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| << October22, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] Liquor policy news,cops casuality |
October22, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] Nagaland & Kerala minority watch >> |
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"Jai Birdi" <jpbirdi@hotmail.com> Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar -- Messiah of dalits gets his due Gurpreet Singh (Gurpreet Singh is a radio broadcaster in Surrey, BC Canada) The unveiling of the bust of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar- a messiah of the dalits (downtrodden) - at the Simon Fraser University Library on October 14 marked a new chapter in the Indo Canadian history. The installation of Ambedkar’s bust reflects the assertiveness of his compatriots, who have made British Columbia their home. The bust was unveiled by the Indian Consul General, Dr. George Joseph. While Ambedkar is highly revered by the ``low caste’’ Indians, the event attracted people from different castes, religions and races. Dr. Ambedkar was born in Mhow, India into Mahar community that was condemned by the Brahmins as untouchables. However, the challenges and social sanctions of the orthodox Hindu society could not stop Ambedkar from coming across the hurdles. With the help of a liberal Hindu King of Baroda, he got scholarship to complete his graduation and later went to the US for higher studies. Ambedkar was awarded PhD by the Columbia University. Afterwards, he studied at the London School of Economics. After returning to India, Ambedkar passionately fought against the social inequality and British imperialism. He became the first law minister in free India. The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed him as a head of the drafting committee of the Indian constitution. The constitution guarantees equal status to the people who were being treated like animals for ages. This brought a significant change into the lives of the downtrodden in the form of reservation in education, jobs and politics. However, Ambedkar has always been criticised by the Hindu nationalists and the elite who want the traditional status quo to be maintained. Despite strict laws in place against caste discrimination in India, untouchability is still practised in the country. This year, an ``untouchable” member of the legislative assembly in Madhya Pradesh province of the country was stopped from unfurling the national flag on the Independence Day. Shamefully, the elected representative belonged to the ruling party of the province and the bureaucrats watched this happening mutely. The incident reflects how low caste people continued to be harassed in one of the world’s largest democracy. Ambedkar who was himself subjected to such humiliations had vowed not to die as Hindu. To make a point against caste system in Hindu society, he embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956. He died the same year. That’s why the Ambekarites picked this date for the unveiling ceremony which was organised under the aegis of Surrey based Chetna Association of Canada. The association president, Jai Birdi says there are approximately 20,000 people from the low castes who live in the lower mainland. Among them is substantial number of individuals who escaped from the caste based oppression in India. However, Ambedkar’s mission remains unaccomplished. Mass religious conversions by untouchable Hindus continue in India. They are forced to embrace Christianity and Buddhism because of the high handedness of Hindu priesthood. The provinces ruled by the Hindu right wing parties are contemplating ban on religious conversions, while the Hindu extremists hound the untouchables and often force them back into their fold. Even here, the Indo Canadians have not denounced caste prejudices. Each caste group has its own cultural ghetto or a temple. Recently, a taxi driver from a low caste group was harassed by his colleague from a so called superior caste group. Despite these facts, the Indo Canadians are living in a state of denial. They are not willing to accept that caste discrimination is as vicious as racism. ENDS |
| << October22, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] Liquor policy news,cops casuality |
October22, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] Nagaland & Kerala minority watch >> |
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