I got the sad news from Gail Omvedt through Dalit Voice that our respected Brother Vasant Moon died on April 1, 2002. I have no adequate words to express my feelings. What made me more sad is that we got the news almost after a month of his death. No Dalit magazine g or newspaper took notice of such a great loss. This is really unfortunate and proves that we are the unworthy children of our India. I never met Moon. But in the depth of my heart I had profound respect for him. He was the Upali of modern India. I feel proud to think that I am an Ambedkarite. I have known Babasaheb Ambedkar not through hearsay or from others’ mouths. I have known the real man by reading mouths his Writings & Speeches again and again. Herein lies the greatest contribution of Vasant Moon who compiled and edited all the 16 volumes of the Writings & Speeches of Babasaheb and made it available to us. This was a great job done by him. If the oppressed Bahujan Samaj wants emancipation, it is possible only through the reading of these books. Vasant Moon might have died unhonoured but definitely not unwept. I could not control my tears after reading the news of his death. felt I have lost someone whom I placed on a high pedestal. No great man wants comfort and luxury in his life. But definitely he wants love and recognition from his people. Moon’s life was dedicated for a cause and that cause was so noble that it cannot be valued in terms of money. He was a successful man. But we have failed in our
duty. We could not convey our love and respect to him in a proper way when he was alive. Moon’s death has taught us a great lesson. The mistake we have committed in his case should not be repeated again. We must learn how to show honour and respect to our deserving people during their lifetime itself. This we can do collectively as well as individually. Moon may not be physically present today among us. But his memory will last for ever through the Writings & Speeches of Babasaheb. Even posterity will not forget the contribution of Moon. It is a great loss to the entire Bahujan Samaj.
