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Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] VOL- 13 ISSUE- 5 April 14, 2021 California (USA) www.ambedkartimes.com www.deshdoaba.com Remembering Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Tribute to Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his Birth Anniversary – April 14, 2021 Prem Kumar Chumber (Editor-in-Chief) Ambedkar Times & Desh Doaba Weekly Newspapers on his 130th Birth Anniversary Let me join our all-esteemed read - he central theme of the teachings order. He organ - ers, contributors and sympathiz - T of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar lies in his phi - ized long temple ers in paying floral tribute to losophy of social democracy. He was of satyagrahas and Boddhisattva Bharat Ratan the firm views that political freedom of other peaceful Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji India will remain incomplete unless it is protests. Finally, Ambedkar on the auspicious day buttressed by social and economic he embraced of his 130th Birth Anniversary. equality. One man, one vote and one Buddhism as he Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar value - the signpost of political democ - articulated in devoted his whole life in learning, racy - will fail to realise its essence in In - his classic - cultivating and disseminating the dependent India in the presence of Buddha and his Ronki Ram caste-based boundaries of social segre - Dhamma - pub - Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair Professor essence of social democracy, of Political Science beginning from the grassroots, gation and the resultant dominant struc - lished posthu - Panjab University, Chandigarh for building an egalitarian social, tures of social oppression, economic mously. [email protected] exploitation and political marginalization. Dr. Visiting Professor, Centre for Sikh political and economic order free and Panjabi Studies, from the constraints of religious Caste, he stipulated, negates equality. It Ambedkar University of Wolverhampton, UK compartmentalization and caste- is antithetical to very idea and phenom - wanted his peo - based social segmentations. He enon of democracy. Caste divides not ple to know about the possible reasons has been fondly remembered not only labour but also labourers; and cre - behind their hard life conditions and po - only in Bharat but the entire world ates deep social fissures of political apa - litical marginalization. His slogan: edu - over for his strictly adhering to the principles of democratic struggle within the sovereign constitutional ways and deep concern for the lowest of the low and poor people. He earned highest available degrees of higher education from the best of the universities in India, the United States of America, and United Kingdom. He adopted legal- constitutional methods to win the long-denied rights of the hapless and so - cially excluded sections of the society and made them aware of their rights by establishing three newspapers (Mook Nayak, Janata and Prabudh Bharat), and organized them by founding three political parties (Independent Labour Party, Scheduled Castes Federation, Republican Party of India). Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar was a true democrat, great organizer, erudite scholar, eloquent speaker, conscientious philosopher, brilliant parliamentar - ian, audacious administrator and a thoroughly fine human being. He served the nation at various top offices but never compromised with the integrity and cause of poor people and egalitarian principles of social order based of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity! His contribution as the Chief-architect of the constitution of Independent India, advocate of women rights, laborers and the savior of the lowest of the low and staunch defender of social dem - ocratic values would be remembered fondly for the times to come. During Tribute to Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar Ambedkar Times and Desh Doaba forum also fondly remember 13 at a Seminar (GCAMC, Abohar, Feb 24, 2015) April; on this day in 1699, Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptized From left to right: Satisk K. Sharma, K.C. Sulekh, M. Dwivedi, the five beloved (Punj Pyare) at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib. Prakash Ambedkar (Grandson of Dr. Ambedkar), Guru Gobind Singh Ji infused a new spirit in them - the spirit of freedom, Neeraj Kumar, Ronki Ram P.S. Verma and the Convener of the Seminar equality, justice - and put to an end for all times the oppressive social system of caste-based binaries of purity and pollution. *Manas Kee Jaat thy that eventually leads to invisible cate, agitate and organize aimed at Sabhe Akay Pehchanbo - Equality of Mankind. We wish to all Very Very islands of dissension and structural vio - awakening people about their social con - Happy Khalsa Sathapan day and Happy Vaisakhi!* lence. The virulence of caste-based so - straints and conditions so that they can It is matter of great honour and pleasure for us to share with our cial order hampers the progressive critically think about them (agitate) and esteemed readers, contributors and sympathizers that with your continuous growth of the idea of a true nation which make efforts to get organize themselves support and encouragement, Ambedkar Times (English Weekly) has entered the protagonists of Indian renaissance for building a new India free from the bi - its 13th year of uninterrupted publication on March 15, 2021, and Desh honed so meticulously in their communi - naries of high and low and social exclu - Doaba (Punjabi Weekly) its 10th year of onward journey in the service of tarian philosophical discourses over the sion. His was a unique approach from society. Ambedkar Times, named after Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and long span of late nineteenth and the below towards nation building in India. dedicated to Sahib Kanshi Ram, reminds us the golden time spent by twentieth century freedom movement of His nationalism was all inclusive. It en - Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Columbia University (New York) that exposed him to the basic tenets, philosophy and the practice of true democ - India. Dr. Ambedkar views on caste and sures communal harmony and equal par - racy. After reaching Bharat, Babasaheb developed a great movement for the its eradication for building social egalitar - ticipation to all sections of society restitution of social democracy at the grassroots. Desh Doaba, named after ian order and thereupon inter-commu - irrespective ofcaste creed, class, region, Doaba Punjab, reminds us of our roots and the great sacrifices made by the nity-faith based nationalism, resembles and language. His freedom mantra - lib - sons of the soil for the liberation of our land from the British Raj. The many of his contemporaries and prede - erty, equality and fraternity - clearly elab - inhabitants of Doaba Punjab played a significant role in the Ghadar Lehar cessors who had the opportunity to be - orates that fraternity without equality and the subsequent Babbar Akali Lehar. Desh Doaba weekly has been come familiar with the evolving would be an empty word. And without dedicated to Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia, who arrived in the United States democratic world of Europe and North fraternity liberty is a mirage. It is in this of America in 1909 and was among the forerunners of the Ghadar move - America. Like Raja Rammohan Roy, crucial context that we need to re-read ment, and after reaching India in 1925 founded the Ad Dharm movement Swami Vivekananda, Aurobindo Ghosh, Ambedkar at present when not only we for the emancipation and empowerment of the Scheduled Castes. His con - and Rabindranath Tagore, Dr Ambedkar alone in Asia but the whole world has tribution towards the mission of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar is well known underlined the utmost importance of so - been grappling with Covid and the in - during the London Round Table Conferences. cial reforms to build democracy on equitable consequences of the much Once again, the Ambedkar Times and Desh Doaba forum join with strong footing in independent India. He talked about neo-liberal economic our esteemed readers, contributors and sympathizers in fondly remembering made all efforts to improve upon the so - regimes having its bearings on the vic - Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary – April 14, 2021. cial set up within the mainstream Hindu tims of the pandemic! www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 2 Issue-5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Growing International Recognition of Babasaheb Ambedkar n the run up to the ing to the ruling dispensation in Interna - I forthcoming birth New Delhi namely; Minister tional Day anniversary of Thawar Chand Gehlot, MOS Som of Equality. Babasaheb B.R. Ambed - Parkash, MOS Ramdass Athawale, I wrote to kar on April 14, interna - MOS Rattan Lal Kataria and MPs you on the tional recognition of the Hans Raj Hans, Ram Shankar proposal in greatest son of India is Katheria, Sunita Duggal, Dushyant this re - growing by the every Gautam and also Chairman of Na - gard, rest - passing year. It is a mat - tional Commission for Scheduled ing with ter of great satisfaction Castes Vijay Sampla with the hope MEA since to the followers of mil - that they would stand up and pay June, lions and millions of fol - attention to this important proposal 2015, vide lowers of the icon, Dr. on International Day of Equality. It my letters Ramesh Chander Bhimrao Ramji Ambed - goes without saying that it will add dated April Ambassador - I.F.S. (Retired) kar, both in India and to India’s international standing as 15 and abroad and the interna - ‘Soft Power’ as International Day Setember 91-99885-10940 tional community at large of Yoga and International Day of 13, 2020 yearning for the equitable Non-violence did in the recent past (Copies enclosed for ready reference) world order. The latest in besides contributing to millennium but till date no decision appears to the series is a happy de - goals of the UN in establishing a be in sight. The next anniversary of velopment – Province of just and equitable world order. It the great leader will be celebrated in British Columbia of will be much appreciated if the the coming days and I thought of re - Canada in a proclamation government of India understands minding you and soliciting your kind on April 1, 2021 has declared April have resolved to keep the ball rolling. the importance of the proposal, the attention and support to the proposal 14 as “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Ambedkar is such a potent force in sooner the better. The followers of on International Day of Equality. Equality. The timely gesture of an im - himself that cannot be ignored Babasaheb Ambedkar both in India Meanwhile, I am confident, portant province Sir, April 14 of Canada has will be ob - been much ap - served and cel - preciated and ebrated rightly so. The appropriately Administration with a befitting of British Co - function at the lumbia Province UN in New of Canada under York, as usual the stewardship since April, of Lt. Governor 2016 when Janet Austin de - GOI, and serves full rightly so, de - marks and cided to ob - hearty congrat - serve 125th ulations on up - anniversary of holding the lofty one of the ideals of “equal - greatest sons ity and frater - of India, Dr. nity” in the B.R. Ambed - multi-racial and kar. multicultural so - You are fully ciety of British aware, Sir, if Columbia and this proposal is Canada. It is a accepted and matter of gratifi - taken up at the cation to add UN, it will not that last year in only provide a April, 2020 yet sense of recog - another city of nition to the Burnaby of cause dear to Canada took the the weaker lead in honour - sections of the ing the cham - society in India pion of equality, but also add to fraternity and the stature of liberty, Babasa - India’s interna - heb Ambedkar. tional standing In this regard, it as did by Inter - may not of out of place to thank and for long. and abroad are fully alive and awak - national Day of Non-Violence and In - congratulate our friends in Chetna After the Burnaby Proclama - ened to the situation and fully deter - ternational Yoga Day. Association of Canada namely Jai tion last year, I wrote and reminded mined to carry forward the mission Kindly look into this and take Birdi, Harmesh Chander, Manjit EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar on April 15 and philosophy of their icon Babasa - appropriate action which will be ap - Bains, Surjit Bains among others for followed by a reminder on Septem - heb to further heights for the benefit preciated by millions and millions fol - their untiring efforts in promoting the ber 13. I also tried to engage other and advantage of our beloved India lowers of Babasaheb Ambedkar in idea and proposal of April 14 as In - stakeholders in this regard both in and the international community at India and abroad and also the inter - ternational Day of Equality currently India and abroad. The result is the large. national community yearning for lying with the Government of India latest development in British Colum - Appendix ‘Equality’. since June, 2015. It is a matter of bia, yet another milestone in our Text of the letter dated April 1, With personal regards, satisfaction for me, as the Chair per - journey to realize our goal – April 14 2021 to EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar: Yours truly, son of the Chetna Association’s as International Day of Equality. I April 1, 2021 (Ramesh Chander) Committee on International Day of have written yet another letter to Equality, to see the proposal being EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar on April 1, Respected Sir, accepted in foreign lands while my 2021 (Text appended below) under Kindly allow me to revisit the Dr. S. Jaishanker, own government back home in India intimation to PM Narendra Modi and subject of April 14, birth anniversary Minister of External Affairs, is still sitting tight. Let it be but we important Ministers and MPs belong - of Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, as the South Block, New Delhi www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 3 Issue-5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Lal Singh Dil: Voice of the Voiceles al Singh Dil (April 11, 1943 – failures to complete several study ment that his first collection of radical was almost L August 14, 2007), revolutionary courses which he had joined after poetry entitled Satluj di Hava (The over and poet, left an indelible mark successfully qualifying in the matric - Satluj Breeze) was published in 1971. many of the through his poetry on the struggle for ulation examination. His poetry immediately became an activists had equality, social justice and freedom Along with extreme poverty, icon of the revolutionary struggle in resumed their that began in late 1960s in Punjab, Dil also experienced social exclusion Punjab as well as of the sorrows and normal course popularly known as Naxalite lehar and caste-based oppression during sufferings of the poor and Dalits in of life. Some (movement). He was born at his ma - different intervals in his life. He re - the state. of them had ternal village, Ghungrali Sikhãn, near called various instances of such bitter After his release from the jail,Dil settled into Samrala, a small town in Punjab on experiences in his autobiography went underground where he spent about respectable Ronki Ram positions in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair Professor the Chandigarh-Ludhiana highway. He Dastan (The Story). How as a small 15 years of his active life. He did all sorts of Political Science belonged to a Dalit family, Ramdassia boy of five or six, he was whip-lashed of labour to keep himself and his struggle the higher Panjab University, Chandigarh Chamãr (an ex-untouchable commu - and driven out of a landowner’s fields going on. He did not ask any help from echelons of [email protected] government, Visiting Professor, Centre for Sikh nity of tanners). Dalits were mostly in his village for daring to bathe at his any quarter. During free time from his and Panjabi Studies, deprived of agricultural land and other well was just one such instance hard manual labour, he continued to write media, aca - University of Wolverhampton, UK sources of livelihood. Like other com - which expressed the gruesome scale and penned two more books: Bahut Sãre demic and munity members, the mainstay of of the prevalence of caste-based Suraj (So Many Suns), 1982; Satthar (A even business. A few of them settled abroad. However, for Comrade Dil, the Dil’s family was manual labour on the oppression in a society that other - Sheaf), 1997; and an autobiography only refuge was his mud house in his agricultural lands of their village wise boast of its casteless social Dastãn . His entire poetry is available in a caste ghetto at Samrala, and the citadel farmers. During off-seasons, landless of his thoughts and philosophy; he was Dalits earn their livelihood through quintessentialy a gyan yogi. He was a various forms of manual wage works, lonely fellow, Gulzar Mohammad Goria, such as labouring at construction one of the closest associates of Dil in sites or other manual-intensive daily- Samrala, told me during an informal con - wage work. His father Raunqi Ram versation a few days after his passing worked as a daily wager throughout away. He also mentioned that with the fi - his life.During a conversation with nancial support from some of his com - Gayatri Rajwade, Dil recalled a time rades abroad, Dil opened a small tea-stall when his grandmother used to sit and near the bus terminal close to his home grind wheat the whole day for a sin - in Samrala. It was also during this time gle paisa. And in Dil’s own words, that Dil used to spend long periods in “[a]t the end of the day, we would solitude in the cremation grounds of his dust our clothes, collect the wheat hometown for reasons best known to stuck on our clothes and mix that him. Nirupama met him at this stage, and with water and drink it before sleep - since then she has been writing intermit - ing" (based on forwarded (April7, tently about Dil in newspapers and 2021) email from Nirupama Dutt to journals. Amarjit Chandan dated August 13, After Dil’s death in 2007, Niru - 2007). pama translated his autobiography and Despite extreme poverty at selected poetry that introduced him home, Dil’s mother Chint Kaur sent Lal Singh Dil with his mother Chint Kaur, Samrala, 1979 widely beyond his Punjabi speaking re - him to school at Samrala. The Picture by Amarjit Chandan gion. In 2017, Trilok Chand Ghai, an ac - atmosphere at the school was not ademic of Delhi University, translated 100 very congenial to Dil. He wrote: order. He also narrated how a collection entitled Naglok (The World of poems of Dil, entitled Lal Singh Dil: Se - “When I graduated to the higher comrade, a senior dominant caste the Nagas) published in 1998 and 2008. lected Poems – exclusion, deprivation classes, I started picking up some writer, took away a jug of water Nagas were the sons of the soil. It is and nothingness / translated from Punjabi skills which thrilled me. I especially when he tried to reach it at a party commonly believed that Nagas were (Delhi: LG Publishers). Five of these liked to trace out a picture and then meeting, and how he felt deeply hu - snake worshippers and the sovereign poems were published in the reputed shade it. I traced an image of Ravidas miliated to learn that the mother of rulers of their land before the alleged ar - translation magazine MPT (Modern Po - Bhagat, which showed him standing. his female classmate, whom he was rival of the alien Aryans. He talked about etry in Translation), 3 (18) – Transitions , Below the image was a pair of shoes very ond of, had ‘purified’ the tum - them nostalgically in some of his poems. Oxford UK, 2012, and two of them were and some cobbler’s tools. The bler in which he had given tea, by Two of them – Sham da Rung (The reproduced in MPT's golden jubilee an - teacher in charge of the class was casting it in the fire of the household Shades of Evening) and Lamma Larra niversary publication Centres of Cata - intrigued looking at the drawing and hearth. Amarjit Chandan, a close (The Long Caravan) are reproduced clysm, Blood Axe Books in 2016. Writing then laughed at it with disdain that comrade of Dil, writes in his “A Com - below. A narrated long poem called Billa about Ghai's translation David Constan - was shared by the students. I brought plete Story of an Incomplete Jour - Aj Phir Aaya (Billa Visited Again Today) tine, poet editor, MPT observed ‘And the picture home in my satchel.” ney”, an introduction to the Dastan , was published posthumously in 2009. Trilok Chand Ghai's English serves that (Simran Kaler available at: https://po - how Dil had suffered and exposed Dil had started writing poerty at cause. Translators carry fraternity across etlalsinghdil.wordpress.com/cate - graphically the prevalence of the ar - his early age, while he was still studying the frontiers of space and time. Again gory/simran-kaler/ accessed on April rogance of caste superiority in his at school. That some of his poems were and again, in these translations, there is 8, 2021). Against all odds, Dil be - locality, at his school, and in the Nax - published in reputed vernacular maga - a tone, an accent, a phrase as in music, that will touch readers of English as the came the first matric qualified mem - alite organizations and even in police zines like Preetlari , Nagmani and Lakeer, poet himself does through his mother ber of his clan. His mother sold her custody. even before the publication of Satluj di tongue.’ Harbhajan Singh, Punjabi poet ear-rings to enable him to reach Though Dil was forced to Hava (The Satluj Breeze) in 1971, his and critic expressing his opinion about college to become a schoolteacher. withdraw from his studies, he contin - maiden collection of poetry, proved his Dil’s poetry writes: ‘These poems don't He studied for a year in A.S. College, ued to reflect critically on his hold over intricacies of poetry wrining. give us joy; they shame us. The poems Khanna, closeto his hometown. surroundings. He continued to cap - His life and poetry, writes Nirupama Dutt, that give us pleasure work to stabilize the Thereafter, he got enrolled in Junior ture subtle nuances of the exploita - a writer and journalist: “… became grist already established values. The shaming Teachers’ Training course at SHG tive system around him till his last to the mill of revolutionary politics, which worked happily for Dil, as he envisioned poems uproot a person from his fixed po - College in Behlolpur, again near his moment. The medium that he choose sition and challenge him to renew him - hometown, but had to leave after two to give expression to his experiences a new order free of caste and creed” (Scroll.in, 23 June 2019. Available at: self.’ On the same back cover flap of the years without completing the course. and observations during his struggle - https://scroll.in/article/927571/i-saw- book, Amarjit Chandan wrote: ‘Contem - He also joined a Gyani, an honours ful life was the subtlety of poetry. He how-he-sought-to-break-the-chains-of- plating the word images of the people course in Punjabi literature, but again was one of the most popular poets of caste-nirupama-dutt-on-translating-lal-sin portrayed by Lal one is reminded of Am - had to quit without completing it. the Naxalite movement in East gh-dil accessed on April 7, 2021). rita Sher-Gil's paintings’. His poetry is full From his school days, Dil had to Punjab, with a gravitas to match. As Though familiar with Dil’s poetry earlier, of images of hard life, poverty, isolation, support his studies along with by narrated in his autobiography, Lal Nirupamacame to know about the man struggle, grief for the hapless, and faith working part-time as a manual wage Singh Dil was subjected to many in - himself only in the 1990s, when Dil re - in the victory of the toiling people.He labourer/herder as well as providing human tortures during police custody, turned to Samrala after spending many wrote extensively on the Ghandilasand tuition; this was likely one of the and remained in jail for a long period years out of Punjab (Scroll.in, 23 June Tapprivasi (ever roaming vagrants main reasons behind the repeated of time. It was during his imprison - 2019). By that time the spring thunder (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 4 Issue-5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Lal Singh Dil: Voice of the Voiceles (Continue from page 3) Dogs are dear to young men Dil was a humble and visionary Available at /itinerants) and fuel-gatherer nomad fancying loving faces in palaces poet never hankered after fame, and https://scroll.in/article/927571/i-saw- girls. Below are reproduced two of his is not for them was happy to work incognito. He was how-he-sought-to-break-the-chains-of- poems Sham da Rung (The Shades of These starving ones have left behind often present in progressive pro - caste-nirupama-dutt-on-translating-lal-s Evening) and Lamma Larra (The Long yet another’s land grammes in different parts of the state, ingh-dil accessed on April 7, 2021). Caravan) that crisply depict the life of The long caravan moves on but never made efforts to make his What distinguished Lal Singh the Ghandilasand Tapprivasi: His poetry valiantly confronted presence felt. I vividly remember him Dil from his contemporary revolutionary The Shades of Evening the deeply entrenched caste-based so - once standing so unassumingly on a poets was his sole concern not only for The shades of evening like many before cial exclusion and other variants of op - side of the entrance to the seminar hall the lowest of the low, but also for those The paths are heading for settlements pressive dominant social structures. Dil of Amardeep Singh Shergill memorial who were severely marginalised and The lake turns back from offices sacrcastically touched the subtle nerve College, Mukandpur (SBS Nagar, Pun - thrown out of the society in toto, and thrown out of work of caste that followed its victims even jab). Neither did he made any gesture forced to live vigrant life. He deeply The lake is drinking its thirst after death in his often quoted poem nor did any of the visiting dignitaries sympathised with the landless manual Some city has set off on the road to Zãt (Caste) reproduced below: take notice of him. One of the partici - workers, daily wagers, nomadic men the village Caste pants whom I was accompanying, con - and women, especially the black cloth- Throwing off all wages someone is You love me, do you? veyed this to me about him. Dil used to donning girls who gathered fuel to keep leaving Even though you belong to another

Lal Singh Dil, Samrala, 1990 Picture by Amarjit Chandan

From left: Lal Singh Dil, Amarjit Chandan and Prem Parkash, Samrala.

Someone comes wiping on his dhoti caste. But do you know keep himself busy in his own unique the fire burning in the hearths outside the blood of weak animals on his goad Our elders do not even cremate their way and was never heard indulging in their thatched huts under the open blue The shades of evening like many before dead at the same place self-propagation as well as complaining sky. His poetry also boldly commu - about his personal concerns. Though he was not able to The Long Caravan nicated the vivid expression of his ver - He was reticent to the core,but continue his study and reach higher ed - Leaving behind another’s land bal revolt against the oppressive at the same time there existed a vol - ucation, his deep association with the Loaded with the humiliation of rebukes dominant social structures. Dil auda - cano of revolutionary thoughts and existential harsh situations at the grass - the long caravan moves on ciously underlined the presence of re - ideals within his frail physical frame. He roots level taught him precious lessons along with the lengthening bellion beneath the repression in wanted to see radical political transfor - about the varied dimensions of life – shadows of evening another widely lauded poem Shabad mation during his lifetime, and was im - his bitter experiences at school and col - Children on donkeys’ backs, (Words): patient to put an end to the sufferings lege, in the Naxalite movement, police fathers cradling dogs in their arms of those considered the lowest of the custody, and day-to-day social interac - Mothers carrying cauldrons Words low. Nirupama said that ‘Dil was look - tion across religions, imbued and en - on their backs Words have been uttered long before ing for the revolution that would break riched his poetry with subtle nuances, their children sleeping in those caul - us, all shackles. In his poetry he became anecdotes, signs and symbols, which drons And for long after us, the sensitive spurned child and enga - enabled readers to see beyond the im - The long caravan moves on Chop off every tongue if you can, gaed with god, empowered as he was mediate and catch a glimpse, however carrying on their shoulders But the words have still been uttered by hopes of thundering spring.’ How fleeting, of life as seen through very the bamboo of their huts (Translated from the Punjabi by Niru - sweet are these words dedicated to different eyes, the eyes of the op - Who are these pama Dutt. Available at: god. I wish my last words would be, “I pressed and the wretched of this earth. starving Aryans https://parchanve.wordpress.com/cat - have complete faith in you!” I want to Dil’s poetry, in fact, is the voice of the which India’s land egory/authors/lal-singh-dil/accessed steal this line and dedicate it to the voiceless and the cradle of struggle for are they headed to occupy on April 8, 2021). Revolution’ (Scroll.in, 23 June 2019. an egalitarian social order. URGENT CARE CLINIC DR. TAKHAR’S FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE CLINIC 8191 Timberlake Way, Suite # 400, Sacramento, CA 95823 Phone: 916-688-8888 Fax: 916-688-8837 Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM & Sunday closed Dr. Paramjit S Takhar, MD We speak your language: Panjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, Arabic and Spanish Goodie Takhar, PhD www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 5 www.deshdoaba.com Issue-5 April 14, 2021 UNPUBLISHED PREFACE THE BUDDHA AND HIS DHAMMA Source Courtesy: Columbia University erature. After this, I was determined to ask you to read the Mahabharata and was the only religion which a society www.columbia.edu ask my father this question. One day I Ramayana." awakened by science could accept, April 6, 1956 did. I asked my father why he insisted I could see that there was and without which it would perish. I [Text provided by Eleanor Zelliot, upon our reading the Mahabharata and some force in my father's argument. also pointed out that for the modern as prepared by Vasant Moon] Ramayana, which recounted the great - But I was not satisfied. I told my father world Buddhism was the only religion A question is always asked to ness of the Brahmins and the Ksha - that I did not like any of the figures in which it must have to save itself. That me: how I happen[ed] to take such [a] triyas and repeated the stories of the [the] Mahabharata. I said, "I do not like Buddhism makes [a] slow advance is high degree of education. Another degradation of the Shudras and the Un - Bhishma and Drona, nor Krishna. due to the fact that its literature is so question is being asked: why I am in - touchables. My father did not like the Bhishma and Drona were hypocrites. vast that no one can read the whole of clined towards Buddhism. These ques - question. He merely said, "You must They said one thing and did quite the it. That it has no such thing as a bible, tions are asked because I was born in not ask such silly questions. You are opposite. Krishna believed in fraud. His as the Christians have, is its greatest a community known in India as the only boys; you must do as you are life is nothing but a series of frauds. handicap. On the publication of this ar - "Untouchables." This preface is not the told." My father was a Roman Patri - Equal dislike I have for Rama. Examine ticle, I received many calls, written and place for answering the first question. oral, to write such a book. It is in re - But this preface may be the place for sponse to these calls that I have under - answering the second question. taken the task. The direct answer to this ques - To disarm all criticism I would tion is that I regard the Buddha's like to make it clear that I claim no orig - Dhamma to be the best. No religion inality for the book. It is a compilation can be compared to it. If a modern man and assembly plant. The material has who knws science must have a reli - been gathered from various books. I gion, the only religion he can have is would particularly like to mention Ash - the Religion of the Buddha. This con - vaghosha's Buddhavita [=Bud - viction has grown in me after thirty-five dhacharita], whose poetry no one can years of close study of all religions. excel. In the narrative of certain events How I was led to study Bud - I have even borrowed his language. dhism is another story. It may be inter - The only originality that I can esting for the reader to know. This is claim in [=is] the order of presentation how it happened. of the topics, in which I have tried to My father was a military offi - introduce simplicity and clarity. There cer, but at the same time a very reli - are certain matters which give gious person. He brought me up under headache[s] to the student of Bud - a strict discipline. From my early age I dhism. I have dealt with them in the In - found certain contradictions in my fa - troduction. ther's religious way of life. He was a It remains for me to express Kabirpanthi, though his father was Ra - my gratitude to those who have been manandi. As such, he did not believe in helpful to me. I am very grateful to Mr. Murti Puja (Idol Worship), and yet he Nanak Chand Rattua of Village Sakrulli performed Ganapati Puja--of course for and Mr. Parkash Chand of Village Nan - our sake, but I did not like it. He read gal Khurd in the district of Hoshiarpur the books of his Panth. At the same (Punjab) for the burden they have taken time, he compelled me and my elder upon themselves to type out the man - brother to read every day before going uscript. They have done it several to bed a portion of [the] Mahabharata times. Shri Nanak Chand Rattu took and Ramayana to my sisters and other special pains and put in very hard persons who assembled at my father's labour in accomplishing this great task. house to hear the Katha. This went on He did the whole work of typing etc. for a long number of years. very willingly and without caring for his The year I passed the English health and [=or] any sort of remunera - Fourth Standard Examination, my com - tion. Both Mr. Nanak Chand Rattu and munity people wanted to celebrate the Mr. Parkash Chand did their job as a occasion by holding a public meeting to token of their greatest love and affec - congratulate me. Compared to the tion towards me. Their labours can state of education in other communi - hardly be repaid. I am very much grate - ties, this was hardly an occasion for ful to them. celebration. But it was felt by the or - When I took up the task of ganisers that I was the first boy in my composing the book I was ill, and [I] community to reach this stage; they am still ill. During these five years there thought that I had reached a great were many ups and downs in my height. They went to my father to ask health. At some stages my condition for his permission. My father flatly re - arch, and exercised most extensive Pa - his conduct in the Sarupnakha [=Shur - had become so critical that doctors fused, saying that such a thing would tria Pretestas over his children. I alone panakha] episode [and] in the Vali Sug - talked of me as a dying flame. The suc - inflate the boy's head; after all, he has could take a little liberty with him, and riva episode, and his beastly behaviour cessful rekindling of this dying flame is only passed an examination and done that was because my mother had died towards Sita." My father was silent, due to the medical skill of my wife and nothing more. Those who wanted to in my childhood, leaving me to the care and made no reply. He knew that there Dr. Malvankar. celebrate the event were greatly disap - of my auntie. was a revolt. They alone have helped me to pointed. They, however, did not give So after some time, I asked This is how I turned to the Bud - complete the work. I am also thankful way. They went to Dada Keluskar, a again the same question. This time my dha, with the help of the book given to to Mr. M. B. Chitnis, who took [a] spe - personal friend of my father, and asked father had evidently prepared himself me by Dada Keluskar. It was not with cial interest in correcting [the] proof him to intervene. He agreed. After a lit - for a reply. He said, "The reason why I an empty mind that I went to the Bud - and to go [=in going] through the tle argumentation, my father yielded, ask you to read the Mahabharata and dha at that early age. whole book. and the meeting was held. Dada Ramayana is this: we belong to the Un - I had a background, and in I may mention that this is one Keluskar presided. He was a literary touchables, and you are likely to de - reading the Buddhist Lore I could al - of the three books which will form a person of his time. At the end of his ad - velop an inferiority complex, which is ways compare and contrast. This is the set for the proper understanding of dress he gave me as a gift a copy of his natural. The value of [the] Mahabharata origin of my interest in the Buddha and Buddhism. The other books are: (i) book on the life of the Buddha, which and Ramayana lies in removing this in - His Dhamma. Buddha and Karl Marx; and (ii) Revolu - he had written for the Baroda Sayajirao feriority complex. See Drona and The urge to write this book has tion and Counter-Revolution in Ancient Oriental Series. I read the book with Karna--they were small men, but to a different origin. In 1951 the Editor of India. They are written out in parts. I great interest, and was greatly im - what heights they rose! Look at the Mahabodhi Society's Journal of hope to publish them soon. pressed and moved by it. Valmiki--he was a Koli, but he became Calcutta asked me to write an article B. R. Ambedkar I began to ask why my father the author of [the] Ramayana. It is for for the Vaishak Number. In that article 26 Alipur Road, Delhi did not introduce us to the Buddhist lit - removing this inferiority complex that I I argued that the Buddha's Religion 6-4-56 www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 6 Issue- 5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 BABU MANGU RAM MUGOWALIA - A PROFILE abu Mangu Ram Mugowalia San Francisco about the difficult con - through force of ideology. the Ad- B combined in his personage the ditions of the Untouchables in India. Ad-Dharma was almost Babu Dharma qualities of a fierce revolution - He wrote them that their freedom M.R. Mugowalia's show. It inspired Mandal ary, a staunch patriot, a devoted cru - was more important to him than In - the lowliest of the low to fight for (1926- sader against social evils and above dian freedom. According to Babu Mu - equality, economic, social and politi - 1931) re - all a true humanitarian through. Born gowalia, leaders of the Ghadar Party cal in a converted way. The Ad- port in the among the lowliest of the low, he then disengaged him to work with Dharma, under the dynamic preparation crossed all social barriers dauntlessly Scheduled Castes (Untouchables), leadership of a true revolutionary like of which and suffered all sorts of indignities of and wrote him that they would sup - Babu Mugowalia, was an aggressive Babu Mu - life and made his way to reach the port him in his tasks. Thus, in a new and autonomous movement or com - gowalia pinnacle of greatness. context, the old revolutionary from pared to similar movements that took had played Prof. G.S. BALL (Late) Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia Fresno continued the Ghadar spirit. birth in other parts of the country. a big role. It M.A., M.Phil. represents a rare example among the This clearly shows that even Within a short span of time, it jolted reads as President, Ambedkar Mission Society, Punjab (Regd) revolutionaries Ghadarite philosophy. Ghadarites had realized the need to the 'haves-not' through its rallies, follows: In those dark days, it was rare for an awaken these slaves of Indian Society publications, deputations and demon - "Nature (Qudrat Ka Mela) created untouchable to understand the - the then Untouchables. strations to demand new government human beings from original source essence of revolution against imperi - When he started his task of policies or to protest upper caste dis - (Adi) at the time that it created all be - alism. But he rose to the occasion social reform i.e. establishing schools criminations. The most influential po - ings in the earth. The knowledge of and proved his mettle. He joined the for untouchables poors, he began to litical action of the movement that moral behaviour (karm-dharm) was Ghadar Party when he went to Cali - look for an al - can be listed also given to them at that time by Na - fornia (U.S.A.) in 1909 A.D. as its ac - ternative as one of its ture. Nature made humans superior to tive member. Babu Mangu Ram which may great achieve - animals, but among humans all Mugowalia, it appears desired an es - provide a lever ments, was to were equal. tablishment of society which must be for the unity get Scheduled In the beginning, when Na - based on Equality. And he saw one of the un - Castes regis - ture created human beings, there was being fought for by the Ghadarites as touchable tered as a fol - no discrimination. There were no dif - they had abolished all social distinc - poors and lowers of new ferences and no quarrels. In particu - tions among themselves first which, then to religion. In lar, there were no such concepts as perhaps, is not the practice with the demonstrate 1931 A.D. high or low caste. God (Ishwar) was modern community or who profess through that census, almost meditating; all was in harmony. Every - change of the sort. As Babu Mangu alternative the half a million of one believed in one dharma which Ram Mugowalia spoke of the Ghadar political pres - them regis - Nature had given then through intel - Party, "It was a new society, we were ence of the tered as "Ad- lect and knowledge". Babu M.R. Mu - all treated as equals". untouchables Dharmi" rather gowalia did not mean by the word As a Ghadarite, he took part in the politics than Hindus or 'God' as something supernatural be - in the organizational activities at first of Punjab of Muslim or ings who is said to have created the but in 1915 A.D. an occasion came those days. It Sikh. Mr. Mark world and since then regulating it as when he volunteered to be one of the must be re - Juergensmeyer is believed in theology. Mark Juer - five Ghadarites in a dangerous mis - membered writes as, gensmeyer makes it quite clear in his sion involving smuggled weapons that Punjab "Later in the work, Religion As Social Vision, thus: shipped from California to the Punjab. was already 1930, their po - "Occasionally there is mention of God Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia was witnessing litical influence in a more formal sense". "God (Ish - chosen by the leader of the Ghadar political up - turned towards war) was meditating; all was in har - Party at that time. Mr. Sohan Singh haul and each electoral poli - mony". And Babu Mangu Ram Bhakna, the Secretary of Ghadar class was try - tics, in alliance Mugowalia made a practice of using Party, whom Babu M.R. Mugowalia ing to reap at first with the the name Adi-Purkh for the divine - remembered as "Godha" sent the five political harvesting. Babu Mangu Ram predominantly Muslim Unionist Party literally "the originator", or the "Orig - to Los Angeles, where they boarded Mugowalia, along with other con - and then with the Congress. It was inal Being". All these designations, al - an intermediary boat, after depositing scious men from his class, then the logical consequence of the politi - though they are theistic terms, are all of their personal identifications founded on June 11-12, 1926 A.D. cal awakening created among them impersonal in intent. with "Godha", for the rest of the jour - at his village Mugowal Ad-Dharma as by Ad-Dharma Movement in Punjab, He, all his life, stood like a ney's saga. Mangu Ram would be the alternative. whose undisputable leader was Babu rock against social evils such as un - known by a pseudonym, Ad-Dharma's main aim was to Mangu Ram Mugowalia. touchability, caste-system, women "Nizamuddin". create a feeling of identity among the Thus through several means, slavery, exploitation etc. His life in cul - Putting his life into danger untouchable class which numbered at then, the Ad-Dharmis presented to its tural side symbolized with the cre - and travelling through Secrorro Is - that time about one fourth of the en - followers a vision of a world which ation of new social virtues such as lands and halting at Mexico, Calado - tire population of India. Babu M.R. both confirmed and transformed the women's rights, the value of educa - nia Islands, Manila, Singapore and Mugowalia and the early leaders of rude experience of untouchables. And tion, abstinence from alcohol and again to Manila where he stayed for the Ad-Dharma perceived their first in doing so it implied that a different drugs - which were 'nothing less than sometime and finally to India where task to be the creation of a new reli - sort of world was coming into being, a new concept of moral order'. Thus he reached in 1925 A.D. gion. In their initial meetings, even be - for the separate identity so defined Babu M.R. Mugowalia, a Ghadarite It is after 1925, that his ca - fore they developed an organisational signaled hope for a society in which revolutionary, social crusader, political reer as a crusader against untoucha - structure, they labored over a basic social groups carried no inherent activist and strategist and as a hu - bility and casteism began. As he ideological theme upon which they mark of judgment and in which the manitarian fought for the establish - travelled from Ceylon to Punjab could build a system of religious ideas benefits of progress could be shared ment of an ideal society till he through Madurai, Madras, Bombay, and symbols. Its central motive was by all. breathed last. The noble way of com - Poona, Sitara, Nagpur and Delhi, he novel: the idea that untouchables Cultural and humanistic as - memorating celebrating the 99th observed the condition of the un - constitute a quaum, a distinct reli - pects of the personality of Babu M.R. Birth Anniversary (for that matter touchables on route and was dis - gions community similar to those of Mugowalia were even more glaring. every birth anniversary) of Babu mayed to see these people being Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, and that As a humanist his vision of the world Mangu Ram Mugowalia - who desired treated so badly. In Madurai, when the quam had existed from time im - was near to rationalist view of the his movement to coincide with Babu Mangu Ram visited the memorial. It was a myth of power ad - universe (we can even say materialis - Ambedkarite Movement to give the Meenakshi Temple, he was told to be dressed to the people without power. tic as well though in rudimentary movement of depressed classes a careful not to touch Achhut (Un - It was intended to communicate the form), he believed in the inherent country-wide stature, is to emulate touchables) since they assumed by sense of strength that Babu M.R. Mu - equality of all human-beings; he was him. Therefore, let us resolve to emu - his dress that he was of a decent gowalia felt belonged to his caste fel - against all sorts of exploitations of late the great Babu Mangu Ram Mu - caste. By the time Babu M.R. Mu - lows by right. As he explained, "The man against man; and he earnestly gowalia - patriot, social revolutionary, gowalia had reached the Punjab, he untouchables have their powers: devoted his bodily energy and finan - a successful strategist and, above all, was convinced that there was need communal pride (qaumiat), religion cial resources in founding a new so - a humanist. for social change. (mazhab), and organisation (mazlis)". ciety based upon the gospel of Courtesy: Souvenir Babu Mangu Ram Babu M.R. Mugowalia wrote The hope was that these powers equality. His ideas about the universe Muggowalia 99th Birth Anniversary to the Ghadar Party headquarters in could be fostered and spiltered and equality of all men are echoed in published by MR. C. L. Chumber www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 7 Issue- 5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Remembering Advocate Bhagwan Das: A Profile Bhagwan Das was born in an very high and he is known as a True Chander Pur and Amrraoti University uled Castes Mr. Untouchable family at Jutogh Ambedkarite. in 1990. and Tribes - Cantonment, Shimla (Himachal He remained in close contact Mr. Das also visited Nepal VIII Plan’ set Pradesh), India on 23 April 1927. He with Dr. Ambedkar at Delhi from (1980 and 1990); Pakistan (1989); up by the Gov - served in the Royal Indian Air Force 1942 till his death. He also adopted Thailand (1988); Singapore (1989) ernment of during World War II and after demo - Buddhism in 1956 when Dr, Ambed - and Canada (1979) to study the India and also bilisation served in different capaci - kar launched his Buddhist Conversion problems f deprived and disadvan - a member of ties in various departments of Movement on 14th October, 1956. taged members of society, women Ambedkar Government of India at Saharanpur, Hehas written his autobiography and children. Delivered lectures in Centenary Shimla and Delhi. He did M.A. in His - which has been published as “In the Wisconsin University (USA) 1979 and Committee of tory (Punjab University) and LL.B Pursuit of Ambedkar” in English North- field College (USA) on Caste the Govern - from Delhi University. He did research and:”BabaKeCharnon me”in Hindi. A in contemporary India. He was invited ment of India. SR Darapuri on the ‘Indianisation of the Audit De - documentary film on his life has also to give lectures on Dr Ambedkar at Mr. Das has Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, partment from 1840-1915’. He has been prepared by S. Anand of the Institute of Oriental Studies, written many Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (U.P.) been contributing articles and short Navyana. Moscow in June, 1990. books in Urdu, Reader and Deputy Director stories to various papers and journals Mr. Das has been associated Mr. Das practices law in the English and published in India. with the ‘Peace Movement’ since the Supreme Court of India. With a view Hindi on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar; His father Mr. Ram Ditta was end of World War II, in which he to improve the professional compe - Untouchables; Scavengers and fond of reading newspapers and a served on the Eastern Front with the tence of and helping upcoming advo - Sweepers; Human Rights Discrimina - great admirer of Dr Babasaheb Royal Air Force cates tion etc. Prominent among them are Ambedkar. Inspired and encouraged (RAF) under belonging to Thus Spoke Ambedkar (Vol I to IVEd) by his father, Mr. Das worked with South East Untouchable a pioneer work; Ambedkar on Gandhi Mr. T. R. Baidwan of Simla who was Asia Com - and indige - and Gandhism (Ed); Ambedkar Ek - the most prominent leader of the Un - mand. He is nous groups ParicheyEk Sandesh (Hindi); Main touchables in Simla Hills, and joined one of the he founded BhangiHoon(Hindi), the story of an In - the Scheduled Castes Federation at founder mem - Ambedkar dian sweeper told in the first- person the tender age of 16. Since then he bers of the Mission (this book has been translated into has been actively associated with the World Confer - Lawyers As - Punjabi, Kannada and Marathi and Ambedkarite movement and has done ence on Reli - sociation and German); Valmiki AurBhangiJatian a great deal to promote the ideas of gion and Peace Legal Aid So - (Hindi); Valmiki (Hindi); Dhobi (Hindi), Babasaheb Ambedkar and to unite (WCRP) (India) ciety in Revival of Buddhism in India and Role and uplift the downtrodden not only and has partici - 1989. He of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar; Dr. Ambed - of India but also of other countries of pated in the was General kaeEkParichayEk Sandesh; Dr. Asia. Mr. Das is associated with Conferences Secretary of Ambedkar aurBhangiJatiya and many organisations of lawyers, Bud - held in Kyoto, ‘Professions Bharat me BauddhDhammkapunrja - dhists, Scheduled Castes and Minori - Japan, 1970; for People’, grantathasamasyayen. He has trans - ties in India. He was General Princeton USA an organisa - lated into Urdu former President of Secretary, United Lawyers Associa - (1979); Seoul, tion founded the USA Lyndon Johnson’s book ‘My tion, Supreme Court, New Delhi; Korea (1986); in Delhi to el - Hope for America’; Dr Ambedkar’s General Secretary,BouddhUpasak - Nairobi. Kenya evate profes - ‘Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah’in to Sangh, New Delhi; Founder Chair - (1984) and sional Urdu; besides editing Bhadant Anand man, Ambedkar Mission Society Melbourne Aus - standards. Kaushalyayan’s‘Gita KiBuddhivadiS - which has branches in many parts of tralia (1989). Mr. amiksha.’ the world; Revived Samata Sainik Dal He was ap - Das was in - Other books in hand are (Volunteers for Equality) founded by pointed Direc - Bhagwan Das: A Profile vited to pre - “Reservation and Representative Bu - Dr. Ambedkar in 1926-27; Regional tor, Asian (23.04.1927 -18.11.2010) side at the reaucracy in India”; “Untouchables in Secretary (North). Indian Buddhist Centre for Dalit and the Indian Army (Mahar, Mazhbi, Council; Founder, Society for the Pro - Human Rights (Asian Conference on Buddhist Writers Conference held at Chuhra, Pariahs, Mangs, Dhanuks, tection of Non-Smokers; Founder Religion and Peace) in 1980 and con - Akola in 1989 and is closely associ - Dusadhs, Chamars, Kolis, Bheels)”; President of Society for Promoting tinued to serve in this capacity till ated with various organisations of “Mandal Commission and the Future Buddhist Knowledge; edited Samata 2004 monitoring the news of viola - Dalit Writers. of Backward Classes”; “Twenty-Two Sainik Sandesh (English) 1980- tion of human rights in Asian coun - Mr. Das has written more Oaths of Buddhism and Conversion”; 1990.He was also the main person tries and organising camps for than five hundred articles, papers for “Balmiki; Ravidassis and Balmikis of behind publication of “Bheem Patrika” training of human ‘ rights workers, seminars, short stories for various Northern India”; “Buddhism and an Urdu and the Hindi magazine pub - speaking and writing for the cause. newspapers and journals. His papers Marxism” and “Ambedkar as a Reli - lished from Jullundur (Punjab). Mr. Das was invited to deliver on ‘Revival of Buddhism’; ‘Some gious Leader.” His mother tongue is Urdu. a lecture on ‘Discrimination by the problems of minorities in India’; Mr. Das has toured almost the He learnt English from class 7th. His Peace University, Tokyo (1980) and ‘Reservation in Public Services’ have whole of India to study the problems command over English and his British also addressed several meetings or - been published in Social Action of Hindu-Muslim riots, religious con - accent compelled many to label him ganised by the Burakuminsof Japan. brought out by Indian Social Institute, flicts, atrocities committed on the Un - as a “Black English Man.” He isAdib - He gave testimony before the United New Delhi and Delhi University Bud - touchables and tribal people, with the Fazel in Persian. He can speak and Nations in regard to the plight o Un - dhist Department. He has written group ‘Threat to Diversity’, ‘Swaraj write in Hindi and Punjabi. Just like touchables in South Asia, in the many papers on Reservation and Rep - MuktiMorcha and as Chairman, Dr. Ambedkar he was not allowed to meeting of Sub-Committee on resentative Bureaucracy, Discrimina - Samata Sainik Dal.” He is also the read Hindi and he had to take up Per - Human Rights held at Geneva, tion against the Dalits in Public founder President of “Dalit Solidarity sian at school. His knowledge about Switzerland in August, 1983. He vis - Services and Minorities etc. His short People”, an organisation aiming at Dr. Ambedkar, Buddhism, Hindu ited England in 1975, 1983, 1988, stories were published in Sarita uniting Hindu Dalits, Dalit Christians, Castes, Religion and many more sub - 1990 and 1991 in connection with (Urdu), NayaZamana (Urdu), Milap Sikh Dalits, Muslim Dalits and Buraku - jects is so vast and thorough that he lectures and seminars. He partici - (Urdu, Bheem Patrika (Urdu and mins of Japan and Korea. Like Marx is often marked as a “Moving Ency - pated in the seminar held in ‘Hull Uni - Hindi). He has edited “Slavery and his slogan was “Dalits of the World clopaedia.” He is very modest and versity in 1990 as a representative of Untouchability’ incomplete book writ - Unite.” simple which made Bhadant Anand the Ambedkar Centenary Celebration ten by Babasaheb Ambedkar). He Mr Bhagwan Das has been a Kaushlayan to remark, “You are so Committee, UK and also a seminar on also edited “Untouchable Soldiers- storehouse of insight and informa - humble.” Human Rights in India held at London Mazhbi and Mahar” wrote M.A. The - tion, his residence at Delhi has been He was married to Rama Devi (Luc - University, School of Asian and Orien - sis by Ardith Basham, an American a mandatory stopover for many know) on 9 February, 1957 through tal Studies in February 1991. Scholar. He has also writtenabout renowned scholars like Eleanor Zel - the mediation of Shiv Dayal Singh He was invited to deliver Dalit politics under the title “Dalit Ra - liot, Mark Juergensmeyer,Owen Chaurasia who was a member of the Ambedkar Memorial Lectures in jnitiaurSanghathan.”(Dalit Politics and lynch, Marc Gallanter, RK Kshirsagar, Parliament. He has one son Rahul and Milind Mahavidyalya, Aurangabad Organisations) SukhadeoThorat down to younger two daughters Zoya and Shura. He (1970); Marathwada University He was a member for the scholars like Vijay Prashad,Nicolas became a Buddhist in 1957. His de - (1983); Nagpur University, PWS Col - ‘Committee for evolving new strate - Jaoul and Maren Bellwinkel- votion to Ambedkarite movement is lege, Nagpur; Ambedkar College, gies for the development of Sched - Schempp. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 8 Issue- 5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Indian State needs to shed its colonial mindset: Farmers know what is good for them, listen to them, don’t teach them ndia livesin its village’. It was Ma - pointed out, his idea of the village as a ically problematic. It undermined the re - prepare bet - I hatma Gandhi who popularised this cohesive and harmonious community ality of caste, which had kept it always ter-quality image and identity of India. Most had been borrowed from the British colo - divided. There could never have been a power point of his contemporaries agreed with him. nial administrator, Charles Metcalfe. For feeling or sense of community, which in - presenta - EvenB.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal the colonial rulers, India wasa land of ‘vil - cluded those on the village periphery, the tions, in sim - Nehru,who disagreed with Gandhi on the lage republics’, small, isolated, and inde - untouchables. Dalits not only experi - ple and clear social composition of the village, or the pendent of outside influence. According enced untouchability in the village, they language, path that India ought to choose for its to them, the Indian villageshad seen no were also materially deprived and ex - toremovethe Surinder S. Jodhka economic growth/development,nearly change or dynamism,for centuries,in cluded from the economic life of the vil - farmers’ completely accepted the underlying de - their internal social and economic lage. More importantly, such a binary doubts Prof of Sociology, CSSS, SSS, JNU, mographic claim made in thisstatement. organization. construct of the ‘rural’ as simple and about the New Delhi This was despite the fact that a good As Bernard Cohn had famously ‘urban’ as rational and scientific also nat - new laws. Email: [email protected] number of Indians had,in fact,lived in argued, such a notion, or construct, of uralized the hegemony of the new native- Mob: +91-9811279898 urban settlements, almost for ever.At the India as a land of village republics had nationalist elite over the rural. The rural Some main - time of India’s Independence, urban Indi - been very useful for the British rulers. It had thus to be developed by the state stream television channels too repeated ans made for nearly 15 percent (approx - helpedlegitimize their colonization of and it was only the urban elite who could this narrative, through their reporting and imately 300 million) of the total India. They were here to help understand what was good for the vil - theirdiscussions, with “experts”. They in - population. However, in popular national - usbecause,in order to change,we needed lage. The very idea of development infan - variable tended to accuse the “leaders” ist common-sense, city dwellers did not an external agency. As the colonial and tilised the villager. of farmersof collaborating with opposi - represent the “real” India. For Gandhi, the earlier orientalist constructs had told While Gandhi’s idea of Swaraj tion politiciansto fool the bhole-bhale urban residents were not only a demo - the world, the Indians, stuck inside their has long been forgotten, the simplistic bi - kisan (innocent farmers). Even some graphic minority, but were also “inau - tiny villages,were incapable of changing nary of the rural and urban that he pop - well-meaning experts have described the thentic” Indians. Village was where the on their own, and moving on the path of ularized,has become part of our common ongoing farmers movement as a peasant soul of India lived. Gandhi, also went progress. The rationality driven Euro - sense. This is very evident once again in uprising. The protesting farmers are not much further than this. He also founded peans, with theirscientific temper and the manner in which the ongoing mobi - subsistence-oriented peasants. They are his theory of India’s colonization and its knowledge of technology, could help vil - lizations of the Indian farmers are being enterprising cultivators, who use a wide freedom around the idea of the ‘village’. lage India move out of its eternal old and viewed by the ruling establishment and a range of farm inputs and produce prima - ‘City’, for him, accompanied western stagnant economic order. large section of the urban elite, including rily for the market. They have been doing civilizational influence and thus was a Gandhi’s advocacy of the vil - the mainstream electronic media. When this for decades. symbol and signifier of colonization, both lage-city binary also overlapped with the the farmers came out to protest and Beyond farms, they are also in - of mind and space. In his view, therefore, acceptance of the tradition-modern bi - pointed to how the newly enacted laws tegrated in the larger economic, social it symbolised moral corruption. India’s nary, which was being proposed and by the NDA government would hurt their and political life of the nation and the true independence could only be through propagated as a western hegemonic nar - interests, they were firmly and repeated - world. Their organizations are named the recovery of its “lost” self, the village. rative around the same time. In his at - lytold that the new laws are, in fact, ‘unions’ because they function like the Gandhi was obviously being ide - tempt to celebrate the ‘rural’, Gandhi good for them. Even when the farmer or - trade unions of urban/ factory workers, ological in his celebration of the village inadvertently also reinforced the colonial ganizations were called for discussions as interest groups, meant to bargain with life. He would certainlyhave known that view that those who lived in the village by the central government, during the ini - relevant “others” on their behalf. Today, cities had been a part of Indian life even were bound to their past tradition, inca - tial meetingsthey were given presenta - an average farmer of Andhra Pradesh, much before the British landed on the pable of thinking rationally and instru - tions bygovernment officials as a way to Punjab or Madhya Pradesh is likely to be western coast. He was himself not born mentally. They were simple people, explain the various clauses and to em - as educated, if not more, as an average in a village and his family had perhaps al - always driven by their community culture phasize the point that they had not actu - trader of Gujarat. However, the old binary ways been urban. So was the case with and past moral codes. ally understood the new laws. A senior or rural-urban continues to dog a large Nehru. However, there were serious is - Gandhi’s view of the village minister even suggested that the con - section of the urban elite and their ca - sues with Gandhi’s advocacy of ‘village being the siteof “authentic” India was cerned ministry and its officials,who pacity to make sense of the farmers’ as - as India’.As Ambedkar had rightly not onlyempirically untrue, but also polit - were engaging with farmers, ought to sertions. Farmers arecitizens, they need to be engaged with, not ‘defeated’ Arguing on behalf of the Central govern - “new” farmers’ movements because nated. From day one, their politics was, ended.‘We are not a political partyand we ment during a hearing on the newly en - they were different from their earlier vari - therefore, focussed around the “terms of are not competing with any political acted farm laws and the ongoing ants, the peasant mobilizations. The trade”. They frequently appealed to the party’, he said. Similarly, a large majority farmers’ protests demanding their repeal, peasant movements of the 20th century State and looked up to it as the negoti - of the Jat farmers from Haryana, who Attorney General K. K. Venugopal were often led by outsiders and were in - ating agent, that would protect them have been sitting on the dharna along - claimed before the Supreme Court of variably part of larger political strug - from the uncertaintiesof the market side thePunjab farmers, had in fact voted India that the farmers protests have been gles.One of the popular books on the through regulations and subsidies. The for Modi during the 2019 Lok Sabha ‘infiltrated by elements that support the subject by Eric R. Wolf published in 1969 State is thus normally seen by them as a elections. idea of Khalistan’. This was not the first was titled asthe Peasant Wars of the protector and a moral patriarch. The union leader from Punjab, time that such an allegation had been Twentieth Century. Some of the well- Such a mobilizations of “unions” Balbir Singh Rajjewal, is similarly aware made by the ruling establishment. Some known peasant movements produced and pressure groups is not only a normal of the diversity of his constituency. A senior ministers of the central govern - “revolutionary” changes in prevailingpo - part of a modern market economy, but it large section of Sikh farmers has tradi - ment and spokespersons of the ruling litical systems. From Russia and China to is also essential for a democratic polity tionally been supporters of the Shiromani party have also repeatedly raised such al - Vietnam, Algeria and Mexico, peasants to function and flourish. The electoral Akali Dal (Badal), which until recently legations. They have also taken issue actively participated in movements that process is not a substitute for such poli - was a part of the NDA, and many would with the fact that some of the participat - were firmly political. Even in India, peas - tics. Unions and the interests they repre - have voted for its candidates in the last ing farmers’ organizations are left-leaning ants actively participated in the freedom sent could be electorally insignificant.But elections. Many Sikh farmers would have and raise issues of human rights. ‘Farm - struggle, mobilized by Gandhi. Similarly, as citizens, small and large, they repre - also voted for the Indian National Con - ers ought to be speaking only about left-wing political parties mobilized them sent opinions and interests that are legit - gress or the AAP. Speaking to his sup - farming related issues and nothing else’, around questions of land reforms and so - imate. The citizens who join these porters at the Singhuborder, he has been they insist. cial equity. The farmers’ movements of “unions”do not carry singular identities, constantly reminding them about the Interestingly, if we look at it the 1980shave had a different focus. of being merely farmers or workers or need to stay focussed on the sole issue closely,the stated position of the farmers’ Their demands are generally very spe - teachers. Like everyone else, they too live relating to agriculture, firmly and peace - unionsand their leaders is not very differ - cific. They organize themselves as with multipleidentities, ascriptive and fully. He reiterated this again from the ent. Anyone interested in verifying this “unions”, which are almost always led by professional. They are bound to bring stage on the 13th of January,when he needs to listen to the videos of the lec - farmers themselves. They emerged in re - these into their unions as well. In a coun - said that,‘If some people wish to fight tures they have been delivering at the sponse to the increasing integration of try like India, these identities could range for Khalistan, they ought to go to Amer - sites of the ongoing protest, all easily agriculture into the larger market econ - from region, language and religion to a ica and create it there. Our struggle is available onYouTube.However, this is not omy which led to it being directly sub - variety of “secular” political orientations. different’. to suggest that farmers movements are jected to the vagaries of market. Those leading the current farmers move - The challenge for the democratic ‘non-political’ or ‘pre-political’. Social Post-Green Revolution agriculture could ments are acutely aware of these realities political establishment is to learn to en - movements are always constituted by not be carried out without purchasing a and have always worked with them. gage with such social movements, rec - politics, often even producing unintended large volume of inputs that were only Speaking from the site the dharna toa ognizingtheir value. They are not simply consequences with far reaching political available in the urban markets. This im - YouTube television reporter,Ajit expressions of dissent. They also mobi - implications. The reference point here is pliedtheir ‘compulsive market participa - Anjum,Rakesh Takait, the BKU leader lize vast volumes of positive energy that the party or electoral politics. tion’, as John Hariss described. Even the from Uttar Pradesh, explained that theirs revives social solidarities and democratic What has been the relationship small cultivators, who produced very lit - was not a movement for political power. spirits.Diversities of interests, culture - of farmers’ movements with party poli - tle surplus over their subsistence require - Many of his supporters, he pointed out, sand opinions mark all nations of the tics in India? ments,iscompelled to take the farm had been voters of the ruling party, the world today. Targeting social movements Present-day farmers are different produce to the market. ‘Farm unions’ BJP. Though they were sitting on dharna as “enemies” to be defeated would only from the older category of peasants. came up to ensure a fair deal for the agri - with him on the current issue,many were drain out the positive energy that such When their mobilizations first emerged in cultural sector in an economy which was likely to go back to the political space movements produce.They need to be en - the 1980s, they were described as becoming increasingly “urban” domi - that they came from once the agitation gaged with. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 9 Issue-5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Summit on Climate Change in April 2021 he US President Joe Biden has activities.The various research studies rising average temperature of the earth, eration, T convened a two-day virtual Sum - also show that humans are harming many countries around the world still transporta - mit on Climate Change on April 22- other organisms (from plants to all kinds have not taken steps to reduce their car - tion, and in - 23. Leaders from 40 countries have been of living beings) cohabitating on earth for bon emissions. According to the Climate dustry invited to the virtual meeting. The invited their own selfish needs. Two-thirds of the watchdata organisation, there are 80 produced leaders include the Presidents of China, land use patterns on earth's surface have countries in the world that have not yet large the Russian Federation, and Brazil, the been changed by the human population made any changes in the framework for amounts of Prime Ministers of India, Australia, due to the development of agriculture reducing carbon emissions according to carbon. The France, and New Zealand, the Presidents during the last 11000 years, natural veg - the Paris Climate Agreement. These United of the European Council and the Euro - etation has halved. About 85 per cent countries release 47.2 per cent of the States alone pean Commission, South and North of the wetlands have been wiped out in world's total carbon emissions into the produces 5 America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East the last 300 years, and more than 65 per atmosphere. It is pertinent to mention billion metric Dr.Gurinder Kaur along with leaders of some other Euro - cent of the oceans were compromised to here that out of these 80 countries, 78 tons of car - Professor, Department of Geography, pean nations and small island nations. some extent by humans. In the last 200 countries emit only 4.2 per cent of the bon each Punjabi University, Patiala. Joe Biden has also appealed to the lead - years, 50 per cent of the coral reefs have total carbon emissions and the remaining year from 001-408-493-9776 ers of these countries to submit their up - disappeared. 43 per cent carbon emissions are emit - these dated commitments on carbon emission The human population has ted by two countries China (28 per cent) sources. In order to control the average cut plans which were already submitted grown rapidly from 1.6 billion (1900) to and the United States (15 per cent). global temperature, all the countries of to the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. 7.8 billion (2020) in the last 120 years. China, which currently emits more car - the world should promptly reduce their In 2015, the then-US President Along with human activities, the growing bon than any other country in the world, carbon emissions by imposing a climate Barack Obama raised the issue of climate human population, its way of living and is still generating 60 per cent of its en - emergency. change in the Paris Climate Agreement. choice of food are responsible for the rise ergy from coal. China made an an - The 11th Annual Gap Emission In 2017, the then-US President Donald in the average temperature of the earth. nouncement in March 2021 to have a Report(2019) of the United Nations Trump announced his withdrawal from According to a study conducted by peak in emissions by 2030 for accelerat - shows that if all the countries of the the Paris Climate Agreement as soon as world cut their greenhouse gas emissions he came to power. In those four years, by 7.6 per cent per annum in the coming the United States increased its carbon years, the temperature would still be emissions as President Donald Trump, above the safe limit by the end of the during his tenure, approved high-carbon century. The report also said that if seri - projects such as coal-fired power plants ous measures had been taken in 2010, and refineries, he also withdrew over 100 greenhouse gas emissions would have environmental protection laws. President been reduced by 3.3 per cent per annum. Joe Biden after President Trump's four- Taking actions to address this imminent year term sent a request to the United issue should not be delayed any longer. Nations on the first day of his term in Firstly, China and the United States, 2021 to rejoin the Paris Climate Agree - which account for 43 per cent of the ment, which was accepted the same total carbon emissions in the atmos - day. In fact, President Joe Biden wants phere, should, like New Zealand, declare to re-establish the United States as a pi - a climate emergency in their respective oneer in Climate Change. He has called countries and cut carbon emissions ex - for this virtual Summit on Climate peditiously without wasting time. Both Change as a prequel to the 26th Confer - these countries should seek guidance ence of the Parties in Glasgow which will from the European countries as well who be held from November 1-12 in collabo - Arden Dier, only 1 per cent of the world's ing economic growth and then later will have reduced their greenhouse gas emis - ration with the United Kingdom and Italy. population causes about 50 per cent of aim for carbon neutrality by 2060. The sions by 24 per cent in 2019 as com - The motive of the virtual summit to push air travel emission. Each of Australia, the United States is second only to China in pared to 1990’s level. These countries the Paris Climate Agreement forward and United States, Canada, South Korea, and coal-fired power generation and total car - have now pledged to reduce the amount the United States to reclaim its leader - the Russian Federation emits 16.92, bon emissions. President Joe Biden has of greenhouse gas emissions to at least ship on this front. 16.56, 15.32, 12.89, and 11.94 metric recently declared a carbon free electricity 55 per cent by 2030 as compared to With the US announcing its tons of carbon emissions, respectively, goal by 2035, a switchover to renewable 1990’s level. Great Britain has gone withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agree - through their living style. Today, to ac - sources which will eliminate greenhouse even further vowing to reduce green gas ment, many countries in the world be - commodate an increasing carnivorous gas emissions produced while generating emissions by 68 per cent during this pe - sides the European countries, especially diet, large-scale deforestation is taking electricity and also setting a goal of “net- riod. In contrast, China is still demanding China, India, the Russian Federation, place to create pastures for breeding an - zero emissions, economy-wide, by no another 10 years to start reducing its car - Japan, Canada, Indonesia, South Korea, imals. A meat rich diet instead of vegeta - later than 2050.” bon emissions. The United States has al - Saudi Arabia and some others have not bles increases the concentration of two It is important to note that the ready backed down at every conference. taken the Paris Climate Agreement seri - types of gases in the atmosphere - car - average temperature of the earth will in - India, Japan, and the Russian Federation ously. As a result, the past six years from bon dioxide and methane. Deforestation crease speedily if carbon emissions are have not yet submitted their new plans 2015 to 2020 have been the hottest on and domesticated animals both result not reduced rapidly and the current safe to reduce carbon emissions to the United record so far. According to a NOAA 2020 in producing large amounts of carbon average temperature rise limit (1.5 de - Nations. The targets set by nations such report, the average temperature of the dioxide. Animal digestion process is re - grees Celsius) ‘set by the Paris Climate as the USA, China, India, and Russian Northern Hemisphere in 2020 was the sponsible for increasing the concentra - Agreement’ will be exceeded in the next Federation ( those are still emitting the highest in 141 years, 1.28 degrees Cel - tion of methane gas in the environment. few years. According to a recent study major share of greenhouse gas emis - sius higher than the average temperature Both gases are important greenhouse published by the Australian Academy of sions) could dramatically affect whether of the Pre-Industrial Revolution period. gases that raise the temperature. Sciences, if carbon emissions continued the world can reach the goals set Despite the Covid-19 and La-Nina year, Methane gas is capable of heating the at - at the current rate for only three to four in Paris. the average temperature in Europe and mosphere 25 times more than carbon years it would be impossible to achieve In the April 22-23 Summit on Asia is recorded higher by 2 degrees Cel - dioxide. One animal emits 220 pounds of the target of 1.5 degrees Celsius in - Climate, all countries of the world should sius in 2020. Temperatures in Australia, methane gas each year. According to a crease in temperature but the tempera - agree to outline measures to reduce car - South America, the southern parts of study conducted by U.C. Davis, domes - ture will rise by an alarming 3 to 4 bon emissions, increase their depend - North America, and the Atlantic, Pacific, ticated animals are responsible for pro - degrees Celsius. ence on renewable natural resources for Indian Oceans have also been above av - ducing 14.5 per cent of the total Although greenhouse gas emis - energy production and implement actions erage. Arctic temperature has risen three greenhouse gases. The forests of the sions were reduced during the lockdown immediately. times since the Pre- Industrial Revolution tropical region have the potential to ab - due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 is All countries must make drastic period. Siberia recorded an average tem - sorb more carbon. A research study by still the second hottest year on record. changes in their living style, eating habits perature of 30 degrees Celsius in June the World Resources Institute shows that The concentration of carbon in the at - and accelerate their forest cover and 2020. Rising temperature has led to between 2019 and 2020, deforestation mosphere is also constantly increasing. focus on replacing the corporate eco - widespread wildfires in California, in the tropics has increased by 12 per On April 6, 2020, its concentration was nomic growth model with a pro-nature Siberia, and Australia in 2020. cent covering 10 million acres. 415.70 parts per million (ppm) which on and people economic development model An IPCC report (2014) revealed Despite the warning given in a the same day in 2021 increased to so that all living beings can avoid the that the average surface temperature of 2014 IPCC report and the facts stated at 418.64 ppm. Before the Industrial Revo - scourge of natural disasters caused by the earth is rising rapidly due to human 2015 Paris Climate Conference regarding lution, it was only 280 ppm. Power gen - rising temperature. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 10 Issue- 5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 GURU GOBIND SINGH CREATED KHALSA, A NEW MAN ikhism is a unique, continu - man. Most of the philosophies in the perfect life but also glorified S ous and complete revolu - the world believe that man is im - death which occurs when one is tion. The ultimate goal of perfect and can never be perfect. engaged in these internal and ex - any revolution is to create a new The Sikh ideology believes that ternal battles. Guru Gobind Singh man. Only the Sikh revolution man is perfect because he is cre - justified use of weapons when all has succeeded in creating a new ated by “the perfect” and there peaceful means have been ex - man. Guru Gobind Singh created is no difference between the cre - hausted to fight against oppres - Khalsa, a new man on Vaisakhi in ator and the creation, only a cur - sion. Guru Gobind Singh’s 1699. Vaisakhi is a harvesting tain of ignorance separates the concept of Khalsa was a concept festival. creation from the creator. If we of transformation of a man into a Peasantry was the main are perfectly enlightened and the new man who has dissolved and force of the Sikh revolution. curtain of ignorance is lifted then transcended his old identity Punjab is mainly an we realize that we are part of the based on caste and creed.

“Ambedkar Times” and “Desh Doaba” forum fondly remember 13 April; on this day in 1699, Tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptized the five beloved (Punj Pyare) at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh Ji infused a new spirit in them - the spirit of freedom, equality, justice - and put to an end for all times the oppressive social system of caste-based binaries of purity and pollution. *Manas Kee Jaat Sabhe Akay Pehchanbo - Equality of Mankind. We wish to all Very Very Happy Khalsa Sathapan day and Happy Vaisakhi!* Prem Kumar Chumber Editor-In-Chief agricultural state. Therefore, Guru ultimate reality, the eternal truth. Khalsa is a new man Ambedkar Times & Desh Doaba Gobind Singh chose Vaisakhi to Guru Gobind Singh did with a new identity. create Khalsa. The word Khalsa not give only a theoretical con - He is the image of the was used by Bhakat Kabir in cept of a perfect human being timeless creator. This creation of Guru Granth Sahib. The general but actually set an example of a a new man is the most unique Vivekananda on Guru Gobind Singh impression is that the word perfect man’s life. Nowhere in and the highest achievement of Speaking of the great powers that used to be Khalsa means pure. Therefore, history have we found an exam - the Sikh religion. Guru Gobind infused in those days into the initiates of Guru Khalsa is spiritually pure, who ple of a perfect man except the Singh used the force of history Gobind Singh, Swamiji recited a popular doha (cou - has attained the spiri - and the myths under - plet) on Khalsa. Sava Lakh Se Ek Ladaun Tabi Gob - tual enlightenment stood by the people, ind Singh Nam Kahaun. and has cleaned one - Dr. Sawraj Singh to help with the trans - The meaning is - When Guru Gobind Singh self from all impurity formation of man. He of Ego. When someone com - worldly life of Guru Gobind gave new meanings to the gives the Name i.e., initiates, a singhle man be - pletely frees himself from Ego Singh. He showed us what we myths. While using the history comes strong enough to triumph over a lakh and a then he merges with God, all can achieve in our life. He was a and the myths, Guru Gobind quarter oh his foes. Each disciple, deriving from his doubt and duality end and there religious leader, a philosopher, a Singh made absolutely clear that soul filled with such wonderful heroism. While hold - is complete unification with the poet, a saint, a soldier, a histo - he and his Khalsa only believe in ing forth thus on the glories of this religion. ultimate reality. The Persian word rian and he was a king and holy one, the eternal truth, the time - Swamiji's eyes dilated with enthusiasm seemed to Khalas means sovereign. man (Badshah Dervish) at the less creator be emitting fire, and his hearers dumb- stricken and It means the land which same time. It is generally believed (Akal Purkh). Therefore, Guru looking at his face kept watching, the wonderful is not in the revenue record and that you can only write poetry in Gobind Singh’s philosophy is sight.After a while the disciples said : ''Sir, it was is directly under the king, in other one language but Guru Gobind completely compatible with Guru words it is a Sovereign land. Singh wrote poetry in many lan - Nanak’s philosophy. very remarkable that Guru Gobind Singh could unite Therefore, Khalsa means guages, including Punjabi, Per - Guru Gobind Singh gave both Hindus and Mussalmans with the fold of his the Sovereign army of God which sian, Brij Bhasha and Sanskarit. a practical shape to Guru religion and lead them both towards the same end. is not under control of any Again, it is thought that literature Nanak’s philosophy. In Indian history, no other example of this can be human being. Khalsa is a saint can be only created in peaceful Khalsa is a concept of a found. Swamiji : ''Men Can never be united uness soldier. He has attained the high - times but Guru Gobind Singh cre - perfect man but at the same time there is a bond of common interest. You can never est spiritual level by subduing the ated literature while fighting Khalsa Panth is also a concept of unite people merely by getting up meetings, soci - five messengers of wickedness, battles. universal brotherhood. This eties and lectures, if their interests be not one and Kam (lust) Krodh (anger), lobh Guru Gobind Singh pro - brotherhood is based upon the the same. Guru Gobind Singh made it understood (greed), moh (attachment) and moted the concept of constant principles of complete equality ahankar (arrogance). He has con - struggle against oppression. and is without discrimination of everywhere that the men of his age, be they Hindus quered these internal enemies by There was no question of surren - any kind. It is a community of the of Mussalmans, were living under a regime of bhakti (devotion) and him as the der. Khalsa engages constantly in spiritually enlightened people profound injustice and oppression. He did not sovereign army of God, is ready both battles, the internal battle who have transcended all preju - create any common interest. He only pointed out to fight injustice, inequality, ex - against the live messengers of dices, differences and inequali - to the masses. And so both Hindus and Mus - ploitation, discrimination and op - wickedness and the external bat - ties and have transformed salmans followed him. Yes, in Indian history, such pression in society. To fight these tle against all discrimination, in - themselves into a harmonious an example is indeed very rare. wars he needs Shakti (power). justice, inequality, exploitation community dedicated to eradi - Swami Vivekananda's Works Khalsa is a confluence of Bhakti and oppression. Guru Gobind cate evil and promote good in Vol. VI P. 469, Conversations and Dialogues and Shakti. halsa is a perfect Singh not only set an example for the world. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 111 2 Issue-5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021 Future of Parliamentary Democracy This speech was delivered by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar at D.A.V. College, Jalandhar on October 28th, 1951 am indeed thankful to you for There are some sections of are innumerable references in our lit - rule must be elected by the people I the great honour done to me of people who do not like Parliamentary erature to prove that the Parliamen - from time to time. He must obtain the asking me to address the spe - Government. Communists want the tary system of Government was not approval of the people. Hereditary rule cial session of your parliament. Dur - Russian type of government. The so - unknown to us. There are many rules has no sanction in the Parliamentary ing my whole life I have been, so to cialists are also against the present about Parliamentary procedure. May’s system of government. say, a wanderer from subject to sub - Constitution of India. They are agitat - parliamentary practice is generally fol - Secondly, any law, any meas - ject, from profession to profession. I ing against it. They have declared lowed. One rule that is invariably fol - ure applicable to the public life of the began my career as a Professor of Po - that if they come to power, they will lowed everywhere is that there can people must be based on the advice litical Economics in the Government modify it. Personally speaking, I am be no discussion without a motion. of the people chosen by the people. Commerce College, Bombay after my very attached to the Parliamentary That is why there is no discussion on No single individual can presume the return from England. But I soon felt system of Government. We must un - a question. The rule was also prac - authority that he knows everything, that the Government Service was no derstand what it means and we must ticed in our land in ancient times. The that he can make the laws and carry good for a man who was bound by preserve it in constitution. What is system of secret ballot now in vogue the government. The laws are to be rules of discipline. He is hampered at meant by Parliamentary Government? is also not new to us; it was followed made by representatives of the peo - every stage in his work of public serv - There is a book on the English Con - in Buddhist Sanghas. They had the ple in the Parliament. They are the ice. I then went back to England and stitution written by Walter Baggot; it ballot papers which they called Sala - people who can advise the men in qualified for the Bar. After my return whose name the law can be pro - I rested for a short period and then claimed. That is the difference be - accepted the post of the Principal of tween the monarchical system the Law College at Bombay. I came Government and the democratic sys - back to the profession of teaching. I tem Government. In monarchy, the worked as the Principal of the Law affairs of the people are carried on in College for five years. Then the 1935 the name of the monarch and under Government of India Act came into the authority of the monarch. In being which brought the popular leg - democracy the affairs of the public islatures into being for the first time. are carried on in the name of the head I then thought of taking a jump into of state but the laws and the execu - politics and I left the service and took tive measures are the authority on to politics. Since then I have alterna - which the government is carried on. tively been doing legal practice and The head of state is the titular head; serving the public. Legal practice and he is merely a symbol. He is conse - public service are thus the alternating crated ‘Murti’. He can be worshipped currents in my life, and I do not know but he is not allowed to carry out the on which current my life will end, government of the country. The gov - whether A.C. or D.C. ernment of the country is carried out, I am very fond of the teaching though in his name, by the elected profession. I am also very fond of stu - representatives of the people. dents. I have dealt with them. I have Thirdly and lastly, the Parlia - lectured them in my life. This is the mentary system of government first opportunity I have got to address is indeed a classic treatise. It was patrakaGrahakas. Unfortunately, we means that at a stated period those students since my resignation from later expanded by other authorities on have lost this entire past heritage that who want to advise the head of state the Cabinet. I am very glad to talk to constitutional government like Laski was good. Historians of India must must have the confidence of the peo - students. A great deal of the future of and others. He has put the concep - tackle this question as to why these ple in them renewed. In Britain, for - this country must necessarily depend tion of the Parliamentary Government parliamentary institutions disap - merly, the Parliament were carried out on the students of this country. Stu - in one sentence. He says Parliamen - peared from our land. But I find that every seven years. The Chartists agi - dents are an intelligent part of the tary Government means government they cannot or do not want to find tated against this; they wanted an - community and they can shape public by discussion and not by fisticuffs. out the reasons for it. Ancient India nual elections. The motive behind this opinion. I, therefore, take special You will always find in the British sys - was the master of the world. There agitation was very praiseworthy in - pleasure in addressing you the mem - tem of Government that they hardly was such intellectual freedom in an - deed. It would have been best in the bers of the Parliament and I am really ever resort to fisticuffs when taking cient India as was nowhere else to be interests of the people if annual elec - thankful for the opportunity given me. any decision. The decision is always found. Then why was it that this an - tions were held, had it been possible, When your principal wrote to taken after discussion. Nobody intro - cient civilization went to the dogs? of course. But Parliamentary elections me requesting me to address you, he duces the element of disturbance in Why was India subject to autocratic are very costly affairs. So some sort did not indicate any particular topic the British parliament. Look at French monarchies? We were familiar with of compromise was arrived at and a on which I shall speak to you this Politics. Decisions are arrived at more parliamentary institutions, we knew five year period was supposed to be morning. But suddenly, as usually than often by knocking knockout about votes, voting, committees and the responsible period at which the happens in my case, in the flash of a blows. You will find that this system other things related to parliamentary legislators and the ministers were to moment the subject became clear to is hardly adequate to those not born institutions. Today the Parliamentary go back to the people and obtain the me and I have decided to speak a few in that system. It is an alien institu - system of government is alien to us. fresh renewal of their confidence. words to you on the subject of parlia - tion to them. We must learn, under - If we go to a village, we will find that This is also not enough. The mentary government. The time at my stand and make it a success. the villagers do not know what it is Parliamentary system of Government disposal is very short and I will there - Parliamentary democracy is to vote, or what a party is. They find is much more than government by fore be able to give only a brief analy - unknown to us are present. But India, it something strange something alien. discussion. There are two pillars on sis of the subject. at one time, had Parliamentary insti - It is, therefore, a great problem as which the Parliamentary system of During the discussion in the tutions. India was far more advanced how to preserve this institution. We Government rests. These are the ful - Constituent Assembly there was a in ancient times. If you go throughout will have to educate the public; we crums on which the mechanism variety of opinion as regards the na - the Suktas of Mahaparinirvan, you will have to tell them the benefits of works. Those two pillars are an oppo - ture of the Constitution that we will find ample evidence in support of Parliamentary Democracy and of the sition and free and fair elections. For should have. Some preferred the my point. In these Suktas it is stated Parliamentary system of Government. the last 20 or 30 years we acclima - British system; some the American that while Bhagwan Buddha was We know what Baggot means by Par - tized to one single political party. We system. There were others who did dying at Kusinara (Kusinagara) a mes - liamentary government. But today his have nearly forgotten the necessity not want either of these two types of sage to the effect was sent to the definition is of no use, it is utterly in - and importance of opposition for the government. But after a long discus - Mallas who were sitting in session at adequate. There are three main things fair working of Parliamentary Democ - sion, a large majority if members that time. They were decided that inherent in the Parliamentary system racy. We are continuously told that came to a conclusion that the system they should not close the session but of Government. Parliamentary Gov - opposition is an evil. Here again we of the Parliamentary Government as would carry on with their work and ernment means negation of heredi - are forgetting what the past history it is in Britain is best suited to our would go to Kusinara after finishing tary rule. No person can claim to be a has to tell us. You know that there country. the business of the Parliament. There hereditary ruler. Whoever wants to (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 12 Issue- 5 www.deshdoaba.com April 14, 2021

Fu(Continuue fromr peage 1 1) ofal itiesP in baoth trhesle icoauntriems. ethney thavae sruppyorted Dfinancieally mfor theo Bharctiya rJana Sancgh ayt Delhi were Nibandhnars to interpret the A free and fair election is the comes into power, they will try to ex - recently, openly charged government Vedas and Smrities. They used to other pillar on which Parliamentary tract concessions for themselves ei - servants of helping the Congress and begin their comments on Slokas and Democracy rests. Free and fair elec - ther by modifying the present thereby nullifying the elections from Sutras by stating firstly the ParvaPak - tions are necessary for the transfer of legislation or by influencing the party being free and fair. shs, the one side of the question. power from one section for the com - in power to legislate in such a manner Under these circumstances, They used to follow up by given the munity to the other in a peaceful as would be beneficial to their inter - do you, gentlemen, think that there is Uttar Paksha, the other side. By this manner and without any bloodshed. ests. I ask you, gentlemen, whether any hope for Parliamentary Democ - they wanted to show us that the In older times, if a king died, there under these circumstances there is racy to succeed? question raised was notan easy ques - was at least one murder in the palace. any hope left for the Parliamentary If Parliamentary Democracy tion, it is a question where there is Revolution used to take place in the system of Government to do any fails in this country, and is bound to dispute, discussion and doubt. Then palace resulting in murders before the good to the country. I would like to fail for the reasons mentioned by me, they used to give what they termed new king used to take the reign of his refer to the Mahabharat. During the the only result will be rebellion, anar - as Adhikiran where they used to crit - country into his authority. This has battle between the Pandvas and the chy and Communism. If the people in icize both the Pakshas. Finally, they been the history of India. Elections Kaurvas, Bhishma and Drona were on power do not realize that people will gave the Siddhant, their own deci - must be completely free and fair. Peo - the side of the Kaurvas. The Pandvas not tolerate hereditary authority, then sions. From here we can find that all ple must be left to themselves to were in the right and the Kaurvas this country is doomed. Either Com - our ancient teachers believed in the choose those whom they want to were in the wrong. Bhishma admitted munism will come, Russia having sov - two party system of Government. send to the Legislatures. this.Whensomebody asked Bhishma ereignty over our country, destroying One important thing in the Now the question arises as to as to why he was supporting the Kau - individual liberty and our independ - Parliamentary Democracy is that peo - whether there is any desire on the rvas if he found the Pandvas to be in ence, or the section of the people ple should know the other side, if part of the party in power to permit the right. Bhishma replied in the who are disgruntled at the failure of there are two sides to a question. any opposition to be created. Con - memorable sentence. I must be loyal the party in power will start a rebel - Hence a functional opposition is re - gress does not want any opposition. to the salt if I eat the food of the Kau - lion and anarchy will prevail. quired. Opposition is the key to a free Congress is attempting to gather peo - rvas. I must take their side even if Gentlemen, I want you to political life. No democracy can do ple of sundry views under one they might be in the wrong. take note of these eventual certain - without it. Britain and Canada, the canopy. I ask you whether this is a Today the same thing is hap - ties and if you wish that the Parlia - two exponents of the Parliamentary desirable trend in the Political life of pening. Congress is accepting the fi - mentary system of Government and system of Government, recognize this this country. What about free and fair nancial help of the Banias, Marwaries Parliamentary Democracy prevail in important fact and in both countries elections? We must not lose sight of and other multimillionaires. Congress this country If you are satisfied that the Leader of the Opposition is paid a the fact that Big Business is trying to is eating their food and it follows we cherish the inherent right of indi - salary by the Government. They re - play a great part in the political life of therefore naturally that Congress will vidual liberty, then it is your duty as gard the opposition as an essential this country. have to take the side of these Big students, as the intelligent commu - thing. People of these countries be - The amount that is being con - Businesses at all crucial times. We nity of our country, to strive your ut - lieve that the opposition should be as tributed to Congress on behalf of Big also find that the government ser - most to cherish this Parliamentary much alive as the Government. The Business is a very dangerous thing. If vants are influencing the elections in system of Government in its true Government may suppress the facts; moneyed people try to influence the favour of the party which is feeding spirit and work for it. Gentlemen, I the government may have only one- elections by contributing to the elec - them and their dependents. No less a have done. I thank you for having sided propaganda. The people have tion fund of any political party, what personality than Dr. Shyama Prasad given me this opportunity to address made provision against these eventu - will be the result? If the party which Mukherjee, at the inaugural session this august gathering. SKY TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS STRIVE FOR MORE

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