Empty seats, comedy of errors at Dr Ambedkar's death anniversary function

Mangalore, December 6: Irregularity, sluggishness and lack of preparation marked the 54th death anniversary of the architect of Indian constitution Dr BR Ambedkar organised under the joint auspices of Department of Kannada and Culture, DK and Bolpu Kala Tanda, Bantwal at Town Hall here on Monday.

Unfortunately, the invitation cards distributed by the organisers states that it is 64th death anniversary of Ambedkar. A banner put on the stage was also carried the same blunder. However, some correction was made after journalists brought the blunder to the notice of organisers.

When the correspondents belonging to different media attended the venue to cover the programme, which was scheduled to start at 10: 00 am, none of the organisers were there. Many people who came to the programme returned after witnessing the empty stage of Town Hall.

However, when the programme was started at around 11:30am there were hardly 30-40 people inside the Town Hall, which has over one thousand seats.

Interestingly, the master of ceremony commenced the programme stating that the department of Kannada and Culture in association with Bolpu Kala Tanda was organising this programme because government has released a sum of Rs 15,000 for the purpose.

The chief guest of the programme was also absent. Finally, activist MA Naik inaugurated the programme by garlanding the portrait of Ambedkar.

Expressing regret over the irregularity of the programme, and low presence of audience, he urged the organisers to correct their mistakes at least in the future.

In his five minute message, he said Ambedkar was not only a representative of Dalits but was a hope for all suppressed class and deprived people of the country including women.

Arun Furtado, Social Welfare Officer presided over the programme. Padmanabha Moodabidri, Krishna, P Keshav, K Gopal Kadumatha were among those present.

The irregular programme comes in the backdrop of allegations that Ambdekar, who fought against Manuism and caste system in India, was being sidelined in the Indian political and social history by the vested interests. Ambedkar, (14th April 1891 - 6th December 1956) was also know as an Indian jurist, political leader, Buddhist activist, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer economist, scholar, editor, revolutionary and a warrior against caste system in India.