SAMAJ WEEKLY UK-
-Arun Kumar, Bedford
Another milestone accomplished when Bedford Borough Council took a historic decision on 19 March, 2025 to declare 14 April, birth of Dr Ambedkar as Equality Day. Bedford becomes the second town after Coventry in the UK to recognise Dr B R Ambedkar’s enormous contribution in the matters of equality and social justice.
Dr Ambedkar’s contributions to civil rights, equality and social justice are aligned with global anti-discrimination movements. It is time to recognise him as an apostle of equality. Since 2015, the followers of Ambedkar had been writing to the Government of India to recommend the United Nations to proclaim Ambedkar’s birth as an International Day of Equality. There is no response from the government but the Ambedkarites continued to campaign for the Equality Day. As a result, many city councils in Canada, America and the UK have declared 14 April as Equality Day. Bedford has joined the worldwide movement acknowledging Dr Ambedkar’s role in setting up society based on equality and fairness.
In the meeting of the Bedford Borough Council held on 15 January, 2025, Councillor Abu Sultan submitted a motion to recognise Dr Ambedkar in the matters of equality and declare 14 April, his birth as Equality Day in Bedford. The motion received unanimous support but the specific date 14 April was deferred for further discussions as one of the Councillors highlighted a potential conflict with Sikh community due to Vaisakhi. After lengthy consultations with various community leaders, the consensus was reached. On 19 March, Abu submitted another motion explaining the importance of Dr Ambedkar and need of Equality Day on his birthday. This time the motion was accepted unanimously and 14 April is sealed as Equality Day in Bedford.
Speaking on the success of the motion, Councillor Abu Sultan stated, “This is a proud moment for Bedford Borough. Today, we send a powerful message that we stand against discrimination in all forms and celebrate the strength of our diversity. Equality Day will serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight for social justice and our shared commitment to fairness, dignity and respect for all.”
“The motion’s success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my fellow councillors Fauzia Atiq and Harish Thapar, who stood firmly behind this initiative. Their commitment to equality and inclusion was instrumental in making this recognition a reality. As Dr Ambedkar once said, ‘The progress of any society depends on how it treats its most vulnerable members.’ His words remain as relevant today as ever. This is not just a symbolic gesture—it is a commitment to action.”
Speaking in favour of the motion, Cllr Harish Thapar said “Recognising 14 April as Equality Day is a commitment to the principle that make our borough talk-equality inclusion and respect for all. This motion is a celebration of our diversity and declaration of we as a council stand against discrimination of any form. This day will serve as a platform to educate, engage and inspire. This remind us of the progress we have made and the work to be done to ensure every resident feel valued and included.”
Supporting the motion, Fauzia said, “April 14th represents a significant opportunity to reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality and social justice. Marking this day as Equality Day would serve as a powerful reminder of the progress made and the challenges that remain in creating a fairer and more just society. It would provide a platform to celebrate the contributions of those who have fought for the rights of marginalised communities, including labourers, women, and oppressed groups, while reinforcing the principles of justice, dignity, and equal opportunity for all.” Talking on women empowerment, she quoted Dr Ambedkar, “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.”
Ambedkar Mission Society, Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Bhagwan Valmik Sabha and Nirankari Satsang Bhavan have been campaigning for recognising 14 April as Equality Day. Representatives from these organisations issued a joint statement, saying, “It is a proud moment for all of us that Bedford Borough Council has recognised 14 April as Equality Day. We thank all the councillors supporting this motion. Special thanks to Cllr Abu Sultan supported by Cllr Fauzia Atiq and Cllr Harish Thapar who worked tirelessly to bring this success to Equality Day. This is a momentous step towards fostering a society where everyone, regardless of background, is treated with dignity and respect. The values championed by Dr B. R. Ambedkar—justice, equality, and inclusion—are universal, and this recognition reaffirms our Borough’s commitment to these principles.”
For the first time, 14 April, Dr Ambedkar’s birth anniversary will be celebrated as Equality Day from 10 am 2 pm at the Council Chambers, Bedford Borough Hall. All are welcome.
