Friday, April 15, 2011

[ZESTCaste] some more out of the box thinking amebdkar;s month

 


- as i was asked by some group to sign tobin tax on financial markets speculation to be used for social good, why cannot government tax profits on financial markets for unorganised workers, large majroity of whom are dalits, adviasis

- why cannot all religious instiutions be taxed or do we ask for land to redistrbuted to dalits, adviasis and landless? is the quota for dalits in temples, churches, et al being implemented and women amognst them

- all those who have agriculture grounds invested for capital appreciation have to give it back to govt for redistribution to dalits at government prices

- all land already converted by corporates has to be given back to dalits

- fix floor prices for rain fed crops and supply of same through pds

- all nhrc, ncw, nac planning commission, sc/st commission etc have to comprise of 50% dalits and adviasis (50% of poor)

- no choice in schooling and health - same school and health for all

- bring slum dwellers into main towns and same school and health

- combine mnregs with land reforms , let wages become so high that big farmers leave govt. to buy that land give to dalits/adviasis

- credit for dalits and adviasis without collateral- individual

- all traditional panchayats to have affirmative propotion of dalits and adviasis

- and of course separate electorate

- no special queue for rich and poor in religious institutions, or separate burial ground or prayer places. all religious endowments committees to have affirmative proportion of dalits and women amogsnt the decision making, preists etc

- reservation for women in parliament has to go hand in hand with 50% for daltis and adivasis

- revisit prayers of all faiths from discrimination point of view

suppressed voices of dalits and adivasis i have been hearing from tndwf and other groups . ranjani kamala murthy.

these pathways will hit my family's belly too. but why not if 50% of india;s poor are dalits and adviasis. we cannot talk aboutr corporate accountability without citizen accountability

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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati showers gifts on lawyers on Ambedkar's birth anniversary

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Mayawati-showers-gifts-on-lawyers-on-Ambedkars-birth-anniversary/articleshow/7986624.cms

Mayawati showers gifts on lawyers on Ambedkar's birth anniversary
TNN | Apr 15, 2011, 06.34am IST
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Mayawati on Thursday announced sops worth Rs
610 crore for lawyers and free legal aid to dalits and poor on the
occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Addressing people after paying tributes to dalit icon Ambedkar,
Mayawati said that her government has sanctioned Rs 610 crore for
benefit of the lawyers in the state, which includes Rs 500 crore for a
new building of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, Rs 60 crore
for the board of trustees for insurance of lawyers, pension to their
widows and computers in bar councils and an additional fund of Rs 50
crore for the library facility for judges and to meet their other
requirements. She said that funds will be utilised in consultation
with the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court.

Maya also announced that free legal facilities would be provided to
dalits, families coming under below poverty line (BPL card holders)
and beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Gareeb Arthik Madad Yojna
to contest cases, barring those in which the government is a party.
She said that the Opposition parties have only offered lip service to
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and dalits during their rule, whereas BSP
has not only constructed memorials, educational institutions and other
public utility services in the name of Babasaheb. It has also
implemented number of dalit and poor welfare schemes besides naming an
entire district after the dalit icon. She said that the criticism of
memorials by Opposition parties, particularly by the Congress shows
their casteist and anti-dalit mentality. She said that BSP is the only
party, which is following the path shown by Babasaheb.

Giving credit to her right hand man, Satish Chandra Mishra and for
pushing the case of lawyers, chief minister said that previous
governments had announced a host of schemes for lawyers but did not
made any budgetary allocation for implementation of the schemes.

She also said that Opposition parties have been misleading lawyers and
general public over the issue. Besides being brahmin face of the BSP,
Mishra is also party's national general secretary and member of Rajya
Sabha. A leading lawyer, Mishra handles all legal cases of Maya and
the party. She also gave credit to BSP MLC and advocate Gopal Narain
Mishra for raising the issues of lawyers.

Mayawati said the construction of a new building of the Lucknow bench
of Allahabad High Court has been pending for a long. "My government
decided to provide Rs 500 crore for it. While state government has
sanctioned its share amounting to 70% of the fund, the Centre has not
released its share so far," she said and added "additional funds will
also be provided if required."

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[ZESTCaste] 25 km from city, Dalits have nowhere to go

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/25-km-from-city-dalits-have-nowhere-to-go/776387/

25 km from city, Dalits have nowhere to go

Bhartesh Singh Thakur Posted online: Fri Apr 15 2011, 01:09 hrs
Batour(Panchkula) : Close on the heels of Mirchpur, a story of Dalit
repression is unfolding in Panchkula district's Batour village — about
25 to 30 km from Chandigarh.

For the Dalits living here, it seems like curfew has been clamped in
the area — the men have no jobs, women are called by casteist names,
their usual routes of going in and out of the village have been
changed, the children are staying indoors in the evening fearing
violence.

Their mistake: They had complained against the Rajputs to the deputy
commissioner and block development officer over income from shamlat
(common) land.

"What kind of life is this?" asked Puran Chand, a landless Dalit, who
was thrown out of work by Rajput landlords as as part of a collective
boycott following a clash that took place between the two groups on
March 17. "The landlords are not allowing us to step on their land.
They stop our women on the way and abuse them. They have even
threatened to outrage their modesty. They have not only taken away our
jobs but are also spreading the word in nearby villages not to give us
work," he added.

Another villager, Dharampal, said: "They are not allowing our animals
to drink water from the common pond."

"I had taken some land on rent from a landlord. But after the caste
violence, I was forced to vacate the land — my brinjal crop is still
standing there," said Sohan Lal, who also claims to be a panchayat
member.

"They call us by casteist names and the police do not take any action
against them. They have threatened to kill us if they spot us. My
husband does not take the main road now," said Nasib Kaur, wife of
Lakshman Dass — who was beaten by the members of the upper caste
during the clash.

A dispute over the earning of Rs 15 lakh from over 400 acre shamlat
land had led to a fight between the Rajputs and the Dalits on March
17. Allegedly armed with sticks, the upper caste members had attacked
the Dalits at a local CPM office. In the fight, Dalits like Suresh
Pal, Joginder, Satpal, Lakshman, Gyan Chand and Satpal has sustained
injuries, according to the police.

While the injured were taken to a hospital in Raipur Rani, Suresh Pal
and Satpal were referred to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula city as
their condition was serious. The same day, the police had registered a
case under Section 3 of the SC/ST Act and Section 148 (rioting), 149
(being a member of unlawful assembly), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt),
452 (trespassing) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC against
over 100 people.

"While some had locked themselves inside the CPM office, some fled the
village and thus were saved," said Lakshman Dass, who was found hiding
at the party office on Thursday, fearing violence due to the
organisation of "Kissano Ka Mahasammelan" — a meeting of landlords
from Panchkula and Ambala districts.

The meet was called to assert the their right over the shamlat land.
It was decided that the land did not belong to the panchayat and any
attempt to acquire it would be thwarted.

According to the Rajputs, the earning from the shamlat land belongs to
them. Asked about the violence and repression of Dalits, Rann Singh —
former sarpanch, who was named in the FIR, said: "We will not allow
them to enter into our fields. The shamlat land has always been with
us and only we have the right to harvest it."

"We want a patch up. But a local CPM leader is instigating them, which
has vitiated the atmosphere," said Rajinder Singh, another landlord.
When asked about it, CPM district president Mehar Chand Goyal said:
"How can there be a patch-up between attackers and victims?"

Meanwhile, the police are yet to make any arrests into the incident.
Panchkula SP Maneesh Chaudhry said: "The seniormost DSP in the
district is probing the case. We will increase security of the
Dalits."

As per Panchkula SDM Kulwant Kalsan, both parties had been invited to
solve the matter. A PCR van has been deployed for the security of the
villagers, claimed the police.

The Dalits have approached the National Commission of Scheduled Castes
and National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi to look into the
matter.


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[ZESTCaste] Cong Will Give Dalit PM to the Country One Day: Shastri

 

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?718838

Cong Will Give Dalit PM to the Country One Day: Shastri
New Delhi | Apr 14, 2011

The best tribute to B R Ambedkar would be to give the nation a dalit
Prime Minister and Congress "will do it some day", party leader Anil
Shastri said today.

"Today is Ambedkar Jayanti. Best tribute to him would be giving India
a dalit Prime Minister. Congress will do it some day in the future,"
Shastri, who is a Special Invitee to the Congress Working Committee,
tweeted.
Filed On: Apr 14, 2011 19:40 IST , Edited On: Apr 14, 2011 19:40 IST

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[ZESTCaste] On Ambedkar Jayanti, many drop surnames, castes

http://www.hindustantimes.com/On-Ambedkar-Jayanti-many-drop-surnames-castes/Article1-685391.aspx

On Ambedkar Jayanti, many drop surnames, castes
Vikas Pathak, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, April 15, 2011

The candles of Delhiites are out again: this time against caste. A
Delhi BJP spokesperson and a clutch of professionals and students got
together on Ambedkar Jayanti at 26, Alipur Road — the address where
Dalit icon Ambedkar spent his last years in Delhi — to "renounce"
their castes. Organ
ised by NGO Swaraj, volunteers with candles in hand read out an oath
renouncing caste and their surnames in front of a garlanded statue of
the Dalit icon.

Their claim: this gesture would help secure a casteless society in India.

However, the group — predominantly upper caste — was ideologically
disparate. The students were by and large against caste-based
reservation — considered non-negotiable by most Dalit and OBC groups —
and many supported Youth For Equality, an anti-reservation platform.
For them, dropping caste should also mean dropping caste quotas.

But Delhi BJP spokesperson and Swaraj president Sambit Patra, a
doctor, who announced he would be Sambit Swaraj from now, was quick to
add, "I am fully in support of reservation as it exists, as it is a
constitutional feature that had the full blessings of Dr Ambedkar."

But is it a BJP event, aimed at enlisting Dalit support for the party?

"No, I am doing this as part of our NGO Swaraj that works among
Dalits," Sambit Swaraj told HT. "But I am sure my party too
appreciates all attempts at empowerment of Dalits, which the
horizontal equality brought about by renouncing caste would eventually
create."

Among the students dropping their surname was Naushad Ali from Hindu
College, who became Naushad Gandhi. "I thought I should utilize this
opportunity to make the point that I do not want to be looked upon as
just a Muslim."


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[ZESTCaste] New millionaires hope to serve as role models for India’s lower castes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/new_millionaires_emerge_as_role_models_for_indias_lower_castes/2011/04/03/AFesUMfD_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

New millionaires hope to serve as role models for India's lower castes

By Rama Lakshmi, Thursday, April 14, 7:53 PM

MUMBAI — Ashok Khade heads a flourishing $32 million construction
business in India's commercial capital, Mumbai. He employs 4,500
people, is building a dockyard for his company, drives a gray BMW and
wants to buy a helicopter next year.


A first-generation entrepreneur, 56-year-old Khade's success is
remarkable because he is a member of India's Dalit caste, once known
as untouchables in Hinduism's rigid social hierarchy. As a young boy,
he lived the life of these "broken people," facing crippling poverty
and discrimination. He was not allowed to draw water from the village
well, could not enter the temple and was forced to attend school in
segregated classrooms.

But more than six decades of education programs and affirmative-action
policies, coupled with India's recent economic expansion, have begun
to break the occupational ceiling that the ancient caste system
imposed on Dalits. There is now a robust Dalit middle class of
doctors, engineers, lawyers, bureaucrats and politicians, and a
growing number of business owners such as Khade.

"In the world of business, success matters more than caste," Khade said.

Khade started working as a technician in a Mumbai shipping yard in
1979 and studied engineering in the evenings. He quit his job in 1992
and used the salary from his last two months to start Das Offshore
Engineering, designing and building unmanned offshore platforms for
oil companies.

With their newfound economic clout, Dalit millionaires such as Khade
are working to lower barriers and prejudice in their villages, funding
grants for Dalit students, building schools and roads, and employing
people of all castes in their businesses. They are also trying to
showcase their success, hoping they will become role models for young
Dalits and help them move beyond the dominant images of discrimination
and despair.

"This is a proud moment, and we want to celebrate the success
stories," said Milind Kamble, 44, chairman of the Dalit Indian Chamber
of Commerce and Industry. "For too long, we have shouted angry slogans
on the streets."

Getting in on the boom

Kamble started out as a teenage activist with the Dalit Panther group,
which was inspired by the Black Panther movement in the United States.
Today, encouraged by the rise of African American entrepreneurs, he
devours the American magazine Black Enterprise cover to cover.

His business group has 1,000 members, but that number is likely to
double when registration begins in 10 more states across India in
October. The chamber is also setting up a venture capital fund to
encourage new entrepreneurs.

Many see a growing class of Dalit business owners as an important next
step in the community's transformation.

"If Dalits don't see themselves in the list of the rich Indians, then
the signal is that India is booming but Dalits are not invited to the
party," said Devesh Kapur, director of the Center for the Advanced
Study of India at the University of Pennsylvania, which is conducting
a survey of successful Dalit entrepreneurs.

So far, the research has found that Dalits are well represented in the
manufacturing sector, producing cement pipes, copper tubes, automobile
components, solar heaters and frozen food, as well as ethanol, and
even high-rise buildings.

"We did not know so many Dalit capitalists existed," Kamble said. "We
are stumbling upon new millionaires everyday."

What money can't buy

Not everyone is hailing the attention focused on Dalit millionaires.
Some Dalits view the successful business owners as members of an elite
club who have jettisoned the long fight on the ground against violence
and discrimination.

"Maybe 10 percent of Dalits are doing well, but what about the rest
who are rotting in poverty in villages and city slums? Can they relate
to this campaign about wealthy Dalits?" said Anand Teltumbde, a Dalit
activist and author. "It is an illusion that they can be role models."

"We faced hardship, discrimination, insults," said Devanand Londhe,
37, owner of Payod Industries, which makes and exports industrial
cotton gloves to Japan. He recalls being turned away from an
upper-caste wedding feast in his village when he was 12.

But he studied in government-run schools and colleges, where tuition
was subsidized for Dalits. His parents toiled in farms and saved money
for his textbooks. He donned his first pair of shoes at 19. Later,
when Londhe became a civil engineer, the village sugar factory refused
him a job.

"That day I pledged that I will return to the village as a job giver,
not as a job seeker," Londhe recalled. He went to the city to work in
water management firms, and later to Afghanistan to work on U.S.
infrastructure projects. In 2007, he returned to the village with his
savings and set up a factory. It employs more than 200 villagers, from
all castes.

The emerging class of Dalit millionaires is embracing other symbols of
success as well: a dress code of black suits and red ties, E-class
Mercedes-Benzes and huge homes with terraced gardens in posh
upper-caste neighborhoods. Some are taking lessons in English diction
and table manners, too.

But even successful Dalits have learned that there are limits to what
money can buy.

Four years ago, Khade spent thousands of dollars to repair the old
village well and temple, and opened a new school.

"I have bought 100 acres of farmland. I built a palace in the Dalit
quarters of the village for my mother," Khade said. "But I still
cannot build a house in the heart of the village, where the upper
castes live. They won't sell that land to a Dalit. That will take
another revolution."

lakshmir@washpost.com


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[ZESTCaste] Taj city hosts biggest Dalit power show

 

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=232612

Taj city hosts biggest Dalit power show

Agra, April 14 (IANS) The biggest annual demonstration of Dalit
empowerment in Uttar Pradesh has begun with the three-day Ambedkar
Jayanti celebrations in Agra, the Dalit capital of north India.

The state's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is using the occasion to
leverage its image and consolidating its "loyal" vote banks, ahead of
next year's assembly elections.

Agra, with its more than 300,000 Jatav population, mostly engaged in
the traditional shoe making industry, has been in the focus of BSP's
political agenda.

The whole of Agra, about 200 km south of New Delhi, is lit up. Road
crossings display decorated arches and welcome gates. Loudspeakers
blare Chief Minister Mayawati's speeches and songs on Dalit icon B.R.
Ambedkar.

The venue is Bheem Nagri, a virtual township that has come up at the
Ram Lila ground overlooking the 17th century Agra Fort.

The model this year is inspired by emperor Ashoka's majestic palace in
Buddhist style, measuring 240 feet and 125 feet high and built by
trained craftsmen from West Bengal.

Organiser Bharat Singh said government agencies had identified 18
Dalit localities for development work in the Bheem Nagri area,
populated by some 100,000 people.

This year the state government has earmarked on a Rs.70 crore
development programme of Bheem Nagri area. These include road
building, community toilets, street lighting, community hall, and
sewer and water pipelines.

Munna Lal Bhartiya, spokesperson of Jatav Mahapanchayat, said 100
couples will be married during the celebrations.

"The bridegrooms will arrive at the venue in one long procession from
Idgah to the Ram Lila ground where they will be welcomed."

The mile long procession with "jhankis" on social issues will meander
through the main streets, returning to the main venue Friday morning.

District officials indicated that elaborate security arrangements had
been made for the procession. Movement of heavy traffic will be
restricted for three days.

Agra's Dalits or Jatavs have emerged as a formidable political force
in recent years, say political pundits.

"The community is now graduating to a higher level from ordinary
workers and artisans to entrepreneurs and many have become exporters,
owners of hospital chains and hotels. The empowerment is a reality
which is reflected in the overall economic growth of the Agra region
as a whole, presently acknowledged as the land of opportunities," said
Agra citizen Rajeev Saxena.

Added green activist Ravi Singh: "More Dalits today are entrepreneurs,
they are running businesses, hotels and hospitals, successfully
heading export houses."

Said eminent educationist Syed Jafri: "Due to government policies and
liberal loans, there has been effective empowerment of this segment of
the underprivileged. Now it is visible.

"In the newly constructed shoe market here, 80 percent of the shops
are owned by Dalits. We also see a steady improvement in the living
standards, with more Dalit children going to schools, learning
English."

Jafri, however, feels that Muslims have lagged behind as a community.

"Because of their total involvement in economic activities, we have
had fewer caste clashes in recent years," said Abhinay Prasad,
director of NGO Adhar, which is linked to Agra's shoemakers.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit Mitra award honours 57 individuals for social contribution

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Dalit-Mitra-award-honours-57-individuals-for-social-contribution/articleshow/7984802.cms

Dalit Mitra award honours 57 individuals for social contribution
TNN | Apr 15, 2011, 12.29am IST

NAGPUR: "Thanks to the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar,
India has been able to safeguard its democracy while most nations in
the neighborhood have failed on this front. Even a person in tattered
clothes goes to the polling station to exercise his power of franchise
making India a vibrant and strong democracy," said state social
justice minister Shivajirao Moghe while paying tributes to architect
of Constitution on his 120{+t}{+h} birth anniversary on Thursday.

At a grand ceremony organised on the occasion here, as many as 57
individuals and eight institutions from across the state were
conferred with the Dalit Mitra awards. The award, each carrying 15,000
cash, memento, certificate for individual and Rs 25000 in case of
institutions is given by the social justice department to honour those
contributing towards uplift of the oppressed and backward sections of
the society. Minister for food and civil supplies Anil Deshmukh,
minister of state for social justice Sachin Aher were guests of honour
while Moghe presided over.

"Ambedkar created history by facilitating conversion of lakhs of
people from oppressed classes to Buddhism. The beauty of his action
lies in the fact that not a drop of blood was spilled in this mass
switching over of faiths while it gave means to live with dignity in
the new faith," said Moghe. In his address Ahir hoped that those
receiving the awards would inspire others to work in the field of
social justice and bringing equality in society. Deshmukh reminded
that the state was always proactive when it came to protecting
interests of the backward classes and the disabled and poor sections.
For the nearly 150 welfare schemes that are monitored by the social
justice ministry, in this year's budget the outlay has been increased
to Rs 4234

In a maiden initiative, two city journalists were honoured with the
award. Joseph Rao of PTI and Moreshwar Badge of Lokmat Newspaper
Group, were among those who received the awards.

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[ZESTCaste] People remember Ambedkar's contributions to society

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/People-remember-Ambedkars-contributions-to-society/articleshow/7988291.cms

People remember Ambedkar's contributions to society
TNN | Apr 15, 2011, 12.51pm IST

KANPUR: The 120th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar was celebrated with
enthusiasm on Thursday.

Several programmes were organised to commemorate the father of the
Indian constitution. Banners and posters were put by various political
parties at prominent crossings to mark the occasion. The authorities
and the staff of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and
Technology organised a function. The teachers pledged to adopt the
teachings of Ambedkar.

Local unit of UP Mahila Congress committee, led by secretary Swati
Verma, garlanded Ambedkar's statue. They distributed sweets to the
children of Gadiana, Gopal Nagar and Macharia localities. Pannalal
Kashyap, secretary UP Congress Committee and other activists of the
party organised a function at Rail Bazaar crossing. They pledged to
remove the prevailing casteism in the country.

Ambedkar Young Mens Association, Gwaltoli organised the birth
anniversary as light festival. MLC KK Gautam said that Ambedkar had
dedicated his life for the welfare of dalits and minorities. UP
Pichara Dalit Sanyukt Mahasabha organised a function at E block in
Panki. It leader Pankaj Jaiswal said that Ambedkar had dedicated his
life to remove casteism and for the development of backward castes.

Bhartiya Dalit Panther held a function at Govind Nagar and said that
Ambedkar had taken pledge to remove casteism from the country. A rally
was also taken out by Bhartiya Dalit Panther. A procession was also
taken out which passed through Vivek tiraha, Gwaltoil and chai
Bangalia area. Valmiki Samaj Ambedkar Manch organised a function at
Latouche Road and asked the people to follow the footsteps of
Babasaheb.

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar's ideals remembered

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Ambedkars-ideals-remembered/articleshow/7987807.cms

Ambedkar's ideals remembered
TNN | Apr 15, 2011, 11.38am IST

ALLAHABAD: By reading books on great personalities one can attain the
highest level of intellect and knowledge and we should emulate the
ideals of humanity, equality, liberty and brotherhood laid down by Dr
Bhimaro Ambedkar, said divisional commissioner Mukesh Meshram. He was
speaking at a seminar on 'Contribution of Ambedkar in building Modern
India' organised on the 120th birth anniversary of Ambedkar here on
Thursday.

Ambedkar played a major role in creating public awareness among the
public by stirring up their economic, political and social
consciousness, Meshram said, adding that the leader was also
instrumental in ushering economic reforms.

Lauding the role of Ambedkar as the architect of Indian Constitution,
which strengthened the democratic structure of the country, Meshram
said it is our duty to bring every poor and deprived into the
mainstream of society.

Additional commissioner BB Singh also threw light on the life and work
of Ambedkar and his contribution towards the country.

Veer Senani Poorva Sainik Kalyan Samiti also organised a programme on
AMbedkar Jayanti where speakers recalled the contribution of Ambedkar
in building a strong and effective democracy.

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[ZESTCaste] Rallies, contests mark Ambedkar Jayanti

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Rallies-contests-mark-Ambedkar-Jayanti/articleshow/7988667.cms

Rallies, contests mark Ambedkar Jayanti
TNN | Apr 15, 2011, 01.51pm IST

HUBLI: The 120th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the architect of
the Indian Constitution and the champion of dalits, was celebrated in
a grand manner here on Thursday.

MP Pralhad Joshi, former ministers R V Deshpande and Basavaraj
Horartti, MLA Veerabhadrappa Halaharavi, mayor Poorna Patil, HDMC
commissioner K V Trilokchandra and others garlanded Ambedkar's statue
near General Post Office here amid colourful performances by various
folk troupes.

Samata Sena, a dalit organization, had organized health check-up camp
and cultural and sports competitions at Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya in
Heggeri area here. Hundreds of people, mostly from the weaker
sections, vied for honours at the competitions. Sena members also took
out a motorbike rally in the city.

Joshi flagged off a procession organized by HDMC at Indi Pump in which
scores of people belonging to various dalit organizations and women
self-help groups participated. Tableaux focusing the the life history,
achievements and objectives of Ambedkar were the highlights of the
procession.

In the celebrations at PC Jabin Science College, principal V B
Hiremath called upon the students to inculcate the ideologies of
Ambedkar, who achieved his goals in spite of all hurdles. During the
celebrations at the Hubli division of South Western Railway, division
railway manager Praveen Kumar Mishra spoke and gave away prizes to the
winners of an essay competition organized by the personnel branch for
railway staff and their children.

Hubli tahsildar S S Biradar garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar at his
office. Ambedkar Jayanti was also celebrated at Oxford College,
Syndicate Bank's regional office and elsewhere.

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