Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's legacy strikes a chord in California
June 14, 2011 1:04 pm PT
Amrik Singh
Sacramento Peace and Freedom Party Examiner
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an icon of civil rights movement of Depressed
Classes (Untouchables) and Minorities, has drawn lately a special
attention in the United States. A product of Columbia University New
York 1913-16, Dr. Ambedkar is known for his scholarship on inequities
of Hindu caste system. He was a staunch critic of Hindu leader
Mohandas Karmchand Gandhi who according to him worked against lower
castes all his adult life.
In May 2011 California State Assembly adopted a Resolution in
recognition of Dr. Ambedkar's struggle for civil rights to lower
castes and minorities of India. California State Assembly Member Ms.
Mariko Yamada, a signatory to the resolution states, "Resolved, That
the California State Assembly--
(1) Celebrates along with all Californians of Indian descent the 120th
birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, which fell on April
14 of 2011; and
(2) Recognizes Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar as an exemplary figure in
the struggle for human rights and civil liberties for oppressed people
around the world."
In June 2011 Citrus Heights City Council signed a Proclamation to
commemorate Dr. Ambedkar's genius. Council Members Jayna
Karpinski-Costa and Steve Miller personally came to announce the
Proclamation on behalf of the City Council.
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the
Resolution: "Honoring the legacy of Dr. Bhim Ramji Ambedkar who
championed human rights for his people , the depressed classes and the
Indian sub-continent called the Dalits and so sought the annihilation
of caste." Mr. Phil Serna of District 1, Mr. Jimmie Yee of District
2, Ms. Susan Peters of District 3, Ms. Roerta Mac Glashan, Chair of
District 4, Mr. Don Nottoli, Vice Chair of District 5, were the
signatories to the resolution.
The official Resolutions of California State Assembly, Sacramento
County and the Proclamation of the City of Citrus Heights were
presented on the occasion of 120th Birthday ceremonies on June 11,
2011, Rusch Auditorium 7801 Citrus Heights California. Earlier in May
2011, similar program was organized by fans and followers of Dr.
Ambedkar's scholarship in Hayward California.
Er. Mohan Ram Paul who retired as Superintendent Engineer from Punjab
Electricity Board and who wrote a thought-provoking book on Dr.
Ambekar's mission and life was one of the organizers. He is the
International coordinator of Backward and Minority Communities
Employees Federation. Mr. Bhajan Singh Bhinder Coordinator of
Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI) jointly arranged to
highlight legendary life and legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and expressed
solidarity to work with others to restore the principle of liberty,
equality and fraternity for all oppressed classes. He said Americans
deserve to know about life and legacy of Dr. Ambedkar.
On both occasion, Col G B Singh a veteran of the US Army was
invited to give a keynote address, " Dr. Ambedkar: My Hero, Can We
Resurrect Him?" According to Col. Singh, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is the
sole and unrivaled intellectual giant that India has produced in the
20th Century. To date " our hero is the most educated among all the
Indians." Third he is great because of his activism for the rights of
Dalits. Col. G. B Singh raised questions about Blue Book or the
Indian Constitution. He appealed to Ambedkarites first to know his
hero's reaction to the final version of the Blue Book. Dr. Ambedkar
was very upset with the deletion of important safeguards provided for
depressed classes and minorities. In Rajya Sabha he had protested that
his name should not be dragged in being the architect of the final
version of the constitution. He made no reservation about saying that
he would be the first to burn it. "My friends tell me that I made the
Constitution. But I am quite prepared to say that I shall be the first
person to burn it out. I do not want it. It does not suit anybody."
Continue reading on Examiner.com Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's legacy strikes a
chord in California - Sacramento Peace and Freedom Party |
Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/peace-and-freedom-party-in-sacramento/dr-b-r-ambedkar#ixzz1PLYz6Qce
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