‘Dr. Jagjivan Ram was a frontline Dalit leader in freedom movement’

Rajya Sabha MP Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah inaugurates two-day workshop at UoM

Mysuru: Asserting that Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram was a frontline Dalit leader in India’s freedom movement, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah said that the iconic Dalit leader is also one of the main architects of modern India.

He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop on  “ Research Studies on Jagjivan Ram” and “Research Activities in Language and Social Sciences”, organised jointly by University of Mysore’s (UoM)Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Studies, Research and Extension Centre and  UoM SC/ST Special Cell, at the Centre premises in Manasagangothri here this morning, marking Dr. Jagjivan Ram’s 114th birth anniversary.

Noting that though many Universities of the country have Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Dr. Jagjivan Ram Study Chairs, Dr. Hanumanthaiah regretted that most of them have either become inactive or under-functioning.

Stressing on the need for maintaining a perfect co-ordination between the Study Chairs in all Universities, he said that such a co-ordination will largely help in organising creative activities that will help in elimination of social evils and maladies.

Bemoaning that the inhuman practice of manual scavenging is still prevalent in the country  at a time when the country is preparing for celebrating the 75th year of Independence, the RS MP said that many civic workers have lost their lives due to this malaise. 

Wondering why technology is not being used for ending the manual scavenging practice, he urged the Government for stricter implementation of the law that prohibits manual scavenging.

Pointing out that 80 percent of the country is literate, Dr. Hanumanthaiah said that, however, most of the remaining 20 percent who are illiterate belong to Dalit  and Tribal communities.

Calling for more measures for economic empowerment of Dalit and all other marginalised sections of society, he said that Dr.Ambedkar and Dr.Babu Jagjivan Ram Jayanthis must be used as a motivational force to end social evils, injustice and indiscrimination.

UoM Registrar Prof. R. Shivappa, Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Studies Centre Director Prof. K. Sadashiva, Visiting Faculty Prof. C. Ramaswamy, SC/ST Special Cell Deputy Registrar Dr. S. Mahadeva Murthy and others were present.

The two-day event, which concludes tomorrow,  features  a number of sessions, seminars and lectures, with talks by subject experts.