(Samaj Weekly)- Lahori Ram Balley (1930-2023), a staunch and renowned Ambedkrite was a legendary personality of Jalandhar, Punjab, India and beyond who was fully involved in and dedicated to the mission of Babasaheb Ambedkar for about 7 decades not only as a social and community activist but also as a politician of standing by his own right. He proved himself during his life time not only as a worthyfollower of Dr. Ambedkar but also as a devout and conscious Buddhist to carry the ‘caravan’ forward as he said to have promised
to Babasaheb before his Parinirvan in 1956. It was saddening to get the news that Balley Sahib passed away on July 6 all of a sudden around mid-day. It was difficult to believe as I usually followed him (he himself was not active on social media) by reading, with interest, posts pertaining to him and his activities at the ripe age of 93. It is said that the proof of pudding lies in its eating – Balley Sahib was a living legend. Even without any announcement of his sudden demise made by his family till late in the evening of July 6 (due to logistical reasons), the news of the Parinirvan of the son of the soil got viral on the social media like a wild fire in afternoon itself. It only speaks of the popular standing of Balley Sahib in the socio-political circles. I wrote about Lahori Ram Balley Sahib earlier too in my blogs; one of these may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2017/07/lahori-ram-balley-happy-birthday.html
Balley Sahib was a self made man, a ‘Karamyogi’ – as a community activist, politician and above all a man of letters – Editor of Bheem Patrika (started in 1960s), author of books on subjects of interest and concern to the weaker sections of the society and to disseminate and propagate the mission and legacy of his ‘icon’, Babasaheb Ambedkar, by writing and publishing books as a missionary and a visionary writer. He was an orator par-excellence who could make his audiences spell bound – Zaduvian-Mukarar. I was much impressed by his oratorical skills even as a young lad living in his vicinity during my formative years before I left Jalandhar for my diplomatic career in early 1970s. His stock went much high in my mind and eyes when I listened him simultaneously interpreting the speeches, delivered in English by Joginder Nath Mandal and later that of the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka at the Ambedkar Bhawan in Bootan Mandi. Balley Sahib had a good command on many languages like; Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Persian and English.
Frankly, Balley Sahib was the hero of many young students like me back in 1960s because of his forceful oratory and a hero like mannerism. I admired his Lenin cap and waist coat and lso his sling bag. He was a much sought after speaker in political and social events as a fire-brand orator and an apt communicator in and around Jalandhar in those days.
Balley Sahib resigned his job in Delhi and decided to join the mission of Babasaheb Ambedkar from Jalandhar as his base. Quickly and by his sheer hard work and dedication, climbed through the ladder – rose from an ordinary activist to positions of high responsibility in the All India Scheduled Castes Federation and the Republican Party of India, exxcelled himself in journalism, in editing and running the important mouth-pieces of the marginalized sections of the society, the Bheem Patrika and the Kirti, wrote and compiled many books on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his thought and also on Buddhism. He attained a position of one of the acclaimed writers, and distributors of dalit literature in India and beyond at affordable price. It was not a small feat. Balley Sahib was a source of inspiration to many like me a ‘guide and philosopher’. I vividly recall that back in 1970-71; I had gone to Delhi for my bread and butter. One day, I read an article of one of the famous and established journalist-editor, M. Chalapati Rau, in one of the national dailies and found it derogatory of Babasaheb Ambedkar. I wrote a short letter in my broken English to Balley Sahib in Jalandhar and urged him to look into this and respond appropriately. As expected, prompt came the reply assuring me,”Not to worry. He will not be spared”, it was the exact expression of Balley Sahib in his kind letter.
On reviving my connection with Balley Sahib on my return to Jalandhar after retirement in 2011, I found him hale and hearty as always and even kicking as in his younger times. He was one of the founding fathers of organizations like; Ambedkar Bhawan Trust, Ambedkar Mission Society, Punjab Chapter of All India Samata Dal, Buddhist Society of India among others and remained at the helm of affairs of these organizations housed at Ambedkar Bhawan – the epic-centre of Ambedkarite and Buddhist activities in Punjab and beyond. His contribution to establish and raise these outfits to maturity was immense and should be publicly recognized.
It is often said that the obituaries should not be confined to be ‘goody-goody’ narrations and should also touch upon the ‘non-charitable’ aspects too. I am not an intellectual or analyst of any worth. But let me say my mind as a humble Ambedkarite and one of the fans of Balley Sahib from whom I learned a great deal in my life – In politics, I think he faltered in joining the ‘right wing Hindu’ brigade in opposing the Punjabi Suba movement against the approach of his political associates like Piara Ram Dhanowalia, Duni Chand Shahpuri, Charan Dass Nidhadak, Ajit Kumar, Gurcharn Singh, Dr. Bhagat Singh among others. This approach of Balley Sahib divided the house and rest is history. Secondly, he could not read the writings on the wall and went against the main stream of dalit politics by not joining Babu Kanshi Ram’s bandwagon. He rather spoiled the relations willfully by writing not only about his politics but personal life too. It is said that politics is a game of possibilities but Balley Sahib’s dogmatic thinking shut the doors at his face, if I dare to put it candidly. Just one more aspect before I close this longish obituary to the worthy son of the soil and that is, to my mind, he should have been a bit more open, transparent, accommodative and magnanimous in running the affairs of the above mentioned Ambedkarite and Buddhist outfits of which he was the unchallenged ‘Head of the Family’. He himself created and nurtured these organisations so beautifully and successfully to the advantage of the community and the society at large. He might have his own constraints which I don’t know as the bearer only knows where the shoe pinches. No one is perfect and can be and Balley Sahib was no exception. He was a leader of men by his own right. In totality, he was a great man who lived a king-size life with pride and élan, as a ‘Sacha Ambedkari’. He titled his auto-biography as ‘Ambedkari Hone Ka Arth’ – he exactly knew it as he was an encyclopedia Ambedkar’s life, mission, thought and legacy. Hats off to Balley Sahib.
With this, I pay my respect and regard to Lahori Ram Balley Sahib whose demise has left a wide void in the Mission of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Allama Iqbal rightly said:-
Badi Mushkil se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Deedawar Paida.
