DR. AMBEDKAR 120TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY

Kamal Kumar

A few miles north of the Consulate General of India lies Colombia university where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar studied in the early 1900’s. On this rainy Saturday night of April, about a hundred people joined together to cherish the work that Ambedkar had left behind. The group consisted of professors, writers, religious leaders, and anyone inspired by Ambedkar. Surreal paintings of village folk making roti/chappati lined the walls of the consulate building and an inaccurate painting of Mahatma Gandhi. In one corner a reporter of Sahara One and his camera-man and in another a local television program setting up.
While the patrons wait for the speeches to begin waiters bring out a few Indian appetizers consisting or a tandoor chicken, aloo tikki, and vegetable samosas. The event even had a bartender, whose sole purpose was to pour wine and just stand there and look well groomed. Promptly at 6:17 p.m. the event began with an opening statement from Milid Tampkay. “Not a very spring like day,” he said. Quickly after Tampkay gave his regards to Ambedkar and the attached a garland necklace onto a photo of him. Tampkay was nervous, he stuttered constantly and repeated “his excellency,” very often.
After the garland ceremony many prestigious professors from universities on the East Coast spoke about the history of Ambedkar and to promote their book. But the last person to speak was the most important of all. Deputy Consul General A.M. Gondane. He spoke with great appreciation and respect for Ambedkar. “He was a freedom fighter, philosopher, historian, Buddhist activist, anthropologist and in overall a great Indian,” Gondane said. The way Gondane spoke about Ambedkar, it was as if he was there with him writing the constitution. “Equality might be a fiction, but an ideal worth fighting for,” said Gondane.
Ambedkar was an amazing Indian, who wrote the constitution of India. He is greatly considered one of the great minds of politics.
Gondane then ended the speech with his condolences to Ambedkar and his wishes that his work lives on and inspires many more people to come. “If Gandhi was the heart of India, Ambedkar was the body,” Gondane said.Posted on April 28, 2011

Different nation builders go their own ways but at the end they converge to the philosophy of strengtheningthe nation, said the main speaker from the University of Delaware, Prof Ramnarayan S. Rawat addressing a very diverse crowd from the different part of US. The Consulate General of India, NY organized the programon the occasion of 120th birth anniversary of Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar on Sat 16th Apr, 2011. The weather was harsh outside with thunderstorm but inside it was full house in the beautiful hall of the Consulate General of India in NY.

His Excellency Ambassador Parbhu Dayal inaugurated the program with garlanding the colorful picture of Dr. B R Ambedkar. In his inaugural talk His Excellency called Dr Ambedkar as True Jewel of India. Stating Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as a beautiful mind he added Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar was a reformer, Jurist, Politician, Buddhist activist, Historian, philosopher, thinker and economist. He described Dr Ambedkar’s struggle as a wade against the current. He proudlyinformed the gathering about that government’scontribution to establish Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s chair in the Columbia University, NY. His Excellency and his wife, Chandini Dayal also had a candid conversation with the community and other prominent gueststhroughout the program.
The main Speaker Prof. Rawat in his address “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s contribution to nation building” explained the audience, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s intellectual journey. He noted how different people and organizations started aligning their local and regional activities to support and merge with Dr Ambedkar’s thoughts. Shri. P. K. Malhotra with his crisp talk gave the details of the constitution’s different parts and stressed the “Right to Live” section. He lauded the Indian constitution and the constitution maker Dr. B. R.Ambedkar.