Birthday Special
Birthday Special
of others and dream shared dreams? Does the entire country feel sorrow when Dalits are oppressed? Is the forced acquisition of tribal lands a national concern? If citizens do not have a sense of shared belonging in moments of distress, then despite living on the same piece of land and waving the same flag, we are still not a nation. For nationhood, we must also learn to forget the bitterness of the past.
In the formation of any great nation, there are several unpleasant events, many of which are violent, and these memories become barriers to creating a sense of shared belonging among people. Therefore, it is essential for the victorious groups, especially, to try to forget these events. A nation exists when it is in the collective consciousness of the people. Baba Saheb wanted the people of India, above all other identities, to consider themselves as Indian first, and national unity would be established in that way. In light of current disputes, Baba Saheb’ s ideas about the nation need to be revisited and absorbed once again.
Baba Saheb had said that India ' s patriots and nationalists are unique, and India is a unique country. The nationalists and patriots in India are unique too. In India, a patriot and nationalist is someone who sees others being treated as less than human, yet does not feel the urge to oppose it. He knows that the rights of people are being taken away, but does not feel the civil sensitivity to help. He knows that a group of people is being excluded from public life, yet he does not feel the need to act. He is aware of the many harmful customs that hurt humans and society, but they do not arouse feelings of hatred. A patriot desires power only for himself and his own class. I am glad that I am not part of that group. I belong to the group that stands for democracy and wishes to dismantle all forms of monopoly. Our goal is to implement the principle of " one person, one value " in every aspect of life— political, economic, and social.
Dr. Ambedkar’ s entry into public life in the backdrop of social changes in the 19th and early 20th centuries was a significant energy source that brought about a decisive turning point for social revolution in Indian society. Dr.
Ambedkar was not only a profound thinker, legal expert, and warrior for social justice, but his ideological vision also demonstrated the courage to oppose injustice, coupled with an unwavering commitment to walk the moral path, showing the society in search of values the right direction. Indian society is both diverse and unequal. Diversity is natural, but inequality is not; therefore, it is essential to reflect on this.
Dr. Ambedkar’ s moral courage not only opposed the unequal social system of his time but also exposed its harmful
8 Dalit Andolan Patrika | April 2025