Mangaluru: Architect of the Indian Constitution Dr. B R Ambedkar was a visionary of the Hindu community, not an antagonist. Recognizing him just as a Dalit leader is an injustice, we do for ourselves, opined Kannada Sahithya Academy President Dr. B V Vasantha Kumar.
Delivering a special lecture on Ambedkar’s thoughts on self-reliant India in the context of National Education Policy, Skill development, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, jointly organized by Mangalore University and University College Mangaluru here at Ravindra Kalabhavana on Monday, he added that Ambedkar was a humanitarian. He believed that equality in society can be attained with the rise of the oppressed Dalits. He was not even an anti-Brahmin. He loved Brahmins who were against casteism.
“We worship Ambedkar, but don’t follow his thoughts. His dream was to build a new India by educating people. India can only become self-reliant when we love our culture and live for our country. It is not the policy of one party or the prime minister but the policy of the country,” he said.
Earlier, in his inaugural address, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that Ambedkar was concerned about the problems of society as a whole. A tea seller is the Prime Minister of the country because of his Constitution. The thoughts of Ambedkar and Nationalism should go hand-in-hand.
Presiding over the function, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya said that Ambedkar believed knowledge leads us towards humanity. He added that the new education system would complement his thoughts on the future of the country.
Mangalore Municipal Corporation Corporator AC Vinayaraj stressed that the young generation should know about Ambedkar. During his introductory remarks, Mangalore University Registrar K Raju Mogaveera said that about 2- 2.5% of children in the state are out of school. Many social problems have contributed to this. He hoped that the new education policy (2019) could solve the problem.
Principal Dr. A. Harish proposed the vote of thanks. Program Coordinator Program Coordinator Dr. Madhava M K, Mangalore University Syndicate members were present on the occasion.
“Wall of Kindness” at UCM
Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. P Subramanya Yadapadithaya said that a “Wall of Kindness’ will be launched at University College Mangaluru soon. The objective is to collect useful items from the public if they don’t need them and place them in a bag in the college so that people in need would collect them for free. Meanwhile, there is a weekend training program for women who are interested in self-employment as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he added.
