A Peoples’ Republic Day Celebration

 

Mysore: A peoples’ celebration of the Republic Day was organized here today at the Sawai Chowk by the SDPI Chamaraja Committee. The gathering here consisted largely of autorickshaw drivers, petty traders and workers and salesmen of Meennabazar and members of the Meenabazar Merchants Association.

 

After the flag hoisting the National Anthem and the National song ‘ Sare Jahan sey Achha’ were sung with great spirit by the whole gathering.

The main speaker of the occasion Prof. Shabbir Mustafa explained the importance and significance of The Republic Day. He dwelt on the virtues of the Indian constitution and recalled the profound contributions of Baba sahib Ambedkar in preparing this great Constitution. He also narrated how in the election to the Constituent Assembly some fundamentalist organizations had ensured his defeat from his home constituency. But realizing the importance of  Ambedkar’s presence in the Constituent Assembly a Dalit member of the Muslim League from the then Bengal had vacated his seat and the League had fielded Ambedkar and got him elected.

In hia speech Mr. Azam Pasha the Gen. Secretary of the city unit of the PFI lamented the discrimination against the minorities, dalits and the OBCs in free India in the fields of education, employment, economic and political life etc. He gave a rousing call to all people to ensure true social justice. He also warned people not to be fooled by the promises of sops to the weaker sections of society by the major political parties whenever elections approached.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Mrs. Fathima Bi, Abdulla Ansari, Noor Khan and Nayeem Khan, all office bearers of the SDPI. The function concluded with vote of thanks by Tabrez Sait the president of the SDPI Chamaraja Committee.