[Reader-list] First Ever Public Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations in Pakistan

[S.Shashidhar]

Dear Yogi,

You should have been in Pune for the birthday celebrations of Dr. B.R. Amedkar in Pune, it was a fun roit, there were people all around, huge posters and lots and lots of filmi music, the kind Ganpati also does not get.

The lasts years programs were very low key because the first Dalit lady Mayor of Pune, Ms. Tribhuvan arrived thrree hours late, there was a threat by the more loyal parties ( RPI, Dalit Panther, Dalit Cobra) to boycot the festival because the mayor was from the Congress, finally when she arrived there was a lot of anger in the air and to quell this she proposed chaning the name of an important municipal hospital " Sasson hospital - hospital donanted by an indian jew) to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar hospital.

This years program with a vow to renew efforts to rename the hospital and then there was a discussion on different ideologies and the need to convert to Buddhism. ( Are dalits in Pakistan also converting to Buddhism?) and finally bolloywood style all of the corporators came on to the stage and held their hands high.

All their lives Both of these great people ( Gautama & BhimRao) tried to do away with rituals and break down barriers, it would have come as a shock to them to note how they are being reverred and worshipped today, none of the leaders corrected any of the riotious behavious, there were drinks being distributed, saying all this was an offshot of years of subjugation.

Jai Bhim

Shashi

----- Original Message ----
From: Yogi Sikand <ysikand at gmail.com>
To: reader-list at sarai.net
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 5:36:43 AM
Subject: [Reader-list] First Ever Public Ambedkar Jayanti Celebrations in Pakistan


Dear Friend,

Salam / Jai Bheem,

For the first time in Pakistan's history, the 116th
Birthday of Baba Saheb Dr B. R. Ambedkar was
celebrated in three different cities of Pakistan and
attended by thousands of people.

1. The first function was held in Lahore on April 13
where Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool was the chief
guest. I (Surendar Valasai) also delivered an speech
there, while the Speakers from India inlcuding
Honourable V T Rajshekhar and Prof. Chaman Lal from
JNU, Shyam Bahadur Katuwal from Nepal , Prof Bhatti
from England, a Mr. Salman from the United Nations
office Islamabad . The programme was organised by Sir
Gangaram Heritage Foundation and its Director Dr.
Yousaf Bokhari played a pivotal role in the
arrangements.

2. The Second function was held in Karachi under the
aegis of Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistan and
South Asia Dalit Solidarity Network on April 15.
Former Dalit MP Dr. Khatumal Jeewan, Surendar Valasai
and former Dalit MPA Bheru Lal Balani highlighted on
the struggle and achievements of Baba Saheb.

3. The Third function was held at Hyderabad Press Club
organised by Pak Reformatory Institute of Dalit
Emancipation (PRIDE) Sindh pakistan, former Dalit MPA
Engr. Gianchand where former Chairman of Communist
Party of Pakistan Jam Saqi, BBC Corresondent Suhail
Sangi, Malji Rathore, Dr Sono Khangharani Chief
Executive Thar Deep Tharparkar and others spoke and
eulogised the services of Baba Saheb.

For your information.

Warm Regards and Jai bheem.

Malji Meghwal,
Dalit Human Rights Activist, Tharparkar, Sindh,
Pakistan [ ramjianimalji at yahoo.com]
+923332512461
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