105th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram
105th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram celebrated in Delhi
—Indresh Kumar
“Babu Jagjivan Ram was against the division of Hindu society on the grounds of dalit and swarna. He fought against untouchability and many other social evils throughout his life,” said RSS National Executive Member Shri Indresh Kumar. He was speaking at a function organised in New Delhi to celebrate 105th birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram.
Organised at Gandhi Peace Foundation on April 13, the function was presided over by former Union Minister Dr Sanjay Paswan, and chairman of Dalit Sahitya Academy Shri Sohanpal Sumnakshar was the chief guest.
Shri Indresh Kumar further said Babuji was against political untouchability. “In 1954 when the first Devnagari teleprinter was installed in Hindusthan Samachar news agency it was Babu Jagjivan Ram, who, despite knowing well the background of the agency as it being the pro-RSS, inaugurated the teleprinter in Delhi office. He enjoyed good relations with the second RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji and also in 1978 he shared the dais with the third RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Bala Saheb Deoras at a function of Vidya Bharati in Delhi,” he said.
Shri Indreshji said Babuji was born as a sanatani and died as a sanatani. It is to remain a sanatani he received deekasha from Shivnarayani sect. Even his fight against untouchability was as a sanatani. “While studying at a school at Dadva, he had broken the earthen pots kept there separately for dalits and swarna Hindu students. When questioned by the school authorities he said it is wrong to divide the Hindus on the line of dalit and swarna,” Shri Indresh Kumar added.
Dr Sanjay Paswan described Babu Jagjivan Ram as a true nationalist for whom the nation was always first. “During World War II, he strongly opposed joining the Indian soldiers to British Army and said victory of British in the War would only strengthen the slavery of Indians. Similarly, during the Emergency, he preferred national interest over the political or individual interest,” he said adding that Babuji’s love for the people of his constituency reflected in his consecutive victory from the same seat for many decades. “His administrative abilities were also seen during the Bangladesh war of 1971 when he was Union Defence Minister,” Dr Paswan added. He stressed the need to bring forth the ideology of Babuji. He demanded that something concrete should be done in the memory of the great leader who spent decades in the Parliament and also worked as a true revolutionary for dalit and backward communities in the post Independence era.
Shri Sumnakshar described Babuji as a true dalit leader, who thought for the development of all sections of the society. He initiated the ration card system and also played a key role in Green Revolution that made Bharat self-reliant in foodgrain production. “Babuji believed that it is the equal status and opportunities provided to the people that will lead the nation to all-round development,” he added.
(FOC)
