The High Commission of India, HE Ranjan Mathai held a commemoration of the occasion of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's 124th birth anniversary, on 14th April 2015.
The celebration was held at India House, London and was attended by many dignitaries, such as Lord Bhikhu Parekh; the President of Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations, Dr. Santosh Das; the President of Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Shri Jograj Ahir, as well as representatives from many Indian community organisations.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was was a jurist and a politician. He was a social reformer who campaigned for the rights of the people of the caste then referred as the 'untouchables'. Dr Ambedkar also converted to Buddhism. He was “a beacon of hope for the disadvantaged in India”, as well as “a staunch opponent of injustice, discrimination and oppression.”
Ranjan Mathai expressed to the attendees, “Ambedkar Jayanti is a unique occasion for all of us to proudly celebrate the genius of the father of that one great book which is the foundation of India- the Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar's unparalleled contribution in the framing of our Constitution will always be recognised in the history of India. But we need to recognise also that his vision was ‘welfare of all'. He gave the nation a profound social content and challenging social-democratic objectives. Even six decades after its adoption, our Constitution has become the uniting sprit of the country, guiding us through challenging times and unprecedented global and national social and political change.”
On the occasion, Mathai also quoted Dr Ambedkar's words regarding unity in India and showed how it was still relevant in today's day and age, decades after the speech was made. “I do not want that our loyalty as Indians should be in the slightest way affected by any competitive loyalty whether that loyalty arises out of our religion, out of our culture or out of language. I want all people to be Indian first, Indian last and nothing else but Indians.”
