Book Launch – Bootan Mandi: Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna authored by Ambassador Ramesh Chander
(THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT)- The book – Bootan Mandi: Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna edited and written by Ambassador Ramesh Chander, a BootanMandian himself was launched on April 28, 2024 at an impressive function at Ambedkar Bhawan in Jalandhar. The occasion was graced by the prominent ladies of Bootan Mandi holding coveted positions in government services as Guests of Honour; Ms. Babita Kler, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of Punjab State Health Agency, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Kapurthala and Phagwara, Ms. Anupam Kler, PCS – the Nari Shakti of Bootan Mandi and Retired Dy. CAG, Mr. Onkar Nath.
Ambassador Ramesh Chander, a retired career diplomat welcoming the guests said that the book on Bootan Mandi was one of his cherished wishes, as a son of the soil, to register the role and contribution of Bootan Mandi and its worthy front-runners in the much desired awakening among the deprived and weaker sections of the society. The book has rightly been dedicated to the stalwarts namely; Seth Kishan Dass, Seth Khushi Ram, Seth Munshi Ram, Swami Lalji Dass and Bibi Malavi among others. Babita Kler spoke with a sense belonging to Bootan Mandi and said that she was a proud BootanMandian. Yet another Kler, Anupam Kler was fully nostalgic and said that we all should try our best to carry forward the caravan of our icon, Babasaheb Ambedkar. Onkar Nath said that Ambassador Ramesh Chander was kind to associate him with the book launch function and added that the book wold be received well by the readers. Dr. Gian Kaul, an intellectual face of the community who also wrote the Foreword of the book briefly spoke about the book and said that it was a much appreciable work done by the author, Ambassador Ramesh Chander which would be received well by the community around. Prof. Balbir Chander, Vice Chair of Ambedkar Mission Society in his brief remarks thanked the author for choosing Ambedkar Bhawan as the venue for the release of his book as the site proudly remembered the visit of Babasaheb Ambedkar to Bootan Mandi -the Mecca of Dalits in 1951.
Prof. Balbir was appreciative of the yeomans service of the author of the book. Community activist, Paramjit Mahey said in the Vote of Thanks that Ambasador Ramesh Chander has made ‘We the BootanMandians’ proud not only by adorning the coveted positions in the diplomatic representation of India abroad but also writing several books, articles, blogs etc. on matters of concern and interest for the larger benefit of the community and the society at large. Paramjit Mahey also contributed to the book with his piece ‘Bootan Mandi – Dalitan Di Rajdhani’ – an informative and thought-provoking narration. Harmesh Jassal, Manohar Lal Mahey and Harbans Virdi also spok at the function. Representing younger generation of the Bootan Mandi, Mahesh Chander anchored the book launch function with great aplomb. It may be mentioned here that Ambassador Ramesh Chander, after retirement from a long diplomatic career, returned to his roots in Bootan Mandi and engaged himself in community matters with a view to pay his debt of gratitude to the community. Bootan Mandi: Nerve Centre of Dalit Chetna is his third book in a row – Some Random Thoughts on Babasaheb Ambedkar and his Legacy was released in November, 2023 and Reminiscences and Reflections of a Novice – The Bits and Pieces in 2019.
Several prominent personalities of the area graced occasion to register ther appreciation for the role and contribution of Bootan Mandi, the centre of dalit awakening in the contemporary times which, inter alia, included, Manohar Mahey, Harish Mahey, VinodKaul, Prem Shant, Ram Murti, Surinderbir Singh among others.
April 28, Jalandhar