▶ ▶ Dr Ambedkar and His Democratic Movement: A Documentary (1990) | Must Watch Download - YouTube

▶ ▶ Dr Ambedkar and His Democratic Movement: A Documentary (1990) | Must Watch Download - YouTube

Bhagwan Das- In Pursuit of Ambedkar.avi

Bhagwan Das: A True Ambedkarite

                                                                                    

                                  Bhagwan Das: A True Ambedkarite

                                -    S.R.Darapuri I.P.S. (Retd) 

                                  

                      

                                

Mr. Bhagwan Das was born in an Untouchable family living at Jutogh Cantonment, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) India on 23 April, 1927. He served in the Royal Indian Air Force during World War II and after demobilisation served in different capacities in various departments of Government of India at Saharanpur, Shimla and Delhi. He did MA. in History (Punjab University) and LL.B from Delhi University. He did research on the ‘Indianisation of the Audit Department from 1840-1915.’ He had been contributing articles and short stories to various papers and journals published in India and abroad.

His father Mr. Ram Ditta was fond of reading newspapers and was a great admirer of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Inspired and encouraged by his father, Mr. Das worked with Mr. T. R. Baidwan who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Untouchables in Shimla Hills, and joined the Scheduled Castes Federation at the tender age of 16. Since then he had been actively associated with the Ambedkarian Movement and did a great deal to promote the ideas of Babasaheb Ambedkar and to unite and uplift the downtrodden not only of India but also of other countries of Asia. Mr. Das was associated with many organizations of Lawyers, Buddhists. Scheduled Castes and Minorities in India. He was General Secretary, United Lawyers Association Supreme Court, New Delhi; General Secretary, Bouddh Upasak Sangh, New Delhi; Founder Chairman, Ambedkar Mission Society, which has branches in many parts of the world.  He revived Samata Sainik Dal (Volunteers for Equality) founded by Dr. Ambedkar in 1926-27. He was  Regional Secretary (North) Indian Buddhist Council; Founder, Society for the Protection of Non-Smokers.  He was also founder President of Society for Promoting Buddhist Knowledge and Edited Samata Sainik Sandesh (English) from 1980-1990.

Mr. Das was associated with the ‘Peace Movement’ since the end of World War II in which he served on the Eastern Front (Burma) with the Royal Air Force (R.A.F.) as Radar Operator under South East Asia Command. He was one of the founder members of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) (India) and participated in its Conferences held in Kyoto, Japan (1970); Princeton, USA (1979); Seoul, Korea (1986); Nairobi, Kenya (1984) and Melbourne, Australia (1989). He was also appointed Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights of Asian Conference on Religion and Peace (ACRP) in 1980 and continued to serve in this capacity- monitoring the news of violation of human rights in Asian countries and organising camps for training of human rights workers, speaking and writing for the cause.

Mr Bhagwan Das acted as advisor to the International Movement against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADAR), an International NGO based in Japan. He also delivered presentation about the problem of discrimination against oppressed caste in India at Buraku liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI) in Osaka. Mr. Das was also invited to deliver a lecture on ‘Discrimination’ by the Peace University, Tokyo (1980) and he also addressed several meetings organised by the Burakumins of Japan. He gave a historical testimony before the United Nations in regard to the plight of Untouchables in South Asia, in the meeting of Sub-Committee on Human Rights held at Geneva, Switzerland in August 1983. He visited England in 1975, 1983, 1988, 1990 and 1991 in connection with lectures and seminars.

 He participated in the seminar held in Hull University in 1990 as a representative of the Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee UK and also held a seminar on Human Rights in India at London University, School of Asian and Oriental Studies in February 1991. He was invited to deliver Ambedkar Memorial Lectures in Milind Mahavidyalaya, Aurangabad (1970); Marathwada University (1983); Nagpur University, PWS College, Nagpur; Ambedkar College, Chanderpur and Amraoti University 1990. Mr Das also visited Nepal (1980 and 1990), Pakistan (1989), Thailand (1988), Singapore (1989) and Canada (1979 to study the problems of deprived and disadvantaged members of society, women and children. He delivered lectures in Wisconsin University (USA) in 1979 and North- Field College (USA) on Castes in contemporary India. He was invited to give lectures on Dr Ambedkar at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow in June, 1990.

Mr. Das practiced law in the Supreme Court of India. With a view to improving the professional competence of and helping upcoming advocates belonging to Untouchable and Indigenous Groups he founded ‘Ambedkar Mission Lawyers Association and Legal Aid Society in 1989. He was General Secretary of ‘Professions for People’, an organisation founded in Delhi to elevate professional standards.

Mr. Das was invited to preside at the Dalit and Buddhist Writer’s Conference held at Akola in 1989 and was closely associated with various organizations of Dalit Writers.

Mr. Das wrote more than five hundred articles, papers for seminars, short stories for various newspapers and journals. His papers on ‘Revival of Buddhism’, ‘Some problems of Minorities in India’; ‘Reservation in Public Services’ have been published in Social Action magazine brought out by Indian Social institute, New Delhi and Delhi University Buddhist Department. He also wrote many papers on Reservation and Representative Bureaucracy, Discrimination against the Dalits in Public Services, Minorities etc. He was a member of the ‘Committee for evolving new strategies for the development of Scheduled Castes and Tribes — VIII Plan’ set up by the Government of India and also a member of Ambedkar Centenary Committee of the Government of India. Mr. Das wrote many books in Urdu, English and Hindi on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, untouchables, Scavengers and Sweepers, Human Rights and Discrimination, etc. Prominent among them are ‘Thus Spoke Ambedkar (Vol. 1 to 4, Ed)’; ‘Ambedkar on Gandhi and Gandhism (Ed)’; ‘Ambedkar ek parichey ek Sandesh (Hindi)’; ‘Main Bhangi Hoon, (the story of an Indian sweeper told in the first- person)’. This book has been translated into German, Punjabi, Kannada and Marathi; ‘Valmiki aur Bhangi Jatiyaan (Hindi)’; ‘Kya Valmiki Achoot they? (Hindi)’; Valimiki (Hindi); Dhobi (Hindi); ‘Dr. Ambedkar aur Bhangi Jatiyaan (Hindi)’, ‘Dr. Ambedkar: Ek Parichay Ek Sandesh (Hindi)’; ‘Bharat Mein Baudh Dhamm ka punar Jagran evam Samasyaen (Hindi)’; Revival of Buddhism in India and Role of Dr. Ambedkar.

He translated into Urdu former President of the USA, Lyndon Johnson’s book ‘My Hope for America’, Dr Ambedkar’s Book ‘Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah’ besides editing Bhadant Anand Kaushalyayan’s ‘Gita ki Buddhi wadi Samiksha’.

He was also writing on Reservation and Representative Bureaucracy in India; Untouchables in the Indian Army (Mahar, Mazhbi, Chuhra, Pariahs, Mangs, Dhanuks, Dusadhs, Chamars, Kolis and Bheels), Mandal Commission and the Future of Backward Classes; Twenty- Two Oaths of Buddhism and Conversion; Ravidassis and Balmikis of Northern India; Buddhism and Marxism; Ambedkar as a Religious Leader but unfortunately his untimely death deprived him of completing these books.

Mr. Das had toured almost the whole of India to study the problems of Hindu-Muslim riots, religious conflicts, atrocities committed on the Untouchables and Tribal people, with the group ‘Threat to Diversity’, ‘Swaraj Mukti Morcha’ and as Chairman, Samata Sainik Dal.

Mr. Das attained Nirvana on 18^th November, 2010. He was a staunch Ambedkarite, a crusader against Untouchability, an iconoclast, a practicing Buddhist, a renowned writer on Dalits, Buddhist and Ambedkarite Movement, Human Rights and Law, a politician and   a committed Social Activist.

In order to commemorate his memory and his work at Nagpur it has been decided to dedicate a section of the library being set up at Deeksha Bhoomi Nagpur. It will be a befitting homage to his historical contribution to the Ambedkarian literature and movement. Similarly one Bhagwan Das Memorial Award has been instituted in School of Ambedkar Studies of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedakr University, Lucknow (U.P.) 

Like Karl Marx’s call “Workers of the World Unite” Bhagwan Das gave a call “Dalits of World Unite” which is quite relevant today. His pioneer work for internationalizing the problem of Untouchability will be viewed as his historical contribution to the eradication of caste based discrimination. I am sure his legacy will live long to guide the Dalits in their fight for emancipation.  No doubt he will be rememnbered as a True Ambedkarite.

भगवान दास मेरी नज़र में - एस आर दारापुरी

                                                        भगवान दास मेरी नज़र में - एस आर दारापुरी 

 
                                (भगवान दास जी की 18 नवम्बर को दूसरी पुण्यतिथि पर विशेष)


(विख्यात अम्बेडकरवादी चिन्तक भगवान दास अपने जीवन काल में बौद्धिक कार्यों के जरिये समाज के सबसे उपेक्षित तबके के उत्थान में पूरी निष्ठा के साथ लगे रहे। दलितों की समस्यायों को उन्होंने अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मंचों पर उठाने का ऐतिहासिक काम किया। इस संस्मरण के लेखक एस आर दारापुरी का मानना है की अगर मार्क्स ने

दुनियां के मजदूरों को एक होने का आह्वान किया तो भगवान दस में भारत और एशिया के दलितों को एक होने का सन्देश दिया। )
मैं भगवान दास जी को पिछले 42 वर्ष से जानता था। उन्हें दिल्ली में बाबा साहेब के सबसे बड़े विद्वान् और समर्पित पैरोकारों में से एक के तौर पर जाना जाता था।
मैनें उन्हें पहली बार नई दिल्ली के लक्ष्मीबाई नगर में बौद्ध उपासक संघ की मीटिंगों में सुना था। कुछ वर्षों तक आंबेडकर भवन बौद्ध गतिविधियों का केंद्र रहा था। बुद्धिस्ट सोसाइटी आफ इंडिया द्वारा साप्ताहिक धार्मिक मीटिंगें आयोजित की जाती थीं। श्री वाई सी शंकरानंद शास्त्री तथा सोहन लाल शास्त्री दोनों पंजाब की एक आर्यसमाज संस्था ब्रह्म विद्यालय की उपज थे और बौद्ध आन्दोलन के अगुआ थे। आर्य समाज की मीटिंगों की तरह ये लोग साप्तहिक मीटिंगें किया करते थे। कुछ कारणों से दोनों के बीच मतभेद हो गए और वे एक दूसरे से अलग हो गए। श्री शंकरानंद शास्त्री ने अपने कुछ साथियों को लेकर बौद्ध उपासक संघ बना लिया और रिज़र्व बैंक आफ इंडिया के एक कर्मचारी श्री रामाराव बागडे के फ्लैट के सामने आंगन में साप्ताहिक मीटिंगें शुरू कर दीं। श्री भगवान दास इन मीटिंगों में मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में रहते थे।
उन्हें दलितों की एकता में रूचि थी और उन्होंने बहुत सी जातियों मसलन धानुक, खटीक, बाल्मीकि, हेला, कोली आदि को अम्बेडकरवादी आन्दोलन में लेने के प्रयास किये। ज़मीनी स्तर पर काम करते हुए भी उन्होंने दलितों एवं अल्पसंख्यकों के विभिन्न मुद्दों पर लेख लिखे जो पत्र पत्रिकायों में प्रकाशित होते रहे। उन्हें अंग्रेजी और उर्दू में महारत हासिल थी और सरल हिंदी तथा कुछ गुरमुखी लिपि में पंजाबी पढ़ सकते हे। बंगाल और अराकान में एयरफोर्स की नौकरी करते हुए उन्होंने बंगाली भाषा भी सीखी थी पर अब भूल गए थे ।
मुझे नौकरी में रहते हुए लगभग पूरे भारत वर्ष में घूमने और अनुसूचित जातियों से सम्बधित अधिकारियों, प्रोफेस्सरों, अध्यापकों और नेताओं को जानने का मौका मिला। मेरा विश्वास है कि श्री दास के पास पुस्तकों का सबसे बड़ा भंडार था। वह कभी न थकने वाले पाठक थे और काम के अधिकाँश घंटे पढने में बिताते थे। पुस्तकों और पत्र पत्रिकायों पर उनका काफी पैसा खर्च होता था। उनके पुस्तक संग्रह में विदेशी और भारतीय लेखकों की दुर्लभ पुस्तकें शामिल थीं। उनकी फाईलों में अलग अलग विषयों पर अच्छे लेख और पर्चे थे जिन्हें या तो वे प्रकाशित नहीं करा सके या फिर उनके बारे में भूल गए।
उनसे बातचीत के दौरान मुझे पता चला कि उनका जन्म 23 अप्रैल, 1927 को भारत की गर्मियों की राजधानी शिमला के निकट छावनी जतोग में हुआ था और उनका परिवार काफी खुशहाल था लेकिन एक अछूत परिवार में जन्म के कारण अपमान और भेदभाव का वह शिकार होते रहे। उन्हें उनके पिता पर गर्व था जिन्होंने उनके चरित्र पर गहरा प्रभाव डाला। उनके पिता डॉ आंबेडकर के वह बहुत प्रशंसक थे और समाचार पत्र पढ़ने के शौक़ीन थे। उन्हें हिन्दू, ईसाई, इस्लाम और सिख धर्म के ग्रंथों के अलावा आयुर्वेद की पुस्तकें पढ़ने का भी  शौक था। श्री दास को ज्ञान से प्रेम अपने पिता से विरासत में मिला था।
ऐसा लगता है कि दास साहेब अपने समय के अधिकतर अछूतों की तरह इसाईयत से प्रभावित हुए। बाद में उन्होंने आर्य समाज साहित्य, कुरान और इस्लाम विचारधारा की अन्य पुस्तकें पढ़ीं। काफी समय तक उन्होंने मार्क्सवादी साहित्य का अध्ययन किया और मार्क्सवाद पर लिखते भी रहे लेकिन कमियुनिस्ट नेताओं के जातिवादी चरित्र ने उनका मन खट्टा कर दिया। उन्होंने इन्गर्सेल, टाम पेन, वाल्टेयर, बर्नार्ड शा, और बर्टरैंड रस्सल का अध्ययन किया। बाबा साहेब भीम राव आंबेडकर से सीधे संपर्क में आने से पहले उन्होंने धर्म के बारे में अपने विचार विकसित कर लिए थे। बाबा साहेब से उनकी जान पहचान पिछड़ी जातियों के प्रसिद्ध नेता शिव दयाल सिंह चौरसिया ने करवाई थी जो कि काका कालेलकर आयोग के सदस्य थे और राज्य सभा के सदस्य भी थे।
श्री भगवान दास ने बाबा साहेब की रचनाओं और भाषणों का सम्पादन किया और उन पर पुस्तकें लिखीं। उनका " दस स्पोक आंबेडकर" शीर्षक से चार खण्डों में प्रकाशित ग्रन्थ देश और विदेश में अकेला दस्तावेज़ था जिनके जरिये डॉ आंबेडकर के विचार सामान्य लोगों और विद्वानों तक पहुंचे।
यह काम उन्होंने 1960 के दशक में शुरू किया था और जब अभी इस की तरफ महारष्ट्र सरकार का ध्यान भी नहीं गया था। उन्होंने सफाई कर्मचारियों और भंगी जाति पर चार पुस्तकें और धोबियों पर एक छोटी पुस्तक लिखी। उनकी बहुचर्चित पुस्तक "मैं भंगी हूँ" अनेक भारतीय भाषायों में अनूदित हो चुकी है और वह दलित जातियों के इतिहास का दस्तवेज़ है।
उनकी पुस्तकें और देश विदेश के सेमीनार आदि प्रस्तुत उनके पर्चों से पता चलता है कि उनका अध्ययन कितना विस्तृत था और वह दबे कुचले लोगों के हित के प्रति कितने समर्पित थे। अगर मार्क्स ने दुनियां के मजदूरों को एक होने का आह्वान किया था तो भगवान दास ने भारत और एशिया के दलितों को एक होने का सन्देश दिया। मुझे नहीं लगता कि उनके अलावा कोई ऐसा व्यक्ति है जिसने एशिया के सभी दलितों को एक मंच पर लाने के लिए, उनकी मुक्ति के लिए और स्वाभिमान से उनके जीने के अधिकार के लिए इतना प्रयास किय हो। उन्होंने कुल 23 पुस्तकें लिखीं।
श्री भगवान दास ने भारत में दलितों के प्रति छुआछूत और भेदभाव के मामले को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मंचों पर उठाने का ऐतहासिक काम किया। भारत, नेपाल, पाकिस्तान , बांग्लादेश और जापान में छुआ छुत के मामले को उन्होंने 1983 में यू. एन. ओ. ( संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ) में पेश किया और जापान के अछूतों बुराकुमिन के मामले को भी उठाया।
डॉ आंबेडकर भी इस मामले को संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ में ले जाना चाहते थे पर कुछ कारणों से यह संभव नहीं हो पाया था। श्री दास के प्रयासों का ही यह फल है कि संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ ने छुआछुत को मानवाधिकारों का हनन मान कर भारत सरकार की जवाबदेही तय की है और अपनी ओर से भारत के लिए दो रिपोर्टर नियुक्त किये हैं। इस के बाद वह 2001 में डरबन में नसल भेद पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ के सम्मेलन में भी गए थे। वास्तव में छुआछुत के मामले को अंतर्राष्टीय मंच पर पहुँचाने का सारा श्रेय श्री भगवान दास को ही जाता है। इस के लिए एशिया के दलित और जापान के बुराकुमिन उनके सदैव ऋणी रहेंगे।
श्री भगवान दास ने बहुत साधारण जीवन जिया। वह बहुत विनम्र थे और भदंत आनंद कौशल्यायन कहा करते थे, "आप में बहुत नम्रता है।" वकील के रूप में वह बहुत मेहनत करते थे। उनके ज्यादा दोस्त नहीं थे और न ही सामाजिक समारोहों में जाने में उन्हें कोई खास ख़ुशी होती थी। लायब्रेरी में या दलित शोषित लोगों की बेहतरी के लिए काम कर रहे बुद्धिजीवियों की सांगत में उन्हें अधिक ख़ुशी मिलती थी।
इस महान व्यक्ति को हम लोगों ने 18 नवम्बर, 2010 को खो दिया जिससे अम्बेडकरवादी आन्दोलन की अपूर्णीय क्षति हुई है। उनके दिखाए गए मार्ग पर चलकर बाबा साहेब के मिशन को अगर हम पूरा कर सकें तो यही उनके प्रति सबसे बड़ी श्रद्धांजली होगी।

Bhagwan Das: A Profile

        Bhagwan Das: A Profile

        

  -   S.R.Darapuri I.P.S.(Retd) 

 

         (23.04.1927 -18.11.2010)  

Mr. Bhagwan Das was born in an Untouchable family at Jutogh Cantonment, Simla (Himachel Pradesh), India on 23 April 1927. He served in the Royal Indian Air Force during World War II and after demobilisation served in different capacities in various departments of Government of India at Saharanpur, Simla and Delhi. He did M.A. in History (Punjab University) and LL.B from Delhi University. He did research on the ‘Indianisation of the Audit Department from 1840-1915’. He had been contributing articles and short stories to various papers and journals published in India.

 

His father Mr. Ram Ditta was fond of reading newspapers and a great admirer of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Inspired and encouraged by his father, Mr. Das worked with Mr. T. R. Baidwan of Simla who was the most prominent leader of the Untouchables in Simla Hills, and joined the Scheduled Castes Federation at the tender age of 16. Since then he had been actively associated with the Ambedkarin movement and had done a great deal to promote the ideas of Babasaheb Ambedkar and to unite and uplift the downtrodden not only of India but also of other countries of Asia. Mr. Das was associated with many organisations of lawyers, Buddhists, Scheduled Castes and Minorities in India. He was General Secretary, United Lawyers Association, Supreme Court, New Delhi; General Secretary, Bouddh Upasak Sangh, New Delhi; Founder Chairman, Ambedkar Mission Society which has branches in many parts of the world; Revived Samata Sainik Dal (Vounteers for Equality) founded by Dr. Ambedkar in 1926-27; Regional Secretary (North). Indian Buddhist Council; Founder, Society for the Protection of Non-Smokers; Founder President of Society for Promoting Buddhist Knowledge; edited Samata Sainik Sandesh (English) 1980-1990.He was also the main person behind publication of “Bheem Patrika” an Urdu and the Hindi magazine published from Jullundar (Punjab). 

 

Mr. Das had been associated with the ‘Peace Movement’ since the end of World War II, in which he served on the Eastern Front with the R.A.F. under South East Asia Command. He was one of the founder members of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) (India) and had participated in the Conferences held in Kyoto, Japan, 1970; Princeton USA (1979); Seoul, Korea (1986); Nairobi. Kenya (1984) and Melbourne Australia (1989). He was appointed Director, Asian Centre for Human Rights (Asian Conference on Religion and Peace) in 1980 and continued to serve in this capacity till 2004 monitoring the news of violation of human rights in Asian countries and organising camps for training of human ‘ rights workers, speaking and writing for the cause.

Mr. Das was invited to deliver a lecture on ‘Discrimination by the Peace University, Tokyo (1980) and also addressed several meetings organised by the Burakumins of Japan. Gave testimon before the United Nations in regard to the plight o Untouchables in South Asia, in the meeting of Sub-Committee on Human Rights held at Geneva, Switzerland in August, 1983. He visited England in 1975, 1983, 1988, 1990 and 1991 in connection with lectures and seminars. He participated in the seminar held in ‘Hull University in 1990 as a representative of the Ambedkar Centenary Celebration Committee, UK and also a seminar on Human Rights in India held at London University, School of Asian and Oriental Studies in February 1991.

He was invited to deliver Ambedkar Memorial Lectures in Milind Mahavidyalya, Aurangahad (1970);  Marathwada University (1983); Nagpur University, PWS College, Nagpur; Ambedkar College, Chanderpur and  Amrraoti University in 1990.

Mr. Das also visited Nepal (1980 and 1990); Pakistan (1989); Thailand (1988); Singapore (1989) and Canada (1979) to study the problems f deprived and disadvantaged members of society, women and children. Delivered lectures in Wisconsin University (USA) 1979 and North- field College (USA) on Caste in contemporary India. He was invited to give lectures on Dr Ambedkar at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow in June, 1990.

Mr. Das practiced law in the Supreme Court of India. With a view to improve the professional competence of and helping upcoming advocates belonging to Untouchable and indigenous groups he founded Ambedkar Mission Lawyers Association and Legal Aid Society in 1989. He was General Secretary of ‘Professions for People’, an organisation founded in Delhi to elevate professional standards.

Mr. Das was invited to preside at the Dalit and Buddhist Writers Conference held at Akola in 1989 and was closely associated with various organisations of Dalit Writers.

Mr. Das had written more than five hundred articles, papers for seminars, short stories for various newspapers and journals. His papers on ‘Revival of Buddhism’; ‘Some problems of minorities in India’; ‘Reservation in Public Services’ have been published in Social Action brought out by Indian Social Institute, New Delhi and Delhi University Buddhist Department. He wrote many papers on Reservation and Representative Bureaucracy, Discrimination against the Dalits in Public Services and Minorities etc.

 

He was a member for the ‘Committee for evolving new strategies for the development of Scheduled Castes and Tribes - VIII Plan’ set up by the Government of India and also a member of Ambedkar Centenary Committee of the Government of India. Mr. Das had written many books in Urdu, English and Hindi on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar; Untouchables; Scavengers and Sweepers; Human Rightsl  Discrimination etc. Prominent among them are Thus Spoke Ambedkar (Vol I to IV Ed) a pioneer work; Ambedkar on Gandhi and Gandhism (Ed); Ambedkar Ek Parichey Ek Sandesh (Hindi); Main Bhangi hoon(Hindi), the story of an Indian sweeper told in the first- person (this book has been translated into Punjabi, Kannada and Marathi and German); Valmiki aur Bhangi Jatian (Hindi); Valmiki (Hindi); Dhobi (Hindi), Revival of Buddhism in India and Role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar; Dr. Ambedkae Ek Parichay Ek Sandesh;  Dr. Ambedkar aur Bhangi Jatiya and Bharat me Bauddh Dhamm ka punrjagran tatha samasyayen. He translated into Urdu former President of the USA Lyndon Johnson’s book ‘My. Hope for America’; Dr Ambedkar’s ‘Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah’in to Urdu; besides editing Bhadant Anand Kaushalyayan’s ‘Gita ki Buddhivadi Samiksha.’

 

Other books in hand but left incomplete were Reservation and Representative Bureaucracy in India; Untouchables in the Indian Army (Mahar, Mazhbi, Chuhra, Pariahs, Mangs, Dhanuks, Dusadhs, Chamars, Kolis, Bheels); Mandal Commission and the Future of Backward Classes; Twenty-Two Oaths of Buddhism and Conversion;  Balmiki; Ravidassis and Balmikis of Northern India; Buddhism and Marxism and  Ambedkar as a Religious Leader.

Mr. Das had toured almost the whole of India to study the problems of Hindu-Muslim riots, religious conflicts, atrocities committed on the Untouchables and tribal people, with the group ‘Threat to Diversity’, ‘Swaraj Mukti Morcha and as Chairman, Samata Sainik Dal. He was also the founder President of Dalit Solidarity People, an organisation aiming at uniting Hindu Dalits, Dalit Christians, Sikh Dalits, Muslim Dalits and Burakumons of Japan and Korea. Like Marx his slogan was “Dalits of the World Unite.”

Mr Bhagwan Das had been a storehouse of insight and information, his residence at Delhi had been a mandatory stopover for many renowned scholars like Eleanor Zelliot, Mark Juergensmeyer,Owen lynch, Marc Gallanter, RK Kshirsagar, Sukhadeo Thorat down to younger scholars like Vijay Prashad,Nicolas Jaoul and Maren Bellwinkel-Schempp.

 

We were expecting much more from Mr. Bhagwan Das but he suddenly departed from us on 18.11.2010. It has been a great loss to the followers of Babasaheb. I think to work on his foot prints for carrying forward the Ambedkarite movement will be a true tribute to him.

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Watch a Preview of ‘Bhagwan Das: In Pursuit of Ambedkar’ « Navayana

Watch a Preview of ‘Bhagwan Das: In Pursuit of Ambedkar’ « Navayana

Moments in a History of Reservations

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