-Ramesh Chander 

(Samaj Weekly)- The readers of my blogs are aware that that I have been repeatedly writing in these columns about the proposal – April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, to be declared as International Day of Equality ever since the proposal was made to the then EAM Sushma Swaraj in June, 2015 in the run up to observe 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In the process, I again wrote to EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar on July 25, 2021 followed by my open letter to the CMs of all the Indian States on July 2022, keeping in mind the time schedule of the annual UNGA which is held in the third week of September of the year as the proposal is expected to be taken up with the UN by the Government of India. The time has come again but there is no sign that the GOI has done anything in this regard. PM or EAM would go and address the world from the high podium of the UN as an annual ritual. The media back home would proclaim that India has become a ‘Vishav Guru’ and so on. We would not take up ‘public-centric’ issues owing to political considerations, it is increasingly becoming obvious. My narration may seem somewhat irritating to some but they must appreciate the pain and agony we are undergoing with the indifference and sense of no concern to the proposal to honour the greatest son of India who has already become a world icon not because of the governmental or social backing of India but by his own esteem and steam. It is surprising rather baffling to understand that why the GOI and the other political outfits as well as the civil society are blissfully ignorant and silent on the issue. We often talk about India’s diplomatic ‘soft power’ and brag about International Yoga Day and International Day of Non-violence. We also tried our best to take resort to the so called ‘soft power’ with regard to the proposal on International Day of Equality but to no avail. It has increasingly become clear that though all political and social formations are falling on each other to own and claim the legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar for ‘electoral gains’ by encashing their political cheques on the dalit vote banks yet they are not sincere to honour and recognize the icon because of their ‘narrow mindsets’. I am sorry to be candid and truthful. India would become and remain Bharat only because of Ambedkar and his sterling contribution in the nation building. We must understand this reality, the sooner the better.

I wrote before in these columns the Indian political parties and their leaderships and also the caste ridden society never gave his due to Babasaheb Ambedkar during his life time. The legacy of Ambedkar is so potent that it became difficult to keep it under the carpet for long. Ambedkar’s political adversary Mahatma Gandhi had to admit and say, ‘You may criticize Ambedkar but you cannot ignore him.’ The time has come when no political party can dare to oppose and negate Babasaheb ostensively. They may or may not like it but there is no other way. Ambedkar’s mission and philosophy with regard to casteless society, secularism, social equality, it appears, is directly in conflict with religious strife and communal segregation which is currently engaging the society at large. It is a perturbing situation. We need to study and learn from the man of vision, Ambedkar, not only for our own good but also spread the lofty mission of the iconic leader throughout the world. The proposal on International Day of Equality exactly fits the bill both as world’s largest democracy and our cultural ‘soft diplomacy’.

It is a political ball game. It is also a fact that Ambedkar never got anything easily. The legacy of Ambedkar cannot be undermined anymore, it is also a fact. It is intriguing to understand that why the GOI is sitting tight on the proposal. Many cities and provinces in Canada, USA, UK and other countries, taking cue from the proposed International Day of Equality, have declare April 14 as ‘Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality’ in their respective places and rightly so. Thanks to the efforts of the Indian Diaspora; particularly the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar, in this regard. Over the years, we have tried our best to involve and engage dalit leadership – Ministers/MPs/MLAs and other high-ups and also dalit intelligentsia and spiritual Deras with the proposal to honour Babasaheb, But, I am sorry to say, they have not shown much enthusiasm beyond naming and owning him for their limited agenda. The defunct Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs and MLAs, which had shown some positive interest, while carry forward their political agenda, in the initial years from 2015, has also abandoned the proposal, it seems. Dalit big-wigs in the ruling BJP and its allies namely; Ministers Thavar Chand Gehlot, Virendra Kumar, Ramdass Athawale, Som Prakash, Vijay Sampla, Dushyant Gautam, Guru Prakash Paswan, Shanti Prakash Jatav, Rajesh Bagha, Hans Raj Hans, with whom we have been interacting regularly, are blissfully silent on the proposal. May be they have political compulsions. We even solicited the understanding and support of RSS, including the Sarsanghchalak but could not cut much ice. They are busy in owning and selectively quoting Ambedkar in furtherance of their own agenda and do not tend to go beyond lip service.
All said and done, let me conclude by reiterating that we are not tired and would continue till the proposal on April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality sees the light of the day. We would ignore Ambedkar at our own peril. Ambedkar’s legacy has no boundaries –

Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri

(Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the rose
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden)

Urha Li Qumriyon Ne, Tootiyon Ne, Andleebon Ne
Chaman Walon Ne Mil Kar Loot Li Tarz-e-Faghan Meri

(The turtle‐doves, parrots, and nightingales pilfered away
The garden’s denizens jointly robbed away my plaintive way)