Celebrations of the 119th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar here on Wednesday were marked by processions, paying tributes to the architect of the Constitution, and conducting seminars and discussing issues related to Dalits.
Procession
Activists belonging to various Dalit organisations and students of Gautam Hoste, Saraswathipuram and Maharaja College took out a procession in the city. The procession, which was flagged off at Ashokpuram Park by Mayor Purushottam, passed through the main streets of the city before culminating on the Town Hall premises. Folk troupes added colour to the procession.
A 6-ft statue of Ambedkar mounted on a vehicle was the main attraction. The National Festivals Celebrations Committee, comprising the district administration, the Mysore Urban Development Authority, the Mysore City Corporation and the zilla panchayat, celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti by garlanding the statue of Ambedkar at the Town Hall.
Mr. Purushottam; Regional Commissioner M.V. Jayanthi; Deputy Commissioner P. Manivannan; chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat N. Manjula; MCC Commissioner K.S. Raykar and MUDA Commissioner P.C. Jayanna participated in the programme.
Condition of Dalits
A programme was organised under the joint auspices of the University of Mysore, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Research and Extension Centre and SC/ ST Special Cell at Rani Bahadur Auditorium.
L. Narayanaswamy, who inaugurated the programme, lamented that that even six decades after adoption of the Constitution, the condition of Dalits had not changed. Untouchability and casteism were still prevalent, especially in rural areas. The priority of the political leadership should be to root them out, he said.
Mr. Purushottam, who addressed a meeting at the Platinum Jubilee Hall at J.K. Grounds, regretted that Dalits in top positions had neglected the welfare of the community..
He said that there were poor in all communities and benefits should be extended to all.
