In a keynote address delivered here on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Indian Ambassador, Dr Abid Hussain, drove home the point that social equality was basic to preservation of democracy. He said that what Dr Ambedkar had said 35 years ago seemed prophetic, seeing the mounting discontent today. India would be a better place to live in if it heeded Dr. Ambedkar’s message of equality. He saw Dr. Ambedkar as a remarkable social force whose dreams and philosophy symbolized courage, honor, freedom and quest for social justice. He was speaking at a conference arranged by the Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee in collaboration with the Southern Asian Institute of Columbia University, in Altschul auditorium, on April 14, 1991. The Committee headed by Prof A. Embree of Columbia University had as members a number of university professors, and office bearers of VISION
(Volunteers in Service of India’s Oppressed and Neglected, an organization set up in the USA 15 years ago). The Indian Ambassador was introduced to the audience by P.N. Arya, a former president of VISION.
The Ambassador from Sri Lanka at the UN, Dr. Stanley Kalpage, said a people, half-slave and half free, cannot live together. Ven. Punnai, chief monk from Toronto Mahavihara, Canada, said Dr Ambedkar was responsible for revival of Buddhism in India. Paying tributes to Dr Ambedkar were several others including Prof Ralph Bultjens of New School of Social Science and Research, Manju vajra from Buddhist Center at Poona, Prof Prakash Damshala of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Dr S. Gedam of New York. It was a day-long program beginning with seminar, discussions on human rights and Dr Ambedkar’s life and mission, at 8.30 in the morning, and ending with a cultural programme and dinner in the evening.
Segregation even inside jails: Yogesh Varhada, Program Coordinator, welcomed.
Dean Jack Greenberg of Columbia University, also the President of Asia Watch, referred to the conditions in the prisons of USA and India, and said how the Indian prison codes separated “high caste” prisoners from “low castes”. He spoke about the violation of human rights in Indian prisons, and commented on the sadism, brutality and custodial rape inflicted on the prisoners. He also drew attention to the question of civil rights as dealt with by Prof Mark Galanter in his latest book.
Prof. Mark Galanter, University of Wisconsin, said that Dr Ambedkar had compared the Untouchables in India with the descendants the former slaves in the US. Mandal Commission had identified caste for backwardness. According to Mandal, merit needed to be moderated. There were however problems of dealing with “backwards” and “forwards” in the same caste. He hoped the Indian government would solve the paradoxes of compensatory preferences.
Dean Mark Juergen Meyer, University of Hawaii, said that Dr Ambedkar stood for “humane dharma and fought the “traditional concept of dharma’. He embraced Buddhism to prevent the flaws of Hinduism from engulfing the Untouchables in modern India.
Prof Owen Lynch of New York University, moderator for the panel on Dr Ambedkar’s life and mission, spoke about the sensitivity of Dr Ambedkar as a student of Columbia to the problem of Blacks in the USA. His embrace of Buddhism was also an act of patriotism, because Budha was born in India. Although other nations had adopted his creed, he had hardly a large following in India.
Giving a very vivid account of Dr Ambedkar’s legacy ‘through a slide show, Prof Eleanor Zelliot of Carleton College, Minnesota, brought home to the audience J) how-Dr Ambedkar still lived the hearts and souls of millions whom he continued to inspire, particularly in Maharashtra, years after his death. She had made an extensive tour of India recently. Zelliot hastened to point out that the ‘role of the government in rehabilitating the Dalits should not be minimized. Zelliot I also said that though Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar differed vigorously in their approaches to the caste problem, the former appreciated Dr Ambedkar’s struggle. He – had even recommended that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appoint Dr Ambedkar as his Law Minister.
Dalits and Blacks: Dr Christopher Queen of Harvard University, who had just returned from a visit to Sanchi and Sarnath, spoke about his discussions with a British monk who was adviser to Dr Ambedkar in 1956. Dr Queen referred to Dr Ambedkar’s “international eye” and said that the civil rights leader saw a parallel between the Black struggle in America and that of the Dalits in India.
Initiating the discussions on the presentation made by the professors from the different universities in America, Dr Velu Annamalai from Houston, Texas, heading the newly formed International Dalit Support Group, dealt with the approach of Dr Ambedkar and Gandhi to the problem of untouchability. Gandhi’s belief in the caste system had been an obstacle to social progress, although it helped him to get support for his national movement for independence. He referred to the recent desecration of Gandhi samadhi in Delhi by Dr- Ambedkar’s followers. Prof Maya Chadda from William aterson College, New Jersey, also spoke.
A minority ruling India: P.P. Lakshman, a backward, caste leader from Kerala living in New York, gave the June 16-30, 1991 latest census figures from India and pointed out how a small minority of upper-castes ruled over the destines _of the vast majority of “low-castes”, with monopoly power in everything including the media. The desecration of Gandhi samadhi, he said, should be viewed as a demonstration out of frustration. Dr Raman Pichumani- of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. sympathized with the anguish of the ill-treated, but felt that it could have been demonstrated in other ways.
Madhukar Kamble from Knoxville, Tennessee, said that Dr Ambedkar’s burning thoughts were beyond suppression. His book, Riddles of Hinduism was published by the Government of Maharashtra after 30 * years, but it got banned due to upper castes Hindu Nazi pressure. This brought down the wrath of the Dalits who poured into the streets, and the government was forced to unban it. Kamble spoke about Dr Ambedkar’s scholarship, versatility and thoroughness in whatever he did. He gave the example of a building ~that Dr Ambedkar got constructed in Bombay on the “basis of a detailed plan he had made, though he was not an architect, not even a civil engineer. Summing up, Har Dayal, New Jersey, thanked the participants. Ved K. Chowdhary, President, VISION, explained aims and objects and said that VISION sought to bring together the Dalits in North America and galvanize them into helping Dalit causes in India. He gave a brief account of what it had been able to achieve so far. In an emotional speech, with the recital of a poem dedicated to Dr Ambedkar’s thoughts, he said the curse of caste which the Hindu religion was plagued with was infecting other religions too. Dr Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism -after close examination of all the religions. He had said that Hinduism, where even gods discriminated against Shudras, was not the religion for the Dalits. Chowdhary emphasized the role of conversion in the liberation of the Dalits. –
How Buddhism was destroyed: The cultural program began with a moving portrayal of the “Footprints he left behind”, a theatrical drama on untouchability through the ages and the role of Dr Ambedkar: in the emancipation of the Untouchables. It was written by Vijay Pathcare and produced by VISION in cooperation with Sangit Vidyalaya of New Jersey under the direction of Ramesh Shah. The historical background in this drama was played with great force and emotion by Ms. Joan Suvla, a Broadway theater artiste, and Rama Arya, a TV star. The rise of Buddhism and the decline of Hinduism, during four centuries from 600 BC to 184 BC, as depicted, left an indelible impression on the audience. The rise of Buddhism received a setback when in 184 B.C. the Mauryan King, Brandreth, was treacherously assassinated by his Brahmin military commander, Pushyamitra. After the assassination, Pushyamitra set out on a campaign, to wipe out Buddhism and to establish Brahminism. He Dalit Voice ordered the destruction of thousands of Budhist stupas erected throughout the country by Emperor Ashoka. The highlight of the dance programme that followed was Chanda Lika, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s dance-drama depicting the story of a young girl who is shunned during Holi festivities. She develops a complex which prevents her from giving water to a thirsty. Budhist priest. The priest tells her that all people are equal. This drama as well as other items in the programe were arranged by the Academy of Indian Dance, Montclair, New Jersey; and choreographed by Ms. Reeta Baidya Roy. The cultural show, focusing on castes and untouchability, and casteless Buddhism, was well conceived, and was lustily cheered by the audience. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Basant Chowdhary. The guests had an Indian buffet dinner on the sixth floor of the International Affairs Building. Standing in queue in the food line, one guest was heard quoting George Bernard Shaw: “There is no love sincerer than the love of food”, His friend retorted in the style of Oscar Wilde: “After a good dinner you can forgive anybody, even your relatives and caste Hindus”.
The entire program of the Dr Ambedkar centenary celebration from morning till evening was recorded on video, and VISION is also planning to bring out a commemoration volume on the event. VISION may be contacted at 359 Morningside Ave, Fairview, NJ 07022; USA, Phone (201) 945 3774.
