Petition seeks support: Anti-untouchability brass coin march from Ahmedabad to Delhi

A petition co-organized by Dalit Solidarity Forum and Hindus for Human Rights has sought wide support for the anti-touchability 1,000 kg brass coin march, which begins from Dalit Shakti Kendra, Ahmedabad district, on August 1, to reach Delhi on August 7. Text of the petition, asking the President to accept the coin to be placed in the new Parliament building:

***

To:
Honorable Ram Nath Kovind, President of India
Honorable Om Birla, Speaker, Lok Sabha
Honorable Venkaiah Naidu, Chairman, Rajya Sabha
Honorable N.V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India
We, the citizens of the world from India and the diaspora, offer our solidarity with the March for an Untouchability-Free India organized by the Dalit Shakti Kendra, Navsarjan Trust, and the Dalit Foundation.
We call on the Government of India to place this one-ton brass coin in the newly-constructed Parliament Building as a reminder of the work yet to be done in order to eliminate untouchability in India.
We wholeheartedly stand in support of the complete elimination of all vestiges of untouchability in India by the year 2047 (the centenary of India’s independence.)
We further pledge to work for an end to casteism and caste discrimination in India as well as in the diaspora.

About the Bhim Rudan March:

The Bhim Rudan (Cries of Dr. Ambedkar) march is taking place from Ahmedabad to Delhi, India, from August 1-7, 2022. This march is jointly organized by the Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK), Navsarjan Trust, and the Dalit Foundation, Ahmedabad, India.
As part of the march, a one-ton brass coin will travel to Delhi to be handed over to the Indian government to display in the new Parliament building that is under construction. The coin displays the question: “Will the 1947 dream of an untouchability-free India be a reality in 2047?”
This coin etched with the above question was a labor of love made possible by thousands of citizens across India, who contributed their household brass vessels to be melted and cast into this giant coin. The coin shows the face of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on one side and Lord Buddha on the other. Etched around the coin is the word ‘untouchability’ in multiple regional languages.
The organizers of this effort state that "Our wish is that the coin be placed in the newly constructed Parliament House to remind us of the fact that we have failed in building a nation free of untouchability even after 75 years of independence. The glory and pomp of the new house of Parliament will shine only when untouchability is abolished in reality. This was the dream of Dr. Ambedkar."

Supporting the Campaign:

A personal message from Martin Macwan, Convener of Navsarjan Trust and the spirit behind the Bhim Rudan campaign:
“I appeal to all of you to make a financial donation to the Bhim Rudan campaign and to forward this appeal for funds to friends and family. No matter how small the donation is, even if it is 1 rupee, we will appreciate the same. “We have little time to reach out personally to many people and hence, this appeal. At the end of the campaign, we will publicly release a full financial report of the campaign.
“We have with us a replica of the coin (image shown above) in copper, It weighs 72 grams and has a diameter of 60 mm. If you are in India and would like to have it, we will post the same to you for a noble contribution of Rs. 350 including postal/courier charges."
For Indian Citizens: You can donate here.

For any questions, the email ID of Navsarjan is: finance@navsarjan.org.
For Foreign Passport Holders: You may consider making a donation to Dalit Solidarity Forum or Hindus for Human Rights to support their work in the diaspora in fighting caste discrimination and all forms of bigotry.
For any questions on this petition, please contact raju@hindusforhumanrights.org
---
Click here to sign the petition

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Four J&K MLAs visit Wular lake, pledge support to fisher community, environmental conservation

By Shamim Ahmed* In a historic meeting that highlighted both environmental and social concerns, four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) visited Wular Lake to meet with the fisherfolk community, signaling a significant step in addressing their longstanding issues. This gathering, organized with the support of dedicated advocates, marks a strengthening of efforts to both safeguard the lake’s ecosystem and support the community’s welfare.

Supreme Court’s dismissal of PIL on Covid vaccine safety is counter to known science and mathematics

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covax...

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Search This Blog