daughter Vaishali, were born when we were posted in Tokyo and Prague respectively. Suhani was born 2009 in Faridabad when we were working in Minsk. I think, with the sixth grandchild- daughter of Sulekha and Rupesh, our family is almost complete.

 We all are happy. There is a mixed feeling. As regards the family life, I am a novice. We are blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter. Frankly, consciously or sub-consciously, I neither felt elated when sons were born and dejected when the daughter was born. May be it was because of the fact that our first born was our son Naresh. With the arrival of Naresh’s daughter and son in Stockholm, life remained as usual but happy. It may be because of the fact that they are living in a developed country, Sweden and their future is safe and secure. Vaishali, my daughter, has two daughters. Somehow, at the back of my mind and more so with Vidya, my wife, we expected and longed for a son in the family of my daughter. But now, let me say with a sense of pride that both Vaishali and her husband Jatinder behaved and performed so well in bringing up Komal and Tania that there is no sense of remorse any more. Sulekha and Rupesh are also blessed with two daughters with the arrival of the new one. Today again, I am gripped with a mixed feeling. I must confess. It is more so because of the fact that Rupesh is still in the processing of settling down nicely in life. Though God has been kind to us that we can afford to give our children a reasonably good bringing up yet there is a lingering worry and concern. What is this concern and worry? It is difficult to explain and write. My children may or may not agree with me but the fact remains. Perhaps, we are to deal with a mindset which comes up and boys are preferred and expected over daughters. It is a pity. We are yet to overcome this social humbug. It is a matter of gratification that my daughter Vaishali and my daughters in law Anju and Sulekha are so nice and caring. It gives me considerable solace and strength to cope up with any negative felling on getting another daughter in the family. Life goes on.

 

Mahaparinirvan Diwas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

Sardhanjali function at Ambedkar Bhawan on December 6

Today, December 6, death anniversary (Mahaparinirvan Diwas) of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (April 14, 1891-December 6, 1956) was observed throughout India and abroad to pay tributes to the great leader. As usual, there was a solemn function at Ambedkar Bhawan at Nakodar Road, Jalandhar.  I, as a humble follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar, participated in the function at Ambedkar Bhawan. The function was organized by Ambedkar Bhawan Trust, functioning under the patronage of staunch Ambedkarite Lahori Ram Balley and presidency of Dr. Ram Lal Jassi. Member of Parliament from Jalandhar, Chaudhary Santokh Singh was the Chief Guest at the function. All the main speakers namely Dr. Jassi and Shri Balley spoke with conviction and paid glowing tributes to the greatest son of India, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Chief Guest Chaudhary Santokh Singh highlighted the contribution of Dr. Ambedkar in establishing democracy in India and said that he would only be happy to associate himself with the Ambedkar Bhawan. He also announced a grant of Rs.5/- lakhs to the Bhawan out of the MPs development fund which was much appreciated by the organizers and the audience. There was a small book exhibition at the campus of the Bhawan from where I purchased two books – Mr. Gandhi and Emancipation of the Untouchables by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Who Weakened India – Buddhism or Brahminism? by Dr. Surendra Ajnat.

In the evening, DD Punjabi telecasted a special programme to pay tributes to DR. Ambedkar. Apart from others namely Prof. G.C. Kaul, Dr. Ram Lal Jassi, Shri Paramjit Mahey, I also spoke in the telecast and underlined the fact that besides a renowned authority on the constitution law, Dr. Ambedkar was an economist of great standing. He was much interested in contributing to the economic development of the country but somehow could not get much needed opportunity to do so.