AMBEDKAR JAYANTI (April 14, 2012)
The
birthday
of
Dr.
Baba
Sahib
Ambedkar
falls
on
April
14.
The
followers
of
Ambedkar
and
other
concerned
observe
the day
with
all
solemnity
and
enthusiasm
throughout
India
and
abroad
not
only
on April
14
but
also
continue
to
do
so
in
the
following
weeks.
It
only
shows
that Ambedkar
is
held
in
high
esteem
and
rightly
so.
It
began
with
the
Face
book.
It
was
full
of
tributes
to
Ambedkar
on
April
14
and
day
after
by
his
followers.
Many
government
agencies
remembered
him
through
the
print
media
and
organizedunctions,as
usual.
I
also
participated
in a
few
functions
and
paid
my
respects
to
the
memory
of
the
great
leader
and
greeted
the
participants
in
these
functions.
Guru
Ravidass
Mandir
and
Dham
at
Khurla
Kingra
(near
my
residence
in
Jalandhar)
invited
me
to
be
the
chief
speaker
at a
function
in
the
evening
of
April
14.
The
newly
appointed
Chief
Parliamentary
Secretary
in
the
Punjab
Government
Pawan
Tinu
was
the
Chief
Guest
at
the
function.
It
was
a
well
organized
function
at
the
local
level.
I
found
that
the
audience
was
well
meaning
and
full
of
reverence
to
Baba
Sahib.
The
Indian
sweet
(Ladoos)
were
distributed
to
celebrate
the
occasion.
The next day, April 15, I was the Chief Guest at a function organized by Dr. Ambedkar Sports, Education and Welfare Association of village Johal, a progressive village in the area. My NRI friend from Glasgow (Scotland) Sucha Bagha is the chief Patron of the Association. He was instrumental in inviting me to the function which was presided over by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Pawan Tinu. Many prominent personalities including Rajesh Bagha, Chairman of SC and ST Commission of Punjab, RPS Pawar, IAS (Retired) who is an active follower of Dr. Ambedkar and is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ambedkar Bhawan at Nakodar Road Jalandhar and Dr. Gian Chand Kaul former Head of the Punjabi Department of DAV college Jalandhar also spoke at the function. The missionary and well acclaimed poet Sohan Saijal and highly spirited singer Balwinder Bitoo regaled the audience with befitting compositions. The highlight of the function was the awards and recognition of the upcoming talent in the community in the field of education like Dr. Harblas Heera and others by the Association.
It
is a
praiseworthy
and
appreciable
activity.
On
April
16,
I
was
invited
as
the
lead
speaker
at
the
function
organized
by
SBI
employees
to
celebrate
the
Ambedkar
Jayanti
at
the
main
branch
of
the
State
Bank
of
India
at
Jalandhar.
It
was
a
very
well
organized
function
by
the
educated
and
well
placed
followers
of
the
great
leader
Dr.
Ambedkar
lead
by
Deputy
General
Manager
of
the
SBI
Pushpinder
Kaur,
a
highly
talented
officer
and
motivated
member
of
the
community.
The
poor
students
from
some
local
schools
were
given
school
bags
by
the
employees
association.
The
Ladoos
were
distributed
and
the
cake
was
cut
to
celebrate
the
birthday
of
Ambedkar.
I
have
at
hand
yet
another
invitation
to
speak
at a
function
to
mark
the
Jayanti
on
April
22
at
village
Chukhiara
(near
Kathar).
The
process
goes
on.
I
have
deliberately
not
mentioned
about
the
speeches
made
at
these
functions.
These
were
usual
as
required
on
such
an
occasion.
The
crux
remains
that
Dr.
Ambedkar’s
life
and
mission
and
also
thought
and
philosophy
is
as
potent
today
as
it
was
before
and
it
will
remain
so
in
the
years
to
come.
But
I
would
like
to
make
a
couple
of
observations:
-
I felt that Ambedkar is increasingly becoming the leader of the dalits alone. It is not correct. Ambedkar did a lot for the dalits and the under privileged, it is true. But his contribution to the nation building and making of the India of day was no less. The non dalit communities shall understand this and rectifythe situation. It would be good for the county and the society at large.
-
There is a considerable enthusiasm and sense of oneness among the dalit communities.But something is lacking. I think the leadership, both political and spiritual,is direction less. The younger generation have good energy but it requires to be channelized and transmitted otherwise it would go waste. It is some food for thought for the educated dalits.