THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
-RAMESH CHANDER
The issue of statues of Babasaheb Ambedkar is currently in the news on account of unfortunate and condemnable utterings of self-styled leader of the Sikhs, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu belonging to the banned organization, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) with regard to the threats of removing statues of the Babasaheb Ambedkar, the greatest son of India in the contemporary times. Pannu who lives in the USA has raised his voice on the issue of ‘Sikhs as Hindus’ as stipulated in the Constitution of India and blamed Babasaheb for doing so as the chief architect of the Constitution. It is an ill-conceived and baseless notion which requires a threadbare analysis of the issue by the intellectuals and the civil society to set things in perspective. I think the Sikhs themselves should take the lead in doing so, the sooner the better.
I thought of sharing some facts with regard to the oral history of the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar adorning the Ambedkar Chowk, a land mark in the map of Jalandhar city, situated at busy cross roads – Nakodar Road (now named Ambedkar Marg) and Bhagwan Mahabir Road near Lovely Autos and Doordarshan Kendra. The idea cropped up during an informal chat with my brother, Paramjit Mahey on the subject of Pannu’s uncalled for utterings and the forthcoming birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14. Pammi gave me important information with regard to the installation Ambedkar’s statue mentioned above. It prompted me to jot down these lines with a view to record ‘Oral History’ for the benefit of the coming generations. It will also become yet another addition to my blogs on my fellow BootanMandians as the honour fell on one of our forefathers, Gurmukh Ram Sheemar, father of Subedar Major Dev Raj who retired from the Indian Army as a JCO some years ago. It was Gurmukh Ram who floated the idea of installing a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar at an important Chowk of the city sometime in mid-1970s. It was proposed to get the statue installed by the then Municipal Committee of Jalandhar during the tenure of Ajit Singh Jhika and Seth Khushi Ram (yet another fellow Bootan Mandian) as President and Vice President of the Committee respectively. I was told that Gurmukh Ram, single handedly, did a wonderful initial spade work and got hundreds of signatures from the Panchyats and other outfits in and around Jalandhar to support the proposal of Ambedkar’s statue. Municipal Committee approved the proposal. President Ajit Singh Jhika entrusted his deputy, Seth Khushi Ram to get an appropriate statue for the purpose. Seth Khushi Ram arranged the statue from Jaipur and got it installed at the designated sight. The statue remained covered for almost 6 months crying for formal inauguration by the then CM Giani Zail Singh. Obviously, President of the Municipal Committee, Ajit Singh Jhika intended to take credit to promote his political career. Unlike today, then Ambedkar was not high on the political framework of politicians and as such it could not be formally inaugurated as planned. Anyway, Der Ayat Daroost Ayat. I vow to my fellow BootanMandians both Gurmukh Ram ji and Seth Khushi Ram for doing a good job at a time when Ambedkar was yet to arrive and get his due share in the caste-ridden and discriminatory social and political order. Now the things are different – Ambedkar Ka Jadoo Sar Chadkar Bolta Hai – only and only on account of his own amply potent legacy. I hope this piece of oral history will get registered with the present generation of Bootan Mandi to carry forward the ‘Caravan’ of the community ably started and steered by our forefathers.
It is a matter of satisfaction that there are people who are fully engaged in the process of making history. One of my friends, Satnam Singh Badhawan, a retired highly placed officer of Indian Forest Service has proposed and undertaken a project to beautify and uplift the ambience of the Ambedkar Marg starting from Ambedkar Chowk to Bootan Mandi and beyond towards Lambra by planting hundreds of ever green trees in the road divider or on sides with his professional knowledge and acumen in such matters. He has already taken up the matter with the Mayor of Jalandhar, Vaneet Dhir in consultation and cooperation with Ambedkar Bhawan Trust. I am confident that Mayor Vaneet Dhir, a fully dedicated and upcoming leader of the City of Jalandhar, will do his best and support the project undertaken by Satnam Singh Badhawan and Ambedkar Bhawan Trust and other stake holders. He would, of course, join the league of Samaritans like Ajit Singh Jhika for the Ambedkar Statue and Mayor Surinder Mahey, yet another of my fellow BootanMandian, for giving us the Ambedkar Park in Bootan Mandi.
Pannus may come and go but Ambedkar will remain. I conclude with a poetic assertion of Allama Iqbal and pay my humble tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar –
Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri
(Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the rose
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden)
Urha Li Qumriyon Ne, Tootiyon Ne, Andleebon Ne
Chaman Walon Ne Mil Kar Loot Li Tarz-e-Faghan Meri
(The turtle‐doves, parrots, and nightingales pilfered away
The garden’s denizens jointly robbed away my plaintive way)
