Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: chumbermedia@yahoo.com Editors: Takshila & Kabir Chumber

VOL - 7 ISSUE - 24 August 5, 2015 www.ambedkartimes.com www.ambedkartimes.org

Weekly

Ambedkar remembered at the London School of Economics and the House of LordsTo mark the 124th birth anniversaryof Dr B R Ambedkar, two events tookplace on 17 June 15: one at the Lon-don School of Economics (LSE) andanother at the House of Lords (HoL).Both events were organised by theFederation of Ambedkarite and Bud-dhist Organisations UK (FABO UK) incooperation with the Inequality andPoverty Research Programme, Depart-ment of Anthropology, LSE and LordHarries of Pentregarth, Chair of theAll-Party Parliamentary Group for Dal-its. A large number of academicians,members of Parliament, the follow-ers/admirers of Dr Ambedkar and rep-resentatives of various organizationsfrom all over the United Kingdom andIndia came to participate. The aim ofthese events was to raise awarenessof Dr Ambedkar and his contributionto equality and justice in India and hisimpact on those around the worldwith an interest in human rights, thetheory and practice of equality issuesand civil rights movements.

London School of Economics:The seminar at LSE was chaired andhosted by Dr Alpa Shah, Reader inAnthropology at the London Schoolof Economics. The guest speaker wasDr Ramnarayan S Rawat, Smuts Fel-low in Commonwealth Studies at theUniversity of Cambridge and Associ-ate Professor of History at the Univer-sity of Delaware.

In her welcome address, Alpathanked FABO UK especially its Pres-ident, Ms Santosh Dass MBE for tak-ing the initiative to arrange thismeeting to honour Dr Ambedkar andhis legacy of equality and social jus-tice and was delighted to have sec-ond annual meeting in a row at LSE.

In his keynote speech, DrRawat spoke on ‘the political successof Dalit movement in North India’. Heprovided a historical perspective onthe unique strength of Dalit politicalstruggle in the twentieth century. Thetalk elucidated the critical role playedby the Chamars (a dominant Dalitcaste) for the empowerment of Dalits.He specifically highlighted the signif-icance of Adi Hindu Sabha under thedynamic leadership of Swami Ac-chutanand who mobilised theChamars of Western Uttar Prades(UP). Because of this consciousnessamongst Dalits in UP, Dr Ambedkar’sScheduled Caste Federation and lateron Republican Party of India wereable to have electoral success in thepolls. As a result the Bahujan SamajParty was able to capture power inUP as a consequence of past strug-gle. He also demolished the myth thatChamars were doing only leatherwork and proved with evidence thatin UP, most of them had small landholdings and were paying taxes.Commenting on Rawat’s study, DrJens Lerche, Reader in Agrarian andLabour Studies at School of Oriental

and African Studies while appreciatedhis historical research on the develop-ment of Dalit movement for equal jus-tice, he said that the relationshipbetween the Dalit land holders andothers need yet to be explored.

House of Lords: On the sameevening, another seminar took placeat the House of Lords, British Parlia-ment under the chairmanship of LordHarries Pentregarth, Chairman, AllParliamentary Group for Dalits. LordHarries welcomed all the attendeeswho travelled from all over UK andIndia to attend Ambedkar relatedevents in London. He said he waspleased to see so many people andrepresentatives from different organi-

sations having an interest in DrAmbedkar, Dalit issues and Caste-based discrimination law in the UK. .He was disappointed that in spite ofinvitations, no Minister from Govern-ment’s Equality Office made availableto attend.

Ms Santosh Dass MBE, Presi-dent of FABO UK said, in her short in-troduction on the life and works of DrAmbedkar said, “During his lifetime Dr Ambedkar wasan Indian barrister, professor, econo-mist, politician and social reformerwho inspired the Modern BuddhistMovement and campaigned againstsocial discrimination against so-calledUntouchables (now referred to as Dal-its) women and labour.

Dr Ambedkar was Independ-ent India's first law minister and theprincipal architect of the Constitutionof India adopted in 1951. Article 46of this Constitution directs that theState “should promote with specialcare the educational and economic in-terests of the weaker sections of thepeople and protect them from socialinjustice” He wanted to help improvethe socio-economic welfare of the so-called Untouchables.

We know that Dr Ambedkar’slife and work has inspired and helpeduntold millions of people around theworld. But alongside this, over 60years since Dr Ambedkar’s Constitu-tion, we hear of atrocities against so

called low Caste men and women inIndia and beyond. Here in the UK, weare against those who want to blockimplementation of Caste-based dis-crimination law agreed by Parliamentin 2013”.

She also announced that thehouse in London in which Dr Ambed-kar had stayed from 1920-22 is onthe verge of being bought by the Gov-ernment of Maharashtra. This followsa proposal from FABO UK last Sep-tember.

Dr Radha D’Souza, Universityof Westminster, School of Law, fac-ulty Member spoke on ‘AffirmativeAction and the Indian constitution’.She explained that Dr Ambedkar

started his campaign for Dalit repre-sentation in government soon afterhe finished his studies. He attendedmany conferences, appeared beforemany commissions and gave peti-tions to provide the rightful represen-tation to Dalits. Eventually DrAmbedkar was able to achieve his ob-jective of ‘Separate Electorate’through Communal Award by whichthe Untouchables were to chose theirown representatives. Though Mus-lims and Sikhs were given separateelectorate, but Gandhi bitterly op-posed Dalit separate representationand went on fast unto death againstDr Ambedkar. All country turnedagainst Dr Ambedkar and he had toabandon his demand. An agreementcalled Poona Pact was signed in 1932by which modern reservation policywas incorporated. At that time it wasa very radical step of positive action.Later on this policy of affirmative ac-tion was included in the Governmentof India Act 1935. As a Chairman ofthe Drafting committee of the IndianConstitution, he made sure that theaffirmative action is included in theIndian constitution. She said, “Withthe privatization and globalization thegovernment jobs are disappearing andthere is no affirmative action in theprivate sector, it has become very dif-ficult for Dalits to get into govern-ment jobs”. She also pointed out thatDr Ambedkar wanted right to educa-

tion as a fundamental right but be-cause of lack of support he was un-able to put in the constitution.

Dr Alpa Shah pointed out thatpoverty in India appeared to be de-creasing but discrimination was stillgoing on. More and more cases ofatrocities on Dalits are visible. Dr JensLerche told that the green revolutionin India benefited the small landlords.But these benefits didn’t reach to thelabour class.

Lord Avebury who could notattend the event due to illness askedhis paper entitled `Ambedkar’ to beread out during the meeting. In hispaper, Lord Avebury set out histhoughts on Ambedkar. “I suppose Ihad as good an idea as most nativeEnglish do of the nature of caste andhow deeply embedded it is in the cul-tures and subliminal thoughtprocesses of people in south Asia be-fore I read The Annihilation of Caste”He went to add “How is it possiblethat humans, naturally filled with lov-ing-kindness or metta as it is called inBuddhism, should conceive a murder-ous hatred and contempt towardsthose who are slightly different? Thedivision of people into separate cate-gories which are readily identifiable,and which are assumed to be capableof passing on the characteristicswhich assign them to each of thosecategories, is the root of the mis-chief”

On Ambedkar’s conversion toBuddhism Lord Avebury writes “Iimagine that Ambedkar was also in-fluenced by his home state of Maha-rashtra’s rich legacy of Buddhistsites. It made sense to refer back toa past where there was a set of be-liefs that specifically included denialof Untouchability and the caste sys-tem.”

Lord Avebury also highlightedthe importance of purchase of 10King Henry’s Road by the Govern-ment of Maharashtra “ Now the gov-ernment of Maharashtra has agreedto buy the house in Chalk Farm whereAmbedkar lived in the early twentieswhen he was a student at the LSE.The London-based Federation ofAmbedkarites and Buddhist Organisa-tion (FABO UK), which had triggeredthe whole process by writing to theIndian government to purchase theproperty as a historically relevantmonument, feels it will become a"focal point to spread Dr Ambedkar'smessage about equality, human rightsand social justice". “These messagesare desperately needed in the worldtoday, and personally I’m convincedby the evidence that the more equalsocieties are, the happier and less vul-nerable to social ills they become.”

At the end of both events,the audience had opportunity to inter-act with the speakers and ask ques-tions.

Report & picture: Arun Kumar Bedford

www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 2V0l-7 Issue - 24 August, 5 2015

Sacramento (Ambedkar Times Bu-reau)- On August 2, 2015 the Ram Fam-ily and the Indus Valley AmericanChamber of Commerce (IVACC) cele-brated the 7th annual picnic honoring thelife of Late Commissioner Lahori Ram.People came from all over the State tocelebrate the occasion. Raj Brar, voice ofUstad Yamla Jatt, performed musical trib-ute honoring Mr.Ram. Volleyball andwrestling tournaments were also held aswell as other activities for people of allages. Farmers Insurance, SMUD, and ElkGrove Karate were also sponsors of thepicnic. US Congressman Ami Bera at-tended the picnic and honored Commis-sioner Ram's legacy.

He said that Indians need to getinvolved in the political process. Hepraised Lahori Ram's efforts of encourag-ing Indo Americans to become active inthe US.

Bobby Singh Allen, President ofElk Grove School Board, also spoke on the

importanceof Indians inpolitics andMr. Ram'sc o n s t a n tpush for ourvoice to beheard. Rep-resentativesfrom Califor-nia StateS e n a t o rR i c h a r dPan's officeand Califor-nia Assem-blyman Jim Cooper's office were presentand presented the Ram Family with Cer-tificates of Recognition. Ajaipaul Ramread a an accommodation sent by USCongressman Mike Honda praising IVACCand the life of Mr. Lahori Ram. Lodi Coun-cilmember and former California State As-semblymember Allen Nakanishi spoke

about theimportanceof Mr. LahoriRams effortsto bring allminorities inthe politicala r e n a .Mayor ofL a t h r o pSunny Dhali-wal toldabout hislong stand-ing relation-ship with the

Ram family and how Mr. Lahori Ram men-tored him. Former Yuba City Coun-cilmember Tej Mann spoke about the Ramfamily's dedication and service to thecommunity. Other speakers includedDave Tamayo (SMUD), Iqbal Rhandawa,Professor Muktiar Singh (Seniors of WestSacramento), Linda Ng (Chinese Associa-

tion), Surinder Bindra (Gadri Baba Memo-rial), and Mr. Onkar Bindra among others.

Members of the media such asPrem Kumar Chumber (Ambedkar Timesand Desh Doaba), Gurjatinder S. Rhan-dawa (Punjab Mail) and Narinderpal S.Hundal (Indo-American Times) alsoshared their experiences with Mr. LahoriRam and praised the family for their continued community work.

Sukh Chan Singh (founder ofIVACC) and Pavitar Nahal presented Mrs.Prito Ram and the Ram Family with a voteof thanks award. Jagdev Ram andAjaipaul Ram thanked all the speakers fortheir kind words.

They also thanked everyone inattendance and IVACC for its continuedsupport in organizing the annual picnic inmemory of Late Commissioner LahoriRam.

They invited all members of thecommunity to attend next year to con-tinue to make this annual event a success.

The Ram Family and IVACC celebrated the 7th annual picnic honoring the life of Late Commissioner Lahori Ram

All pictures by Prem Kumar Chumber (Ambedkar Times)

5 www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 3V0l-7 Issue - 24 August, 5 2015

The Ram Family and IVACC celebrated the 7th annual picnic honoring the life of Late Commissioner Lahori Ram

All pictures by Prem Kumar Chumber (Ambedkar Times)

www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 4V0l-7 Issue - 24 August, 5 2015

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