I knew I wanted to become a writer ever since I began learning the alphabets of the Hindi language. Therefore today, just after passing my tenth grade, I have got three of my poems published and many cued up to be published soon. I have a complete manuscript ready with me and currently I'm sending it to publishers. But wait, this is not all that I knew about myself as a kid.
One more interesting thing that I knew as a kid was that I shared my birthday with a legendary figure in Indian History.
Of course, then, I knew not who Dr. Ambedkar was. As I began reading the Indian history, I found his contribution in shaping Indian society. He was a man of vision. The discrimination and injustice that he faced as a kid - as most Dalits faced - were heartbreaking to even read about. His journey of changing the society from its very core by freeing the Dalits from the intellectual bondage that they faced, is not just inspiring but also worth remembering by posterity to come. Babasaheb Ambedkar must be remembered through ages. It is not exaggerating to say that he was the Nelson Mandela of our country, India. Let us all salute the legend on his 125th birth anniversary for his struggle in making India a place to live for the oppressed class, and for giving India a constitution which is one of the best in the world.
Dr. Ambedkar and his contributions ought not to be forgotten in the least, lest the racist ideology shall prevail once more. Its uprising has already begun.
©Asif Uzzaman
