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THE GLOBAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY
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"Learn to live in this world with self-respect. You should always cherish some
ambition to do something in this world. They alone rise who strive. Some of you
nurse the wrong notion that you will not rise in this world. But remember
that the age of helplessness has ended. A new epoch has set in."--Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
DR. AMBEDKAR AWARD FOR RUNOKO RASHIDI
Posted by RUNOKO RASHIDI
New Delhi: The prestigious Dr. Ambedkar International Award given to Runoko Rashidi, the celebrated Afro-American historian and Dalit Voice American representative, was received by V.T. Rajshekar, Editor of Dalit Voice, here in New Delhi, India on December 5, 1999.
The Award, instituted by the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademy (BDSA), was presented by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit.
Those present included Mata Prasad, a former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Hiralal Parmer, ex-MP from Gujarat, Jogendra Kawade and Justice Bhairavia of Gujarat High Court.
Dr. Sumanakshar, president of the BDSA, in a hard-hitting welcome speech, criticized the Vajpayee Govt. for including an "anti-human" person like Arun Shourie in the cabinet and demanded his dismissal. He was critical of Menaka Gandhi for her anti-Dalit policies and the upper caste judiciary for sabotaging SC/ST reservations.
Taklatora Indoor Stadium, where the function was held, was packed with Dalit writers from all over India.
SOURCE:
Reprinted from Dalit Voice: The Voice of the Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights (January 1 - 15, 2000)
V.T. Rajshekar is the Founder and Editor of Dalit Voice: The Voice of the Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights, published fortnightly from New Delhi, India.
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Revised: November 04, 2000.
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