MODI TURNS AMBEDKAR’S DREAM INTO REALITY!

The narrators highlight that PM Narendra Modi has consistently led the charge in bringing Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s vision to life, transforming his dreams into reality by dedicating himself to uplifting every marginalized and deprived member of society with a mission-driven approach.

Ambedkar’s vision, Modi’s mission

When Narendra Modi worked as organisational general secretary of the party in Gujarat and was known little beyond the party and the state, he once told the karyakartas (workers) of Yuva Morcha, “When you go shopping to buy a shirt, you also check the colour of your trouser and see if your shirt’s colour matches with it. Same happens when you buy a kurta. You match it with your coat’s colour before buying. The same way, when you see a huge multistoried building and find a dingy bustee (slum) just beside it, don’t you see the mismatch there? How can you allow this social mismatch to exist before your eyes? You know the building has all the best facilities in the world, where the elite live. But the poor citizens live in distress in the slum. They don’t have access to clean drinking water. The roof of their house leaks in rains. There is one toilet for 25 families. Think about them too. When you are in society, working as youth activists, you must keep this mismatch too in mind and work accordingly.” This approach of Modi ji, manifested in his thought some 30-32 years back, when he was almost nothing, shows his progressive outlook, lofty vision and sensitivity. His visionary outlook has another example. Once Modi ji was informed that a woman from the Valmiki samaj had earned her PhD and was working in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. During that time, the BJP was in power in the Corporation and it had made a rule to fete any celebrity or great man like some saint or mahant who came to the city. Modi ji heard that the Shankaracharya of Dwarka was coming to Ahmedabad. He immediately took this opportunity to get that woman staffer of the Corporation honoured by the Shankaracharya. This symbolic move had a great impact in the Valmiki samaj and sent a strong message of social harmony, which was the need of the hour. The Shankaracharya appreciating and felicitating a woman from the backward community was a strong positive nudge that helped in the uplift of the community. Once while giving ticket to a Dalit woman leader, Modi ji said, “Keep working for the uplift of backward class women and improve their lifestyle by providing them proper healthcare facilities, education and social security. This is our job.” When Narendra Modi came to power as the chief minister of Gujarat, he empowered the safai karmacharis (sanitation workers/ sweepers) by upgrading Safai Karmachari Board to Safai Karmachari Nigam, thereby ensuring greater rights and privileges. He asked the authorities and leaders to ensure the children of sanitation workers don’t become sanitation workers. They must be given proper educational facilities so that they grow up into doctors, engineers, lawyers and successful entrepreneurs. They must be brought out of this cycle of menial job. Under his supervision, at least six girls (children of sanitation workers) were sent abroad for education and skill enhancement. Modi ji is one who always thinks and looks after the needs of the poor and marginalised sections of society. He has always been sensitive to their depravations and requirements and has pro-actively worked towards ameliorating them. His every action plan is directed towards the betterment of the lives of the have-nots— those who are neglected and are in the bottom rung of society, for the nation’s development is linked to the development of every section, he feels. We are also grateful for the way Modi ji took steps to honour Baba Saheb Ambedkar by preserving and developing all the locations related to the messiah of the poor and the backward. It was Modi ji who worked towards the development of the birthplace of Baba Saheb at Mhow. It was he who led the development of Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur. He also proactively acted to develop the Chaitya Bhoomi in Maharashtra. It was again Modi ji who developed 26, Alipur Road in Delhi (Dr Ambedkar National Memorial). Even the residence of Baba Saheb in London, where he lived, has been turned into a museum largely by the efforts of PM Narendra Modi. The prime minister is the one who has given the most apt tribute to Ambedkar, what the great soul actually deserved. Modi ji is behind the development of ‘Panchteerth’ - the five most important places related to the life of Ambedkar, bringing them out before the world to know, learn and respect. Who else has ever done so? Narendra Modi has always been at the forefront of living the vision of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and turning his dreams into reality by working for every downtrodden and deprived member of society in mission mode.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA