Skip to main content

International petition to support the march for an untouchability-free India

International petition, floated by Raju Rajagopal to support the "March for an Untouchability-free India":
***
A 10 ft brass coin made from used brass utensils. On one side of the coin is the image of Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution. Below him is etched the question, “Will the 1947 dream of an untouchability-free India be a reality in 2047?” The other side of the coin depicts Buddha.
What is the purpose of this 2000 kg coin?
Please Read on...
As India approaches the 75th anniversary of its independence, we will soon hear a lot about the nation’s numerous accomplishments in the fields of education, health, science and technology, women’s empowerment, national defense, and so forth.
Yet, Dr. Ambedkar’s dream of an untouchability-free India remains a dream. Despite numerous laws designed to end untouchability and caste violence, not a day passes when we do not hear of atrocities against Dalits, especially women, because of who they are.
Martin Macwan, Co-founder of Navsarjan Trust in Ahmedabad strongly believes that true progress in ending untouchability and all forms of caste bigotry will only come about when there is true transformation of hearts and minds – and that requires public education on a massive scale.
As part of the broader public education on untouchability, Navsarjan Trust has been engaged in a two-year-long campaign to raise awareness that untouchability practices are still alive and well.
The last stage of the campaign, called Bhim Rudan (Dr. Ambedkar’s cries) is about to begin on August 1st – a march/pilgrimage from Ahmedabad to Delhi by over 300 activists, accompanied by the giant brass coin and one rupee donations from lakhs of poor people. These are destined for the Parliament as a reminder that the institution belongs to all Indian citizens.
The march is taking place from Ahmedabad to Delhi, from August 1-7, 2022, and is jointly organized by the Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK), Navsarjan Trust, and the Dalit Foundation, Ahmedabad, India.
The coin will be handed over to the leaders of the Parliament with a request that it be displayed in the new Parliament building as a reminder to lawmakers that the constitutional guarantee of abolishing untouchability remains a dream to date.
This international petition from the citizens of the world, including from India, is to show our solidarity with the "March of Untouchability-free India." The petition with all our signatures will be presented to the leaders of the Parliament by Mr. Martin Macwan on August 7th along with the coin and people's donations.
The petition is organized jointly by Hindus for Human Rights and Dalit Solidarity Forum.
For the story behind the making of this giant coin, please see:

Comments

TRENDING

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai*  The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan   Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan   M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

​ By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  ​The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah  A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative   Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”