RJS PBH WEBINAR ON AMBEDKAR JAYANTI EXPOSES ECONOMIC DIVIDES, PRIVATIZATION THREATS, AND THE DANGERS OF DEIFYING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECT

RJS PBH WEBINAR ON AMBEDKAR JAYANTI EXPOSES ECONOMIC DIVIDES, PRIVATIZATION THREATS, AND THE DANGERS OF DEIFYING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECT

NEW DELHI -- Marking the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the 540th continuous webinar organized by Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House (RJS PBH) evolved from a traditional ceremonial tribute into a rigorous socio-economic audit of modern India. The virtual congregation, held on April 14, 2026, coincided with the harvest festival of Baisakhi and the death anniversary of Bhuvneshwar Singh Kushwaha. It tackled uncomfortable truths about the unchecked rise of privatization, the deliberate compartmentalization of Ambedkar as merely a Dalit leader, and the systemic failures in implementing his constitutional vision for marginalized communities.

Guided by Uday Kumar Manna, National Convener of RJS PBH, and co-organizer Uday Shankar Singh, the event brought together a diverse panel of bureaucrats, academics, journalists, and social workers from across India and abroad. The session began with Uday Shankar Singh reflecting on the struggles of his father, Surya Bhuvneshwar Singh, who migrated from a small village to Delhi in 1958. Working initially for a London-based waterproofing firm, his father persevered through its closure to establish his own company in 1970, lifting dozens of others out of poverty. This narrative of grassroots struggle and empowerment set the thematic tone for the evening's deep dive into Ambedkar's legacy.

The most piercing economic critique of the session was delivered by the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Sheoraj Singh Bechain, Former Head of the Hindi Department at Delhi University. Dr. Bechain articulated a grim reality regarding the economic disenfranchisement of Dalits and backward classes in the contemporary era. He argued that the constitutional promises of reservation and representation remain largely unfulfilled, particularly in higher educational echelons such as universities, IITs, and medical institutions.

More alarmingly, Dr. Bechain highlighted the aggressive shift of national employment and resources into the private sector. He warned that marginalized communities hold zero ownership and face near-total exclusion in this arena. The wealth of the nation, he noted, is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few corporate entities, transforming rural Dalits into landless agricultural laborers who are forced to migrate to metropolitan areas in a desperate search for survival. Dr. Bechain emphasized that without structural representation in media, cinema, and industry—similar to the diversity mandates implemented in the United States post-slavery—India cannot hope to achieve the status of a developed nation like Japan or America.

The discourse also heavily emphasized Ambedkar's foundational role in women's rights, an aspect often overshadowed by his caste-reform legacy. Alka Saini, representing the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, traced the historical lineage of women's empowerment from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule to Ambedkar's courageous drafting of the Hindu Code Bill. She reminded the audience that modern rights to property, divorce, maternity benefits, and equal workplace pay were secured through Ambedkar's relentless advocacy.

This assertion sparked a notable and direct interactive session. Uday Kumar Manna challenged Saini during a live Q&A, asking her to name two specific, concrete actions her organization was taking on the ground to realize Ambedkar's dreams. Saini responded by detailing their 25-year grassroots effort to foster social harmony by bridging ideological gaps across communities, and their active campaigns to connect marginalized women with government welfare schemes to ensure their financial independence.

Building on the social narrative, Dr. Ashok Samrat, an official overseeing official language implementation for the Government of India, expressed deep dismay that an estimated ninety percent of Indian women remain unaware of Ambedkar's contribution to their fundamental freedoms. He noted that Ambedkar faced massive political backlash and deliberate marginalization for challenging the patriarchal status quo, underscoring that his fight was for universal human rights, not merely caste emancipation.

A significant controversy raised during the webinar was the political and social reduction of Ambedkar's identity. Dr. Ashok Kumar Bhargava, a former IAS officer and Secretary to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, delivered a scathing critique of the modern approach to Ambedkar's legacy. Quoting the philosopher Osho, Dr. Bhargava stated that the easiest way to dismiss a great thinker is to declare them a god. By reducing Ambedkar to an avatar and initiating his blind worship, society has successfully stopped analyzing, debating, and implementing his radical ideas.

Dr. Bhargava expressed deep pain that Ambedkar is routinely locked into a narrow caste bracket and labeled merely as a messiah for Dalits. This deliberate framing ignores his unparalleled contributions as a global economist who earned doctorates from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, the conceptual architect of the Reserve Bank of India, and a champion of labor rights who established employment exchanges and massive hydroelectric projects. Dr. Bhargava insisted that Ambedkar's empathy was for every exploited and marginalized human being, making him a universal savior of humanity rather than a factional leader.

This sentiment was echoed by Ishaq Khan from Doordarshan, who observed a troubling trend at Parliament Street in New Delhi. Khan noted that celebrations of Ambedkar are often isolated to SC/ST cells within government departments, with little to no participation from the general staff. He stressed the urgent need to take Ambedkar's universal message beyond educated urban bubbles and deep into rural villages where caste dynamics remain rigidly enforced.

The interactive nature of the RJS PBH platform brought diverse geographic and historical voices into the fold. Uday Kumar Manna engaged Dr. Shomduth Kashinath, a primary school teacher and author from Mauritius, regarding the international footprint of Ambedkar's legacy. Dr. Kashinath admitted that while Ambedkar's name is less prominent in Mauritius due to their distinct constitutional history—which is heavily influenced by British and French models—the universal ideals of education, organization, and struggle remain highly relevant in fighting global inequalities.

Adding to the historical depth of the conversation, J.P. Kushwaha, an Industrial Advisor with the Ministry of Industry, illuminated the controversial and highly calculated nature of Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism. Kushwaha recounted how Ambedkar explicitly warned Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of his impending conversion, a move that sent shockwaves through the political establishment due to the massive demographic implications. After carefully rejecting overtures from Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism, Ambedkar chose Buddhism. Kushwaha explained that this was a strategic move to revive India's ancient identity as a Vishwa Guru (World Teacher), replacing a culture of division and war with a culture of peace and equality, a legacy that still commands deep reverence across Asian nations like Japan, Thailand, and China.

The emotional core of the webinar was captured through poetry and personal anecdotes. Uday Kumar Manna recited a poem titled Avtaran Divas

written specifically for the occasion by former All India Radio broadcaster Arun Paswan. The poem eulogized Ambedkar as the true creator of independent India's egalitarian framework. Furthermore, Dr. Hari Singh Pal, the chairperson of the session, shared a poignant historical anecdote about Ambedkar's time in London. Unable to afford the university canteen, Ambedkar would eat a simple loaf of bread on a bench. When questioned by his British peers, his honest admission of poverty earned their immense respect, showcasing that his intellectual brilliance was forged in the fires of extreme destitution. Dr. Pal emphasized that without the constitution drafted by this very man, the marginalized individuals occupying high offices today, including the Presidency, would still be languishing in the dark ages.

Interspersed with the heavy ideological debates were significant organizational and national announcements. Uday Kumar Manna shared breaking political news sourced from ABP News, announcing that Samrat Choudhary had been elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party, paving the way for him to become the new Chief Minister of Bihar following Nitish Kumar's resignation. Manna contextualized this as a victory for social justice, recalling a historical moment on February 28, 2026. On that day, Choudhary had attended an RJS PBH event as a Chief Guest at the Patna residence of the late Ram Janak Singh, where a solemn pledge was taken to expand the positive media movement across Bihar.

Furthermore, Sunil Kumar Singh, Senior Program Director at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), officially announced the next major RJS PBH initiative. A comprehensive webinar is scheduled for April 17, 2026, at 7:30 PM to mark World Heritage Day. The event aims to educate the youth on India's natural, cultural, and historical heritage, ensuring that historical awareness is not lost to modern apathy. Additionally, Manna confirmed that the documentation of these intense dialogues will be immortalized in the seventh RJS PBH book, slated for release in August 2026. This publishing effort ensures that the grassroots history generated by the positive media movement is preserved for future generations. The webinar also took a moment to celebrate the academic achievement of Akanksha Manna, head of the RJS PBH creative team, who recently qualified for the UGC exams for the role of Associate Professor.

The 540th webinar concluded not just as a ceremonial homage, but as a severe call to action. As speaker Rakesh Manchanda pointed out, the constitution is not a document meant to be celebrated merely one day a year; it is a daily battle for justice against the rule of the strong over the weak. Through the meticulous organization by Uday Shankar Singh and the relentless positive journalism of Uday Kumar Manna, the Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House successfully highlighted a critical reality. Until the last person on the margins of society receives their constitutional rights, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's true Jayanti remains an ongoing, restless struggle rather than a completed historical event.