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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- 12 ISSUE- 22 August 12, 2020 California (USA) www.ambedkartimes.com www.deshdoaba.com On India’s Independence Day DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Mourning the lossso moovefd byaTay ajin’s coir - ble soul Prem K. Chumber I had slept the previous night talking to my parents Editor-in-Chief: www.ambedkartimes.com knowing my family back home was healthy and cumstancesthat he Democracy and social justice are interrelated social happy. As I was finishing my early morning walk, I asked whetherhe would processes. The one is incomplete in the absence of got a text saying my eldest uncle had passed away. come to our village as their adopted son. the other. Democracy offers freedom space to re - His name was Sitaram, we used to call him On 23rd July alize equality and experience fraternity. Equality “Sitaram Tayaji”. I was baffled and was unable 1963, Sitaram Tayaji and fraternity are the two essential ingredients of toprocess the news, after all, I had called them a few hours ago before I went to sleep. My brain and came to our village. It social justice, which achieves its true form with the heart were at a war with each other- “how could a was serendipity that addition of liberty. Thus the trinity of liberty, equal - healthy person just pass away all of a sudden”? I Sitaram Tayajibecame ity and fraternity constitutes the essence of social broke down in the middle of the street sobbing, part of my family. He justice and the institution of democracy provides knowing I had lost someone who was irreplaceable. spent 57 years of his life the requisite realm for its realization. Though many It felt like I woke up on the wrong side of with us and raised two scholars’ boasts of ancient origins of democracy in the bed that morning. generations of my family. India but it would be prudent to argue that democ - He was my oldest uncle, he was a little shy In his early years he racy achieves its roots in the real sense of the term of my grandfather’s age but was older than my dad looked after my dad and Mansimran Kaur Benipal with the adoption of the constitution in independ - by many years. We weren’t related by blood but by his brothers and after [email protected] ent India. Bodhisattva Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao destiny. On July 2nd 1963, my dad who was 10 about three decade later Ramji Ambedkar, Chairman of Constitutional Draft - years old, lost his right arm in an accident while he raised me and my San Jose, CA ing Committee, worked very hard to incorporate working afodder cutting machine in his village. My cousins. He was loved various provisions for the realization of social jus - grandfather and dad waited by the side of the road, and respected by everyone in our family. tice in the Indian society. He was of the firm views looking for a ride My mom has three kids, me being that if social and economic parity remains an elu - along. In 1963 it was the youngest of a set of twins. sive to the multitude of poor and historically so - rare for someone to Sitaram Tayaji and my aunts took cially excluded people in the country, then the very own a car in an Indian care of me, my siblings and our purpose of having parliamentary democracy would village. After a few cousins while my mom went back to not be served efficiently. He reiterated the seminal hours, they were work after her maternal leave fin - point during his engaging discussions at various im - helped by a car which ished. He learnt how to change baby portant forums within and outside the Indian par - was passing by. My nappies, he cooked food for us and liament that for social justice to prevail in the father was brought even lulled us to sleep. He raised me country, India needs effective participation of the toCMC Hospital in and my siblings and loved us as his own. He was more than a parent, he downtrodden in all the different spheres of the Ludhiana where he was our godparent. society. was being treated for When we moved from our village to The demand for social justice was also his arm amputation. My grandmother used Patiala, he moved with us. He raised at various platforms during the freedom to cook food for those walked us to andfrom school. He struggle movement in colonial India. Ad-Move - hospital visits, and used to treat us to an ice-cream on ments in North and South India, Justice Party in often the food used to a scorching day in the summer heat. South India, Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia from bemore than my dad He used to make lemonade for us Punjab, Swami Achhuta Nand Ji from Uttar could manage to eat. when we came back. We used to Pradesh, Baba Ghasi Das Ji from Madhya Pradesh, Grandma used to dis - eat lunch together. He was very fond Sri Narayana Guru from Kerala raised a consistent tribute the excess of cooking and he was very good at campaign for the prevalence of social justice in the food to other people it too. I was his connoisseur, after Indian society. Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia pre - who werevisiting the every meal he used to ask me to sented a number of resolutions to the British Gov - hospital. One day she taste test the dish. Whenever I com - ernment for the removal of untouchability and came across a guy named “Sitaram”. She offered plimented his dish,his eyes would sparkle and he special provisions for the inclusion of socially ex - him food, but he refused to accept it saying he would have a bright smile glued toon his face. In cluded sections of the society in the public realm wasn’t comfortable receiving food from people those formative years, he inculcated in us virtues of power and social domain. without earning it. My grandparents then asked to live our entire life by. He taught us kindness, hard Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia joined hands him if he would take care of my dad who was still work and perseverance. He made us the people we with Bodhisattva Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ramji healing from his accident and break bread with are today. He was a gem of a person. A Rare Gem. Ambedkar in his struggle for equal rights for the their family in return. I moved far away from home for undergrad socially excluded people of India. When Dr. Ambed - Over the next few weeks my grandparents and moved out of the country for my grad school. kar spreaded its movement into the political agile got to know more about Sitaram Tayaji’s back - Even though we were continents apart, I lands of Punjab with the formation of Punjab chap - ground. His dad was in the Indian Railways. He had used to call and FaceTime him every week. Towards ter of Scheduled Castes Federation, there was a lost his parents when he was young. He grew up the latter years he couldn’t hear us very well so I tremendous response from the grassroots. That to work in Indian Railways too, he got married and used to ask my mom to let him know how much I loved and missed him. When I used to recreate his was precisely the contributions of Ad Dharm move - was blessed with a baby boy. In his adult life he food, I used to tell him it wasn’t as good ashis ment which laid the foundation stone of social jus - had lost his brothers. Series of unfortunate events cooking, and it always brought back the same old tice campaign in the Punjab state in the unfolded in his married life one after the other- his wife fell down from their house rooftop and lost beautiful smile. mid-1920s. But the irony of the matter is that even her lifeand following her untimely loss, his kid died I couldn’t wait to go back home and show after more than seven decades of India’s independ - prematurely in a house fire. He had lost his mental him the new dishes I had learnt over the years. But ence, Dalits in the country are still subjected to var - stability having his entire family taken away from kismet had other plans, I woke up to find that he ious types of atrocities and social discriminations. him. His memory was foggy on how he travelled had left for his heavenly abodeand a pain seared Though the Indian state, while making the optimum from his village in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to Lud - my heart. He wasn’t feeling well that day and as use of various anti untouchability clauses of the hiana, Punjab where some benevolent guy admit - my parents were on their way to take him to the constitution, is doing its best to bridle the monster ted him to CMC. He recovered in the very same hospital, he took his last breath on my mom’s of caste, but still is more needed to be done at the hospital and eventually regained his mental stabil - shoulder. In his last minutes, he didn’t suffer more social level where the people should come forward ity.He had lost everything at that point, but he de - than the few minutes of uneasiness. Maybe all the to internalize the values of liberty, equality and fra - cided to stay back in the hospital and help others goodwill he earned all his life did surmount to his ternity in order to realize the true sense of democ - who were suffering. In a few weeks my dad was peaceful last minutes. He was around the people racy and social justice. discharged from the hospital. My grandfather was (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 2 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020

M(oContuinuer frnom piange 1g) thaunets anldo cosusinss c aloled fto eax - sonul woas bsomleweher e sout otherue nel ar he loved. I would like to think that changeour lifelong stories reminisc - the pink glow in the sky. Peaceful. maybe because he was such a good ing him through tears. His memories Contended. Free. soul, he passed away in peace.That andtears both come in waves. He was cremated on 24th day, I felt havelostlosing a crucial part Since we are living ina pan - July 2020, my family has a week- of my childhood along with him. demic, I couldn’t attend his funeral in long“AntimArdaas” or the last prayer While growing up I used to person. I hate the fact that I couldn’t for him which ends on Friday 31st wonderthe pain he would have felt to pay my respect to the person who lit - July 2020. live without his kin. I always felt the erally raised me and helped me be - The thoughts that give me solace are urge to ask him if he missed them come the person I am. if there is an afterlife, he will reunite but knew this question would open I was growing restless at with his family. The long wait he en - some old wounds. Now that he has home, hence decided to gofor a walk dured with an ache in his heart will left us and I could feel the similar by the beach. It was a gloomy, finally come to an end. And if an af - ache in my heart, I could finally em - cloudy day as if God was commem - terlife doesn’t exist, I find some pathize and realize how he would orating his demise. There was a peace in knowing he passed away in have felt when he lost his own streak of pink hue in the sky where the arms of my parents. He loved family. the sun met the ocean. them as his own kids, and they took Sita Ram with his nephew My parents, siblings, uncles, I would like to believe that his care of him until his last breath. Amandeep Singh Benipal-

Sita Ram prepar - ing and cooking vegetables for his nephews and nieces. He was fond of preparing and cooking food for his nephews and nieces. No one in the family could compete with him in preparing deli - cious dishes. In his last day he also prepared the dishes. Sita Ram with his nephews Prem Parteek Benipal and Mukhdeep Singh Benipal and niece Mansimran Kaur Benipal Loss of Shri Karam Singh Bangar President Sri Guru Ravidass Temple Fresno CA. I was shocked and saddened to learn about the death of Shri Karam Singh Bangar President Sri Guru Ravidass Temple, Fresno California. I know I was close to him and imagine my grief must be overwhelm - ing. Mr. Bangar was thoughtful and generous, and devoted to his family & community. His best qualities were to go out of the way to help others. I wish you peace, and I’m here to support you during this difficult time to family and friends. God blessed departing soul and give strength to the family to bear this great loss. My sincere condolences. May you find comfort and the strength to cope. We are thankful to Prem K. Chumber, Chief Editor "Desh Doaba" for the great help to our community at difficult time.(Coronavirus). Best source of communication. Thanks. On behalf of American Seniors Citizens Group Sacramento CA Kewal Bolina Entity: IDCorp 4172538, A non-profit organization www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 3 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020 Ram Janambhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya–Let it be an Abode of Peace and Harmony The time has come full circle on Au - thoroughly in depth by the stakehold - mankind. Retaining the civilizational vide a gust 5. After a long standoff of five ers, religious Gurus, civic society, po - values, we must take these aspects sense of centuries and seven decades of legal litical parties and above all the in our stride and learn to live in har - security battle, Shilanyas (Foundation laying judiciary of the country. Forgetting all mony and peace. If this harmony and and belong - ceremony) and Bhoomi Pujan (Earth differences, in the larger interests of peace is achieved in our society and ing to the breaking ceremony) of Ram Janamb - the country, we all should accept the polity, one can tend to say that “Ram minorities. hoomi Mandir at Ayodhaya was per - ground reality. It will be much appre - Rajya” has been established. The The minori - formed by PM Narendra Modi on ciated if the Hindu majority shows message of the Ram Janam Bhoomi ties should August 5, 2020 at a carefully crafted magnanimity and try its very best to Mandir - let us say Ramalaya should desist from solemn ceremony. I have no mind and heal the hurt feelings of the Muslim be the meaningful poetic expression expecting intension to go to the troubled history minority in accordance with the cul - of Allama Iqbal: endless of the matter which was settled by tural ethos of the often proclaimed AA GHAIRIYAT KE PARDEY IK BAAR magnanim - the Supreme Court judgment of No - Ram Raj, constitutional and legal stip - PHIR UTHAA DEIN ity from the Ramesh Chander vember 9, 2019 clearing the way for ulations, secular values and multieth - BICHDON KO PHIR MILAA DEIN, majority. Ambassador - I.F.S. (Retired) the construction of Ram Janamb - nic edifice of the country. The NAQSH-E-DUI MITAA DEIN PM Naren - hoomi Mandir at the site of the de - majority Hindus must reconcile with Come, let's, once again, remove the dra Modi 91-99885-10940 molished Babri Masjid. The fact the history that Babar came, con - curtains of unacquaintedness; said that remains that, one may or may not quered, ruled and assimilated in the let's help the separated beings meet the construction of the Ram temple agree, the dispute between the pro - main stream of the society. Neither again [and] remove the motif of dual - was an instrument to unite the coun - ponents of Ram Janambhoomi and Hindus nor Muslims are to be blamed ity. try. It is a welcome statement. All of the stakeholders in the Babri Masjid, for what happened. We should cher - SOONI PADI HUI HAI MUDDAT SE us should take it at its face value. generated much to be avoided heat ish the fact that India remained and it DIL KI BASTI There is no other way, if we really and animosity and soiled the social shall remain. I am sorry to add that I AA, IK NAYAA SHIWAALAA IS DES want that India shall remain India. fabric of the so - The RSS, BJP and their field ciety. The scars organizations like Bajrang Dal, of this divide VHP among others must un - among the derstand that their dreams and Hindu majority aspirations have been fulfilled. and Muslim mi - They should desist from giving nority will re - undue importance to their main in the ‘creed’ over and above that of years to come, the nation. The same is also unfortunately. true of the Muslims and others It seems, Mus - who sometimes tend to ‘have lims might have the cake and eat it too’ to accepted the carry forward their agenda by fact of Ram playing a ‘victim card’, against Janambhoomi the mainstream of the society. at the site in I am reminded of a warning of Ayodhya but may not forget the dem - don’t agree with the former part of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, father olition of the Babri Masjid on Decem - PM Narendra Modi’s assertion in his of the Indian constitution, ber 6, 1992. Turning the wheel of speech at Ayodhaya on August 5 which he gave in a speech in history and disregarding the secular when he said, “Despite efforts to the Constituent Assembly on edifice of the country, the matter has eradicate Lord Ram's existence, he November 25, 1949. He, refer - been settled, to my mind, succumb - lives in our hearts and is the basis of ring to the fact as to how India ing to the dictates of ‘majoritarian’ our culture.” Who can erase Bhagwan lost its independence in the approach represented by the demo - Ram’s existence? I don’t understand. past, said “Will history repeat graphically majority Hindus and polit - Is there any confidence deficit in this itself? It is this thought which ically thumping majority of the regard? I believe in the poetic asser - fills me with anxiety. This anx - current BJP government of PM Naren - tion: iety is deepened by the realiza - dra Modi. It will remain a matter of re - Yūnān o-Mi ṣr o-R ūmā, sab mi ṭ ga'e tion of the fact that in addition gret that both the parties i.e. the jah āṉse to our old enemies in the form Hindus and the Muslims could not re - Ab tak magar hai b āqī, n ām o-nis ̱ẖan ̱ MEIN BANAA DEIN of castes and creeds we are going to solve the matter with understanding ham ārā The territory of heart is vacu - have many political parties with di - and accommodation. It would take Kuch b āt hai kih hast ī, mi ṭtī nah īṉ ous for a long time. verse and opposing political creeds. time to heal the wounded psyche of ham ārī Come, let's make a new Will Indian place the country the Muslim minority in the years to Ṣadiyon ̱rah ā hai dus ̱ẖman daur-i shrine in this land. above their creed or will they place come. Obviously, BJP has registered zam āṉham ārā DUNYAA KE TEERATHON SE OON - creed above country? this as a great success in fulfilling its In a world in which ancient Greece, CHAA HO APNAA TEERATH I do not know. But this much promises made in their electoral man - Egypt, and Rome have all vanished DAAMAAN-E-AASMAAN SE US KA is certain that if the parties place ifesto. But much remains to be done Our own attributes (name and sign) KALAS MILAA DEIN creed above country, our independ - in the larger interests of the compos - live on today. Our shrine should be taller than all the ence will be put in jeopardy a second ite culture of India. Hopefully, the There is something about our exis - shrines of the world! time and probably be lost forever. issue should be out of the way of har - tence for it doesn't get wiped We should make its spire touch the This eventuality we must all res - mony and brotherhood in our multi - Even though, for centuries, the time- edge of the sky. olutely guard against. We must be de - cultural and multiethnic society as cycle of the world has been our HAR SUBH UTHH KE GAAYEIN MAN - termined to defend our independence PM Narendra Modi asserted in his enemy. TAR WO MEETHEY MEETHEY with the last drop of our blood.” speech at Ayodhaya, “We have to join On the other hand, it is an un - SAAREY PUJAARIYON KO MAI PEET The Ram Janambhoomi stones for construction of the Ram deniable fact that history cannot be KI PILAA DEIN Mandir will be completed in a couple temple with mutual love, brother - erased. It is history that Aryans (Hin - We should sing, each morning, the years. It will usher us into “New India: hood,” he said, asserting that every - dus) came from Eurasia and made amiable hymns as proclaimed by RSS Chief Mohan one’s sentiments have to be taken India as their home by step-siding of [and] make all the worshippers drink Bhagwat in his speech at Ayodhaya. care of. “Social harmony was the Dravids and Nagas said to be the the wine of love! We should be back to business as core principle of Lord Ram’s gover - Moolniwasis of India. Hinduism su - SHAKTI BHI SHAANTI BHI BHAKTON usual to make India ready for the nance,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi perseded Buddhism. Some sites like KE GEET MEIN HAI challenges of the 21st century with said while referring to Ram Rajya, a temples, Budh Viharas and other im - DHARTI KE WAASIYON KI MUKTI the slogan – Sab Ka Saath – Sab Ka perceived welfare state. portant remnants of the Moolniwasis PREET MEIN HAI Vikas and Sab Ka Vishwas. I conclude I ventured to write on this and Buddhists must have been [Both] power and peace are implied in with a Shabad (Hymn) of Guru Ravi - sensitive subject not as an expert an - looted, demolished, occupied and the songs of the disciples. dassji which is as relevant today as it alyst’ or an historian but as a layman converted into the sites of the occu - The salvation of the people of the was yesterday: and a humble citizen of India. The pying forces. There is no dearth of world lies in love! Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara; issue has been debated and analyzed such examples in the history of The Hindu majority must pro - Jo Hum Sehri So Meet Hamara www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 4 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020 Babu Jagjivan Ram as Railways Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram was Railways welfare measures for Railway em - reservations Minister from 1956 to 1962 and ployees. The most noteworthy were made in his tenure he modernized the step was the introduction of a for depart - Indian Railways and his efforts Pension Scheme in 1957, similar mental pro - paved way for accelerated growth to one applicable to the Central motions of making the Indian Railways the Government employees. Staff employees fourth largest in the world and the training schools were opened and from Sched - largest in Asia. Major steps were the existing ones were expanded. uled Castes taken towards the goal of self-suf - This facilitated the Railway staff and Sched - ficiency. Modernization, better to equip themselves with neces - uled Tribes management practices, self-suffi - sary skills for more responsible and these NEERAJ PAUL ciency in indigenous production work, thereby improving their ca - were strictly +91-99683-69972 of railway requirements etc. re - reer prospects. imple - Email: [email protected] ceived special attention. New He examined ways and mented. At - lines were laid, single lines were means by which promotions could tention of the recruiting authorities doubled and electric traction took be faster. Measures were taken was constantly drawn to the neces - place. Action was initiated for which led to the building of new sity of filling all vacancies for the can - electrification of Railway on a big quarters for rail staff across the didates belonging to the reserved scale during his tenure. He set a country. New railway hospitals category. record by not allowing any in - and dispensaries were also The Railways were the key to crease in passenger fares for five opened. Primary schools were India’s economic development. The years. He introduced a number of opened for the children of rail shifting of Babu Jagjivan Ram to Rail - amenities for all classes of pas - workers. ways in 1956 was a tribute to his ef - sengers. It was during Babu Jagjivan fective handling of his earlier He also took innumerable Ram’s stint at the Railways that responsibilities with brilliant results. Railway For Little Ones Prime Minister Nehru's Birthday Celebrated As 'Children's Day' Prime Minister Nehru's sixty-ninth pool. The total cost of the project is birthday on November 14, 1958, was estimated at Rupees 1,700,000 celebrated throughout India as Chil - ($357,000). dren's Day. One of Mr. Nehru's en - The Children's Railway has gagements on that day was the been built around the twelve-acre site opening of the Children's Railway. He of Bal Bhavan, and is complete in also laid the foundation stone of the every respect. The circular track is permanent building of Bal Bhavan, a half a mile long, and there is a railway Government-sponsored institution for station named Khelgaon (Play Vil - children. The institution organizes lage). The train consists of a small en - recreation and constructive leisure gine and two open bogies, and can time activities for children of the age carry fifty children. It passes over a groups five to ten and ten to four - bridge and through a tunnel; there is teen. Its permanent building will be also an overbridge and level crossing ready in a year's time. It will house a and complete signals. The children children's museum, open air and cov - pay fifteen naye paise (about 3c) for ered theatre, reading-room, arts and a joy ride. crafts rooms, workshops, clinic, Source Courtesy: India News, Vol.3 creche, gymnasium and swimming No.22, 1958 RESURGENCE OF AD-DHARM IN DOABA VILLAGES Source Courtesy: The Times of elders. They said the celebrations tivists, writers and journalists who gumpura which was the basis of the India, February 8, 2004 had been reduced to ritualism, prab - urged the youth to bring about a Dalit movement. The dream was that The Guru Ravi Das birth an - hat pheris, bhog ceremonies and change and spread social awareness. of a casteless society, which was a niversary celebrations this week re - hymn singing to pay tributes to Guru Speaking at Shaheed Bhagat Singh marked change from the class con - flected a revival of the Ad-Dharm Ravi Das, Guru Kabir and Guru Lok Chetna Library at Kaddiana vil - flict theory which had not generated movement of the mid-1920s as Valmiki. Instead, the youth organised lage Paramjit Singh, social activist, much momentum in this country, youth took over the reins from the seminars and lectures by social ac - elaborated on the concept of Be - he said. Lodi City Council District 5 Campaign Updates Hi folks, $14k for the June 30th report and I wanted to give a quick up - have raised approx. $16k in the date on the state of my Lodi City month of July. With almost $30,000 Council District 5 campaign. raised, my campaign is in the The deadline to file paper - strongest position to get the mes - work to be a candidate was on Friday sage out to voters this November. and I was the first candidate to meet Lastly, the first campaign vol - the qualification threshold. I’ll be unteer activity is coming up tomor - competing against two others for this row- Tuesday, August 11th at seat in November. 5:30pm. We’ll be texting registered The first fundraising numbers in the voters and talking about issues of this election cycle have been re - that are important to them. If you’d ported and I managed to raise more like to volunteer please sign up here. than both of my opponents com - Best, bined. I reported slightly less than Mikey Hothi www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 5 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020 Dr. Ambedkar’s entry into the Constituent Assembly Source Courtesy: Dr. Babasaheb circulation under the title ‘States and set up by a resolution on 30th deprived of Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, Minorities, what are their rights and April 1947. his services. Volume 13 how to secure them in the Constitu - Dr. Ambedkar was member of As you PART I: From Dr. Ambedkar’s entry tion of free India’. the Union Constitution Committee. know, he into the Constituent Assembly to the The Constituent Assembly The report of the Committee was was elected presentation of the Draft of the Indian submitted to the President of from Bengal Constitution to the Constituent As - the Assembly by its Chairman and after the sembly Pandit Nehru on 4th July 1947. division of Following paras from Page No.24-26: The work done by Dr. Ambed - the Province The Cabinet Mission had rec - kar in various sub-committees he has ommended the setting up of an advi - of the Assembly was consid - ceased to be NEERAJ PAUL sory committee on Fundamental ered very useful and convinced a member of +91-99683-69972 Rights, Minorities etc. Accordingly, the Congress bosses beyond the Con - Email: [email protected] the assembly constituted the Advi - doubt that the legislation and stituent As - sory Committee under the Chairman - solidification of freedom would sembly. I am anxious that he should ship of Sardar Patel by a resolution on not be easy without the serv - attend the next session of the Con - 24th January 1947. The Committee ices of Dr. Ambedkar. Conse - stituent Assembly commencing from consisted of 50 members in which quent upon the partition of the 14th July and it is therefore nec - Dr. Ambedkar was one. To facilitate Bengal, Dr. Ambedkar ceased essary that he should be elected im - its work, the Advisory Committee ap - to be a member of the Con - mediately”. pointed the following four subcom - stituent Assembly. The Con - Accordingly, Dr. Ambedkar mittees. gress Party which had earlier was re-elected in July 1947 from 1. Fundamental Rights sub-c opposed tooth and nail his Bombay as a member of the Con - ommittee. entry into the Constituent As - stituent Assembly. Soon after, Prime 2. Minorities sub-committee. sembly came forward and Minister Nehru invited him to join the 3. North-East Frontier Tribal Areas sponsored his candidature. Cabinet he formed on 15th August sub-committee. In his letter dated 30th June 1947 on the eve of independence. Dr. 4. Excluded and partially excluded 1947, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Ambedkar accepted the invitation areas (other than those in also appointed three other commit - President of the Constituent Assem - and became India’s first Law Minister. Assam) sub-committee. tees, namely (1) the Union Power bly requested Mr. B. G. Kher, the then On 29th August the Assembly unan - Dr. Ambedkar was a member Committee, (2) the Union Constitu - Prime Minister of Bombay to elect Dr. imously elected him as Chairman of of the first two sub-committees and tion Committee and (3) the provi - Ambedkar immediately. He wrote, the Drafting Committee which was took keen interest in their delibera - sional Constitution Committee. Prime “Apart from any other consideration assigned the task of framing the Con - tions. He also submitted a memoran - Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was we have found Dr. Ambedkar’s work stitution. Dr. Ambedkar, who was a dum to the Fundamental Rights the Chairman of the first two commit - both in the Constituent Assembly and strong opponent of Congress had sub-committee in which he gave con - tees while the third one was under the various committees to which he now become their friend, philosopher crete shape to his ideas. This memo - the Chairmanship of Sardar Vallabh was appointed to be of such an order and guide in the Constitutional mat - randum was later published for wider Bhai Patel. These Committees were as to require that we should not be ters. - Ed Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia And Ad-Dharma Movement Ishwar Das Pawar, ships and punishments under the living there to supplement the strug - the people were eager to have a District & Sessions Judge (Retd.) edict of the Almighty for their past gle of freedom launched by the na - glimpse of their beloved leader and While recalling the signifi - sins. Out of sheer ignorance these tionalists here. benefactor. He did the pioneering cance of the role of the Ad-Dharma misguided and gullible people tacitly On reaching home Babu work to awaken the people. My own movement launched by Babu Mangu accepted their cursed fate foisted on Mangu Ram founded an organisation relations with him had been very Ram of Mugowal in the year 1926, them by the clever sort. For their under the name Ad-Dharma Mandal. close and cordial. From my college for espousing the cause of the Un - woeful sufferings they would beat Soon a band of enthusiastic and de - days I had been attending meetings touchables of the pre-partition Pun - their foreheads in utter helplessness voted workers gathered around him. of the Ad-Dharma Mandal and also jab, we must remind ourselves of the and say pathetically that it was due The message brought by Babu Mangu occasionally contributing small arti - circumstances prevailing in those to their inevitable fate and destiny. It Ram was new inspiring. It was aimed cles to the Adi-Danka. times. For, since then tremendous never occurred to them, and there at awakening the Un-touchable. The In the crucial days of the changes have taken place in the so - was none to tell them, that they were message called upon them to know Round Table Conference held in Lon - cial, political and administrative fields, being duped and cheated by the up - and realise themselves as they had don in the early thirties for the pur - and not many of the present times permost strata of society who were forgotten their true selves due to the pose of hammering out a new may have a precise idea of the har - interested in keeping them under their hostile influences in which they had political set up for our country, Babu rowing conditions and environments feet. They could not understand why been living for thousands of years. It Mangu Ram worked enthusiastically in which our people found them - others who were leading most sinful caught the imagination and hearts of shoulder with the greatest leader of selves. lives before their very eyes were en - the oppressed and down-trodden the underdog, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Till about the mid-twenties joying all comforts of life both good people and soon Babu Mangu Ram’s who was representing the Untouch - there was no social and political and bad. The good deeds of the igno - name became a household word. He ables of the County at the Confer - awakening among the untouchables. rant and unsophisticated people of succeeded remarkably well in creat - ence, to strengthen his hands in his People had been fed on the deceptive this life were of no consequence for ing awareness and awakening the historic struggle for securing political and demoralising Brahmanical philos - them in this life; they were being people. His path was beset with diffi - rights for his people on the basis of ophy that the Untouchables were stored and preserved for considera - culties and he had to work against their being a separate and distinct po - born as such not by any coincidence tion in the life to come. It was a very odds and trying circumstances. Finan - litical entity. Babu Mangu Ram will be but because of their accumulated bad cunning ruse played on the ignorant cial difficulties apart, he and his co- long remembers as the devoted pio - deeds committed in the past lives. As and deprived people. workers were chased everywhere and neer in the crusade against social and a consequence, they were disentitled There was none among the hounded out of bound out of bounds political injustice. He fought relent - to get education, to own and possess Untouchables to raise the banner of of towns and villages by the Hindus, lessly even in the face of crippling property, to take to professions and revolt against this aggression, oppres - and quite often they had to hold their heavy odds for the achievements of avocations of their own liking and sion, tyranny, deception and exploita - meeting and conferences in open the goal. Whatever rights we have choice, and to a place of equality, ho - tion of the poor and the ignorant fields. One such incident also took been able to snatch so far is entirely nour and dignity in society. This was committed behind the facade of reli - place at Una. A weekly “Adi-Danka” due to these great men. the divine dispensation. It was dinned gious philosophy. There, however, ap - in Punjabi was also started to carry There is needed to look back into their ears day in and day out that peared on the scene an inspired soul the message to every nook and cor - lest we should forget our benefac - this was not due either to their own in the person of Babu Mangu Ram of ner of the province. This was the be - tors-the brave soldiers who fought fault in this life or to the fault of soci - Mugowal, who came back from ginning of the struggle for getting our battles. ety that they were born in the lowest America after a decade’s sojourn back the human rights of which they Courtesy: Souvenir, 1985 Babu and wretched castes, and, therefore, there. There he was a member of the had been deprived of for centuries. Mangu Ram Mugowalia 99th Birth they were made to suffer untold hard - Ghadar Party formed by the Indians Wherever Babu Mangu Ram went, Anniversary, By Mr. C. L. Chumber www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 6 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020 HINDU CODE APPLIES TO SIKHS, JAINS, BUDDHISTS Source Courtesy: Dr. Babasaheb religious no - is this. In this Ambedkar Writings and Speeches, tions.” country, al - Vol.14 Part Two (Section IV) "In the same though reli - Dr. Ambedkar and way, when Ma - gions have havir founded changed, the the Hindu Code Bill his own religion law has re - Following passages: he did not cre - mained one. “The peculiarity about the Hindu reli - ate a new legal That is why gion, as I understand it, is this, that system for the the Sikh fol - it is the one religion which has got a Jains. He al - lows the legal framework integrally associated lowed the legal law." with it. Now, it is very necessary to system to con - "The bear this thing in mind, because if tinue and I think Jains come one has a proper understanding of Sardar Hukam and ask, " this, it would not be difficult to under - NEERAJ PAUL Singh will cor - What are you stand why Sikhs are brought under +91-99683-69972 rect me if I am going to do the Hindu religion, why Buddhists are Email: [email protected] wrong when I to us? Are brought under the Hindu religion and say that none you going to make us Hindus? " The why Jains are brought under the of the ten Sikhs say the same thing. The Bud - Hindu religion. When the Buddha dif - Gurus ever cre - dhists say the same thing. My an - fered from the Vedic Brahmins, his ated a law book swer to that is this: I cannot help it. difference was limited to matters of as such for the You have been following a single law creed. The Buddha did not propound Sikhs. The trou - system and it is too late now for any - a separate legal system for his own ble is—you may one to say that he shall reject this followers; he left the legal system as call it trouble; legal system wholesale and will have it was. It may be that the legal sys - you may call it nothing to do with it. tem that then prevailed was a good good fortune; That cannot be done. There - system; that it had no blemishes and you may call it fore, the application of the Hindu Law no faults. So, he did not direct his at - misfortune; I and the Hindu Code to Buddhists, tention to making any changes in the am not particu - Jains and Sikhs is a historical devel - legal system in consequence of the lar about opment to which you and I cannot changes that he introduced in certain words—the fact now give any answer." www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 7 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020 Dera Ballan Sect Head Writes to Modi, Seeks Separate Ravidassia Dalit Identity While some have praised the move, phasised that the followers of Guru subject to injustice. The Dera man - ing about others have accused that it is an at - Ravidass should write ‘Adi-Dharm’ as agement’s decision would make us religion, tempt to 'divide' Dalits in the state. their religion in the 2021 Census. A count in the country,” he said. which Jalandhar: A letter written by campaign on this issue by various However, when asked about shows their the head of the Dalit dominated Dera Dalit factions was picking up pace on the opposition from within the com - misplaced Sant Sarwan Dass Ji Sachkhand Bal - social media. munity, Virdi said that around 88,000 concerns,” lan sect in Jalandhar to Prime Minis - How ‘Ad-Dharm’ started Dalits had registered themselves as he said. ter Narendra Modi to include a The Ad-Dharm Mandal was Ravidassia within six months of the separate column of ‘Ravidassia’ in started by Mangu Ram Muggowalia, religion being announced in 2010. the 2021 Census for the Scheduled a Dalit person from Muggowal village “After 10 years, the total number of Castes (SC) community in Punjab has in Hoshiarpur district in 1926. Dalits, Dalits who adopted the Ravidassia re - led to social and political debate. who were then called ‘untouchables’, ligion is approximately 10 crores Sant Niranjan Dass wrote to declared the founders of Ad-Dharm across the world,” he claimed. Kusum Arora PM Modi: were Guru Ravidass, Valmiki, Namdev When questioned about alle - “All the followers of Guru and Sant Kabir. The term ‘Ad-Dharm’ gations that the Dera’s decision was Ravidass Ji are called Ravidassia, as means ‘Original Religion/Ancient Re - taken at the behest of the BJP-RSS, Bahujan Front Punjab in-charge they follow Ravidassia religion. In the ligion’ of the indigenous inhabitants, Sat Paul Virdi vehemently denied Sukhwinder Kotli also reiterated that last population Census 2011, lakhs of the ‘Adi-Dharmi’ of India. them. “This is not true. We are merely after Sant Ramanand’s killing, Dalits Ravidassia had to write Ravidassia in Talking to The Wire G.C. Koul, seeking justice and our rights. The re - realised that they were still not ac - the ‘Other’ column. Therefore, we whose PhD ality is that cepted in Sikhism. “We (Dalits) left humbly request your good-self to in - was on the we also the Hindu religion because of their or - clude a religion column and allocate ‘Philosophical wanted to be - thodox practices and untouchability unique code for Ravidassia religion in study of Guru come Sikh, and adopted Sikhism. The Dalits are the upcoming population census of Ravidass’, but did they devoted to Guru Granth Sahib but did 2021 and in all future population cen - said that Babu accept us? It the Sikh preachers ever make any ef - sus, so that the Ravidassia word may Mangu Ram is the Sikhs forts to bring us together and bridge also be written in the column of list approached who will be the social gap? The end losers will of SC as well as in the SC column of the govern - affected. not only be Dalits but Sikhs too. And Census Form.” (sic) ment to regis - They ignored the solution lies in the unity of Dalits In the letter, a copy of which ter us and are re - and Sikhs,” he said. is available with The Wire, the sect ‘Ad-Dharm’ as sponsible for Two-time Congress MP from head asks PM Modi to take the “rev - a separate re - this fallout,” Jalandhar and Dalit leader, Santokh olutionary step” to give Ravidassias ligion in the he added. Singh Chaudhary, dodged the query. their own identity. census on Oc - Dalit votes He said that it was Mangu Ram and The decision behind this tober 10, and politics his father Master Gurbanta Singh move dates back to May 2009, when 1929. The who got ‘Adi-Dharm’ included as a the deputy head of the Dera, Sant Ra - “At census 2011 religion in the 1931 census. manand, was killed in a gurdwara in that time, a reveals that “Ad-Dharmi, Ravidassia, Ram - Vienna, Austria by Sikh hardliners total of 31.94% of dasia castes were already included in who were opposed to the Dera’s 4,18,789 lakh Punjab’s pop - the schedule of the SCs. This move is practice of touching the feet of their Dalits regis - ulation is possible only if the Punjab govern - ‘guru’ in the presence of Guru Granth tered as Ad- comprised of ment recommends it, state and Cen - Sahib. His killing led to widespread vi - Dharmis. The SCs, the high - tre commissions verify it. Only then, olence in Punjab, especially then chief est among all it could be presented in parliament,” Jalandhar. minister states in the he added. As a result, a section of Dalits Sikander Hayat Khan pioneered the country. Notably, the Dera Ballan got Similarly, a prominent Dalit separated themselves from Sikhism move, which was followed in the a temple constructed at the birth - leader of SAD and two-time MLA and announced their religion as Ravi - 1941 census too,” said Koul, the for - place of Guru Ravidass at Seer Pawan Kumar Tinu said that at a time dassia and began following the reli - mer head of the department of Pun - Goverdhanpur in Varanasi, which is when the nation is tackling the gious scripture Amritbani on January jabi at the DAV College in Jalandhar. considered as the Mecca of Ad- COVID-19 pandemic, the need of the 30, 2010, the 633rd birth anniversary Koul also said that even the Dharmis and other religions, sects hour is to ensure health and educa - of Guru Ravidass at Seer Goverdhan - first president of India, Dr Rajendra and castes which follow the saint. tion and generate employment. “Reli - pur in Varanasi. By the 2011 census, Prasad, had mentioned about the in - The significance of the Dera gion is secondary,” he said. around 88,650 Dalits had registered dependent identity of ‘Ad-Dharm’ in Ballan among Dalits could be gauged However, another SAD leader, themselves as ‘Ravidassia’. his book India Divided. “At that time, from the fact that politicians of all requesting anonymity, said that this However, 10 years down the Dalits were settled in Jullundur fol - colours, from Congress leader Rahul move was clearly aimed at dividing lane, not only are the Dalits known as lowed by Multan and Lahore divisions Gandhi to Delhi chief minister Arvind the Dalits and pointed fingers at the ‘Ad-dharmis’ or ‘Ravidassia’ in com - of the undivided Punjab,” he added. Kejrwal, his Punjab counterpart BJP-RSS. “We know at whose behest mon parlance from Punjab’s Doaba He said that the Dera Ballan’s Amarinder Singh, and ex-CM Parkash this decision has been taken. It is an belt (Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, move represents its ‘vested interest’. Singh Badal, have visited this reli - open secret that a large number of Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts) “There are 37 sub-castes registered gious place during elections, hoping Dalits still follow Guru Granth Sahib, divided over the issue of following under the list of notified SCs in Pun - to swing the polls in their favour. which indicates the ground reality,” Guru Granth Sahib or Amritbani, even jab. Even if the government attempts While many politicians pre - he said. political parties are maintaining si - to include Ravidassia as a sub-caste, ferred not to speak on the issue, But refuting such queries, the lence. it requires 2/3rd majority to bring an Bahujan Samaj Party’s Punjab general BJP vice-president Rajesh Bagha said As some elders from Jandu amendment in the Scheduled Castes secretary Balwinder Kumar didn’t that the party has never been against Singha village in Jalandhar pointed & Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amend - mince words. He said that if one in - SC/ST reservation. “Rather we want out, their village has two Ravidass ment) Act, 1976. Saints are meant to terprets the sequence of events, it is a society free of casteism. Sanu gurdwaras now. “Some people unite society, not divide it. But the a move by the BJP-RSS to fragment Bhartiya banan di lod hai. Bhartiya wanted to replace Guru Granth Sahib Dera is weakening it,” Koul said. the Dalits for the purpose of ‘vote Sanskriti de nal ek hon di lod hai (We with Amritbani but we stopped them The Dera’s viewpoint bank politics’. need to become Indian. There is a from taking such a step. Later, they Dera Sachkhand Ballan He argued that when there is need to become one with the Indian constructed a new Ravidass gurd - spokesperson Sat Paul Virdi defended no unanimity on Amritbani among Culture). Such a movement is re - wara to place Amritbani as their the decision, saying there are already Dalits, how could the Dera decide quired. Since centuries, we remained holy book.” 6,000 SC communities across the about the entire community’s iden - the slaves of the Mughals and British - Interestingly, the Sri Guru country. “We are not changing our re - tity? “Moreover, a large number of ers. We need dialogue to realise Ravidass Sadhu Samperdaye Society ligion. All we want is a status, recog - Dalits who were working in the Gulf ‘Begampura’ as envisaged by Guru of Punjab, a body which controls 300 nition and identity for the followers of nations were forced to come back be - Ravidass. Casteism should come to Dalit Deras in the state, is strongly Guru Ravidass, which should be Ravi - cause of the COVID-19’s economic an end.” Guru Ravidas envisaged opposed to this move. dassia. People should understand that impact and consequent job losses. Begampura as a city which is ‘caste - In its mouthpiece Adi-Dharm ‘Ad-Dharmi’ is a caste and ‘Ravidas - They are staring at joblessness, but less, classless and does not have un Patrika dated July 23, the society em - sia’ is a religion. Dalits have been the Dera’s management is busy think - (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-12 8 Issue-22 www.deshdoaba.com August 12, 2020

Dera (CBoantilnluae nfro mS peagce t7 ) Head Writes to Modi, Seeks Separate Ravidassia Dalit Identity touchability’. Even renowned Dalit writer Des Raj Kali said that Ad-Dharmi, Ravidassia, Ramdasia, Balmiki, Mazhbi already exists under the list of notified SCs in the census. “When these castes already exist, what are you (Dera authorities) try - ing to achieve? Shaheed Bhagat Singh had writ - ten an article ‘Achut Da Sawaal’ (The Question of Untouchables) in Kirti newspaper’ in 1925/26, where he emphasised that Dalits should not get into the game of ethnic politics. If this topic is being discussed even in 2020, then we are going 100 years back,” he said. Another Dalit leader Darshan Lal Jethu - majara justified the decision, saying that Ravidas - sia was registered as a religion in 2010. “Why is this demand causing an issue now? Either the government should not have registered [the reli - gion] or accept the current demand,” he said. He added that the community is politically advanced and no division will occur. # Kusum Arora is an independent journalist. Source Courtesy: The Wire, 11th August 2020

Source Courtesy: S sis iwhso wou ld wifsh too challenrge it woSrld famoous authhor of thae Bhaktm i duism in more liberal colours by tak - A to Z for Diaspora Dalits but they do not wish to upset anyone movement has described Kabir as ing out the references to the oppres - Dated Saturday 7th February 2009 or create disturbance. Could not that atheist at times! sive aspects of Hinduism. They upper Soham, meaning 'Thou are matter be left at peace? On their parts Brahmins and caste Hindus were opposed very That' was adopted by the Ravidasia On the surface, it appears Mullahs did not stay still but did their strongly, including by the more liberal Adi Dharam movement of the early that this is purely nit picking. After best to persecute the anti-caste Hindus and the VHP and their allies 1920s in the Panjab to indicate their all, almost all Sikh Gurus, Dalit Gurus Gurus. For example Guru Namdev met with failure. They learnt their les - equality with other groups in the Pan - and others have used the word Hari was thrown in front of a drunk ele - sons well and applied these to the jab. Report of the Ad Dharam Mandal for God used by the Hindus to de - phant on the orders of the local ruler UK. By keeping low profile and work - 1926-1931 pages 11 1.d and 14 para scribe their but he sur - ing behind the scenes they suc - 15 respectively read: God. This word vived. ceeded in UK. They also played party "Our sacred word is Soham". Hari has been The politics with Dalits in the Panjab and "We are not Hindus. We strongly re - used widely in teaching of these politics were imported into the quest the government not to list as the anti-caste the anti-caste UK. Again by keeping a very low pro - such. Our faith is not Hindu but Ad scriptures. Gurus was file they succeeded again in getting Dharam. We are not part of Hinduism There highly subver - some misguided Dalit self styled and Hindus are not part of us". are a number of sive. By Hari 'leader' to register 'Hari' as a symbol [Source: Religion as Social Vi - problems with they did not for Ravidasis. sion by Mark Jurgensmeyer, Univer - this explana - mean Rama Dalits in the Diaspora need to sity of California Press 1982 pages tion. We may the hero of be aware of these historical issues in 299-301.] also point out Ramayana order to bring some rational discus - that the sacred and the de - sion to these controversies. In the 1970's and 1980's, the word book of the fender of the An explanation of the word Soham was very popular amongst the Sikhs also use caste system Soham: Soham is made up of two Ravidasis both within Indian and over - the word Allah but the ulti - words 'So' and 'ham' the meaning of seas. Even Dalits in the pay of upper to describe mate reality which is 'I am It'. At the time of Up - castes were describing Guru Ravidas God. The most of Godhead. nishads it had a meaning of 'Thou are as the first socialist in India and writ - frequently used In their story that' meaning that you are Brahaman ing essays on the meaning of the word for God in telling the or that you are part of the ultimate re - word Soham. Posters were produced spoken Panjabi is Rab and Rab is an young boy Parhlad worhipping Hari ality. It has been interpreted to mean with a burning torch logo with the let - Arabic word for God. But the Sikhs and for doing that, suffering from the the basic unity of man and the cos - ters making up the word put on the have not opted for these names for hands of his demon father Hir - mos but only if you were an upper edges of a circle. Everyone knew God originating with their ex nakshayap, was an allusion to the caste. Upnishads were secret doc - what the word Soham stood for (for prosecutors. suffering of the poor, the meek and trine which were only available to the the very young please refer to the end In medieval times both high the oppressed of the day. The Gurus two upper castes, the Brahmin priests of this article for an explanation of caste Muslims and the high caste had to make use of these mythologi - and the warriors and frequently it the word Soham). Hindus had formed an alliance to cal symbolism to preach their mes - were the warrior caste which taught The last 10-15 years have keep the plebs down. This alliance sage. Anti-caste Gurus were forced to this philosophy to the Brahmins. In seen a dramatic change. Word has it frequently manifested itself in the fat - use the names of Ram and Rahim in medieval times the great that a decision was taken (when, was of the Muslim Mullahs and the their scriptures to mean God. That Sankracharaya taught that everything where and by whom?) to register the complaints of the Hindu Brahmins to was the need of the day then. So was Brahman or ultimate reality but word Hari as the logo for the Ravidasi the higher ups that the anti-caste why use Hari as a symbol for the (wait for it), at philosophical level community. Quietly the word Hari Gurus were preaching against Islam, community now? Why have some ONLY. The different castes stayed dif - crept in without it being noticed. We or against God himself, in the case of people gone to all that trouble to op - ferent on the earthly plane. Guru Ravi - are told by some Ravdasias that this Hindu Brahmins. Guru Ravidas was pose Soham and bring in Hari? das turned this upside down by is what Ravidasi community should highly philosophical in his attack on Unless you are trying to give saying 'Tohi Mohi Mohi Tohi antar be following without questions. We the Hindu caste system. Kabir and the hymns of anti-caste Gurus a Brah - kaisa' meaning that there was no dif - are not told why the word Soham has Nanak observed no such niceties. minic character which was never in - ference between man and God and been quietly dropped or why its use They attacked caste and the Mullah tended in the first place. thereby between Man and Man. has been minimised. We are not told Brahmin alliance more directly. Nei - The clue lies in the USA why we should be using the ther Hindu nor Muslim but human where the upper castes in the VHP [This article was first originally pub - word Hari. was their battle cry. Kabir was so di - tried to have the school textbooks in lished on 7th February 2009 on the There are a number of Ravida - rect in his attacks that at least one California changed to portray Hin - web portal of Dalit.Org.UK]