Ambedkar upheld value of humanity: MRPS leader

asato ma sadgamaya

tamaso ma jyotirgamaya

mrtyorma amrtam gamaya

Lead me from the asat to the sat.

Lead me from darkness to light.

Lead me from death to immortality.

The renowned shanti mantra of Gautama Buddha - It seems as if Dr BR Ambedkar was born from these sayings. Ambedkar was born in a family which was considered as untouchable-he tore out through the ignorance of inequality into the truth of equality that all are equal, he leapt out from the darkness of illiteracy into the lighting of literacy. And because of his scholarly and dedicated works he achieved immortality.

On 14th April 1891, a great leader Dr.B.R.Ambedkar was born at Mhow (military headquarters of war) in Madhya Pradesh, where his father was subedar in the Indian Army posted at Mhow Cantonment. His parents hailed from hindu-mahar caste, which were treated as untouchables at that time. He was born in India at a time when social evils like untouchability and caste restrictions were at its peak. He faced severe discrimination based on caste even in his school days. But he never stepped back from his ambition of pursuing education. This made him the first from his caste to complete college education in India. It was just the beginning and he took a grand flight in education

Decades have passed, it is worthwhile to evaluate his role and personality on this day when such a great leader was born on this soil. Intellectually, he was superior to thousands of intelligent and educated caste of his time. After returning to India, Bahishkrit Hitkarni Sabha was the first organized attempt in 1924, from his side to uplift the untouchables. He wanted to educate them for better life. The founding principles of the sabha were educate, agitate and organize. Through this sabha he wanted to bring socio economic awareness among the untouchables. For uplifting the Dalits in India, he wrote and published a number of books like the ‘Untouchables’, ‘The Annihilation of caste’, who are shudras and ‘A Thesis on the Origin of Untouchability’. To enlighten people on the drawbacks of then prevailing social evils, and to them out of the clutches of untouchablity, he launched a newspaper called ‘Mooknayaka’ (leader of the silent).

Formation of the Reserve Bank of India in 1934 was also based on the ideas presented by him to the Hilton Young Commission. Dr.B.R.Ambedkar founded ‘The Independent Labour Party’ in 1936 to fight the humiliation faced by workers, peasants, poor and Dalits. Along with other freedom fighters, he fought to free India and then tried to build India of their dreams.

Dr.B.R.Ambedkar was elected as first law minister of independent India and appointed as a chairman of the Constitution drafting committee. To bring in equality in society, freedom of religion was defined in the Constitution. As India in the post Independence period was still wrapped in blind belief of untouchability, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar created the system of reservation, to improve the condition of the untouchables. He was rightly called as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’, ‘Architect of new India’ - who framed the Constitution, keeping in mind the conditions prevailing in the society in that time, who tried to bring social equality to help build a strong welfare nation. His contributions cannot be counted but can be defined in terms such as he was an economist, a philosopher, a thinker, a secular, a socialist, a democrat, a scientist, an intellectual, a parliamentarian, a statesman, an editor, a constitutionalist, an educationalist, a social reformer, nation builder, a rationalist, an anthropologist, a legal luminary, a strong supporter of women rights etc.

For most of his life, Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar worked outside the mainstream of national politics. He worked for the upliftment of the depressed classes. At the fag end of his life, he along with his followers embraced Buddhism, as he considered Buddhism to be a humanitarian religion, based on equality, liberty and fraternity. He founded Bharatiya Buddha Mahasabha in 1955. He was awarded with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1990.

The day has been declared as a public holiday all over India. This year, it is his 123rd birthday celebration and like every year, a respectful homage will be paid by the President and Prime Minister (including other political parties leaders) of India to his statue at the Parliament, New Delhi. Ambedkar will always be remembered as a great champion of social service.

On this occasion, district leader of MRPS (Madiga reservation porata samithi) Mr.Kondepudi Shyam Babu spoke on Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and the activities of his organisation (MRPS).

Q.1) How do you remember Dr. B.R.Ambedkar on this day?

A.)Dr.B.R.Ambedkar is always with us throughout our lifetime activities. This day gives us a chance to honor his idol with garland and educate our children about this eminent personality who made a place for the downtrodden sector by putting light on the value of education, the value of equality and above all the value of humanity.

Q.2) What is MRPS and what are its activities?

A.)MRPS is ‘Madiga reservation porata samithi’, a social movement demanding the proportional representation of Madigas in the legislature, educational institutions and employment. Madigas comprise 60 % of the SC population, but hardly enjoy 2-3 per cent reservation. Out of the 15% reservation, a leading schedule caste is enjoying 13% and the rest of the 60 castes are getting 2 per cent only. Because of this unscientific distribution except the scheduled caste, no other caste among SC or ST out of 60 castes has made a single representation for the Assembly or Parliament in the 67 years of Independent India from east Godavari district. The MRPS was formed to fight against this unjustification in SC/ST reservations. MRPS calls for distribution of reservations in a scientific manner according to the population criteria of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Q.3) what is your role in MRPS?

A.) MRPS was founded by Dr.P.M. Sada lakshmi in 1979. Since 1979 I am leading the movement of MRPS in the east Godavari district and working along with other state leaders like MR.manda Krishna Madiga of Khammam and Krupakar Madiga of Ongole. I have brought this issue to the notice of government to justify all scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to reap the benefits of reservation in a scientific manner.

Q.4) what are the future plans of MRPS?

A.) Our fight will continue till the acceptance of the Bill in Parliament with the support of the first chief minister and other Parliamentarians of the separated Andhra Pradesh, according to the new existing population ratios of SC/STs.

Q.5) is there any plan to join political party?

A.) As a district leader, I may represent our community in the Assembly or parliamentary elections. But I have dedicated my life to serve the community through movement. Hence I have no plans to join any political party. But I will encourage the youth to come forward.

Kondepudi Shyam Babu is leading the MRPS movement since its foundation in 1979, as a district leader of East Godavari. He has dedicated his entire life for this movement, and he was imprisoned many times for the same while he faced legal trouble and suits for this movement, and sacrificed his personal life and family life for this movement.