Vol: 04 Issue: 04 Quarterly Oct-Dec. 2016 MINO-VIEW Voice of Minorities & Oppressed people in South Asian Societies 9th International Seminar on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar p. 1 India ban on foreign funds shuts down Dalit charity p. 14 A review: US State Department Report on human rights in India p. 6 CEDAW review of Bangladesh p. 7 More than half of undertrials are Dalits, Muslims and tribals p. 4 Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation www.sgrhf.org.pk Editor Syed Shaheen Hassan Contents Editorial i 9th International Seminar on Dr. Ambedkar Pakistan 1 India: More than half of undertrials are Dalits Muslims and tribals India 4 US State Department Report on human rights in India International 6 CEDAW review of Bangladesh Bangladesh 7 Fire of Una Ignites Saffron Udupi By Anand Teltumbde India 8 The SR on Minority issues completed her visit to Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 11 British Indians divided over anti-caste law International 12 A photo exhibition Dalit A Quest for Dignity reflects Nepal 13 Nepali Dalits' history and life India ban on foreign funds shuts down Dalit charity India 14 Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation, Lahore 2-Court Street, Lower Mall, Lahore. Ph: +92 42 37115810 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sgrhf.org.pk MINO-VIEW Oct - Dec. 2016 i PAKISTAN 9th International Seminar on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar The 9th International Seminar on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar DR. ANAND TELTUMBDE on topic “Ambedkar Philosophy: Path to Social Justice Dr Anand thanked SGRHF in South Asia” was held on December 15th, 2016 at Al- for organizing the program Razi Hall, New Campus, University of the Punjab, on Dr BR Ambedkar and Lahore. Chief Guest of the program was siddiq-ul- inviting him on this Farooq Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board. Vice auspicious occasion. He chancellor Punjab University was also present at the praised Dr Ambedkar as a seminar. Director Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation remarkable and most educated person of the delivered the welcome address. Among the Indian subcontinent of his time. guest speakers Miss Manjula Pradeep, Social activist He said the philosophy of Ahmadabad, Dr. Anand Teltumbde dalit scholar from B a b a S a h i b i s l i k e Goa, Parmod Kumar professor of English at Indra Ambedkarism is in India Gandhi national Open University, New Delhi, delivered what the people call and there are lots of Ambedkarites the paper. All Indian guests were of the view that the who are formed by the philosophy of Ambedkar. The popularity and significance of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in all philosophy of Ambedkar can be put into a single word over India is increasing day by day. From Pakistan Dr Democracy. For him Democracy was not a system of Mujahid Mansoori and Muhammad Munir Shirwani government but it is well being of an ideal society. An Radio Pakistan also delivered the paper in the ideal society is based on three things liberty, equality seminar. Finally V.C Punjab University Dr. Mujahid and fraternity. The meanings of these three words, Kamran and Chief Guest Siddique-ul-Farooq means to be understood. Liberty is the freedom of addressed the seminar. In the end souvenirs were every individual of the society and not the freedom of distributed among the participants by the chief guest. the exploiter to exploit others, freedom of the capitalist The hall with capacity of 200 people was fully and freedom of the landlord to exploit. It emphasizes occupied by the audience, Deans, professors, media equality. Democracy is the government for, by and of the people. But his definition of Democracy actually is persons, minority representatives and students were far beyond the sensible government. It was not among the audience. 1 MINO-VIEW Oct. - Dec. 2016 government but something like associated living in the Seminar and SGRHF standee behind him on which this world; actually it is communication with the fellow Ambedkar slogan of equality, liberty and fraternity beings so we exercise fraternity. It is a wake of life near was mentioned. He said we have to understand these Ambedkar. Ambedkar again emphasized Democracy words and how to acquire them. When you study as a system of transformation and achieving a human equality then you realize what equality is. Equality progress. Ambedkar define democracy as a form and should reflect in each and every aspect of life. How can method of government whereby revolutionary we claim democracy when there is a big inequality? changes in the economic and social life of people are Talking about social justice, he said education is the brought without bloodshed. For success of Democracy the first and foremost element is equality. Dr Ambedkar was of the opinion that political democracy must change to form a social democracy in order to develop state socialism. Ambedkar is associated with the constitution of India. He believed that Democracy is essential in imparting social justice. The coexistence of three democracies i.e. political, social and economic is imperative to achieve the goals of equality and fraternity as enshrined in the constitution of India. He criticized the parliamentary democracy which is running today because it has altered the principle of liberty and equality for highlighting liberty. Ambedkar attribute extensive meaning to democracy. Ambedkar first step towards social justice. Education is the only proposed plan of state socialism according to which all instrument that can transform situation and bring the basic entities to be nationalized. Cultivable land be change. When speaking of social justice we take nationalized and owned by state and passed to example of schools. Statistics in India shows, one communities and the land taken from land holders or teacher school, no toilets in schools and some are property taken from capitalist would be compensated. without roof. The schools are there for namesake. If we He said India is India because of Baba Sahib's improve the level of education at primary level we are constitution. doing great service to Ambedkar. If we look at South Asia we can be proud of this area because it has largest PARMOD KUMAR youth potential population. There is a scope of Mr Parmod Kumar said I transformation here. Statistics show 33 million of have brought love, peace and harmony from my When speaking of social justice we take country India for you. It example of schools. Statistics in India was time that nobody knew A m b e d k a r, b u t n o w shows, one teacher school, no toilets in everyone knows him. You schools and some are without roof. The a r e w i t n e s s i n g t h e schools are there for namesake. powerful discourse that they are teaching him in primary and secondary out of school students in South different ways in programs Asia in 2016.The dropout rate are even more and around the world. It is the need of the time to follow worse. Provision of basic education is in disorder and Ambedkar. People in the world think that caste system need remedy. Revolutionary pattern has to be adopted is an organized system where there is division of in our day to day approach and not to talk about in labour. But Ambedkar says it is division of labourer. He programs. The reform of educational system in schools was clear of his understandings. Ambedkar was a should be the top priority, only then we can do justice global and revolutionary person and should be to Ambedkar criteria of social justice. At the time of adopted and acquired in our day to day life that is entry of the student in school system, we have to work important. He has clarity of how the world operates. on the retention of students and after they go out of He had a great understanding of this world. The way school and college there have to be replacement Ambedkar challenged discourses in his life time are related provisions for our students. We should have before us. He pointed out at the back stage banner of enhancement of community participation which MINO-VIEW Oct - Dec. 2016 2 include education development strategy, reform and his/her ears. We have come a long way from being schooling as it is a must. This is the only way to do humiliated, disregarded, oppressed, and denied of our justice to Ambedkar great ideas of social justice. rights as human beings. At one time we were in the Development of Institutions, educational strategy and category of untouchables, unseeables and scheme of poverty reduction, dissemination of new unapproachable. Although majority of us have moved formation of communication technology, production out of the category of unseeables and unapproachable, and use of indigenous softwares, Ambedkar has to be but we still face untouchability and discrimination in remembered not because he could see problems, varied forms. articulate problems, not because he could visualize the kind of plan and strategy to challenge but he was seen Education is a tool for empowerment and that's what achieving that also. He has passed 3 to 4 mantra to us to Ambedkar believed in. She said that the vulnerability, educate, agitate, and understand. So I understand that that a Dalit woman faces due to her identity based on we can look at him and follow him. caste and gender is unimaginable. She goes through all forms of caste and gender discrimination and many MANJULA PRADEEP times faces caste and gender violence. Due to her Manjula Pradeep said that gender, she is forced into inhumane caste based the most famous quote of Dr.