THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
-Arun Kumar, Bedford
A new chapter in the history of Ambedkar movement was written when the Bedford Borough Council celebrated 14 April as Equality Day. The Council lit the Bedford Corn Exchange, the Council building, blue and white to commemorate this very significant day in the Bedford calendar. On its Facebook page, the post says, “We are celebrating the diversity that makes Bedford Borough so special, and reaffirming our commitment to building a community where everyone feels welcome and valued. It’s about recognising that everyone deserves equal opportunities and respect, regardless of their background.”
The motion submitted by Councillor Abu Sultan to recognise the contribution of Dr Ambedkar in the matters of equality, diversity and inclusion received a wider support in the full council meeting held on 15 January. But the specific date 14 April as Equality Day was deferred because of some reservations from one of the councillors. In the Council meeting held on 19 March, 2025, Bedford Borough Council took a historic decision confirming 14 April, birthday of Dr Ambedkar as Equality Day. Cllr Abu sultan along with his two fellow councillors from the Cauldwell Ward, Cllrs Fauzia Zamir and Cllr Harish Thapar played a key role in submitting and supporting the motion. Now Bedford has become the second town after Coventry in the United Kingdom to recognise the remarkable contribution of Dr B.R. Ambedkar pertaining to democracy, social reforms, equality and social justice that continues to inspire millions of people worldwide.
To honour the lifelong work and the legacy of Dr Ambedkar, an event was organised to commemorate the Equality Day to mark the 134-birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar at the Centenary Hall, Kempston jointly by the Ambedkar Mission Society, Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha(SGRS), Bhagwan Valmik Sabha and Nirankari Satsang Bhawan. They have been campaigning for recognising 14 April, birth of Dr Ambedkar as Equality Day for sometimes. As this was the first Equality Day officially recognised and celebrated at Bedford, a special cake was prepared with the inscription ‘14 April-Equality Day’ and cut by Councillor Colleen Atkins, Deputy Speaker, Bedford Borough Council and Mohammad Yasin MP.
Born into a system of caste oppression, Dr Ambedkar transformed adversity into a powerful movement for equality. Drafting India’s constitution and embedding into it the values of equality, liberty, fraternity and equal justice, he tried to set up a society based on fairness. His message is a universal. His legacy motivates not only downtrodden people but all democratic societies seeking to empower the marginalised and uphold the principles fairness and inclusivity. All the speakers admired Dr Ambedkar’s work on the Indian Constitution and his struggle to annihilate all form of discrimination. Equality Day would keep on reminding the commitment to remove all disabilities leading to discrimination in the society.
Cllr Colleen Atkins, Deputy Speaker, Mohammad Yasin MP, Cllr Mohammad Nawaz and Ali Akbar, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kempston, John Tizzard, Police and Crime Commissioner, Andrew Hopkinson, Chief Fire Officer, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue, Jacquiline Burness, Chair, fire and Rescue, Cllr Ben Folly, Cllr Henry Vann, Cllr Caroline White and Cllr Ralley Rehman were some of the officials and political figures from Bedford Borough council, and Kempton Town Hall participated
Jaswinder Kumar, President of SGRS welcomed the guests and vote of thanks was delivered by Ram Pal Rahi, President of Ambedkar Mission society. Arun Kumar and Sachdev Goldi conducted the stage.
