April 16, 2022
Detroit Michigan, United States of America (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
(Samaj Weekly)- The 131st birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar was celebrated with great excitement in the presence of Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA). After the Covid Pandemic, the Ambedkarite’s came together for the first time and celebrated Dr. Babasaheb’s birthday with joy and love.
At the beginning of the program, attendees paid homage to the compassionate Lord Buddha and paid homage to Mahatma Jotiba Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Bhikku Muditha, a monk from Sri Lanka, and Bhikku Dharmananda, a monk from Bangladesh, asked the devotees to take Panchsheel and offered Dhamma sermons. Monks praised Babasaheb’s deeds and his contribution to the India. Indians should follow on the footsteps of Babasaheb, Monks expressed in his Dhamma sermons. Monks commented that just as the world needs a Buddha to bring peace, Babasaheb’s thoughts are needed for constitutional morality.
The cultural program was organized by NRIs living in the United States. Buddha and Bhima songs were sung, children also gave speeches and dances on Babasaheb’s life. In this program, eminent speakers of the society were invited and they shed light on the different lifestyle of Babasaheb. It was said that Babasaheb is the pride of Indians and it is their duty to convince the world.
Detroit is a large city in the state of Michigan and is home to a large Indian community. The Ambedkar Association of North America is involved in a wide range of social project such as educational and health related activities in the United States and around the world. The Governor of Michigan, Mrs. Gretchen Whitmer, declared April 14, 2022, as “Doctor B R Ambedkar Equity Day.” Similarly, Michigan Senator (state legislature) Mrs. Dayna Polehanki greeted Dr. Babasaheb on his birthday in the Michigan House and stated that Dr. Ambekar is Martin Luther King of India.
Non-resident Indians from the Ambedkarite movement also came to the event from Ohio, Indiana and Chicago (Illinois).
Anand Khanderao, Sandeep Kulkarni, Nisha Patil, Sheetal Chabuskwar and other members were instrumental in making the event a success. The program was conducted by Tanaji Sakpal. On this occasion, Smita Dandge, President of the Ambedkar Association of North America and other office bearers also extended their best wishes to the Indians on the occasion of 14th April 2022.
