NCDHR Condoles the Death of Shri.
K.R.Narayanan
9
November 2005
The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
(NCDHR) condoles the death of Shri. K.R.Narayanan, the honourable
former President of India and a “Pride of Dalits in Contemporary
India”. Shri. Narayanan who endeared himself to the citizens of
India by his honesty, personal as well as professional integrity
in his long and eventful public life will always be remembered as
one of the best First Citizen. He was known for breaking out of
the ceremonial mode and don the role of an proactive President of
the Republic of India.
NCDHR pays a tribute
to this great son of India who rose to astounding heights in
public service to the nation through his indomitable spirit being
born in a Dalit family, which had to face all kinds of hardship to
bring up this jewel in the crown of India. It needs no elaboration
to highlight the valuable contribution of this Statesmanship in
his public life. Yet, it needs to be emphasized that one needs to
acquire nerves of steel to withstand all kinds of hardships and
humiliations to maintain humbleness and determination to excel in
a society which is still governed by deeply entrenched traditional
norms and value system, which dehumanizes a large chunk of
population on the Indian sub continent to which Shri.
K.R.Narayanan also belonged.
Dalits of this country
always looked up to him as a symbol of pride during his
Presidency. Whenever NCDHR sought an appointment on issues
concerning the Dalit situation, it was readily granted. It was
with his blessings that NCDHR was promoted in 1998 and it was
around the time that NCDHR initiated a signature campaign to
highlight the plight of Dalits and other programmes to participate
in the World Conference Against Racism at Durban in 2001 that Shri.
K.R.Narayanan met the delegation of NCDHR and expressed his
solidarity. In the post Durban Conference phase also NCDHR had
opportunities to meet him and seek his blessings for the campaign
on Dalit Human Rights. It was Shri. K.R.Narayanan who flagged off
Dalit Swadhikar Rally on 6 December 2003 at New Delhi. Once again
NCDHR approached Shri. K.R.Narayanan for the recently organized
National Summit on Reservation in Private Sector.
He accepted the invitation and despite his
ailing health came to the Valedictory session of the National
Summit on Reservation in Private Sector on 9 August 2005 at
Mavalankar Hall in New Delhi. It was an emotional moment for
people present on this occasion as he not only released the Delhi
Declaration on Reservation in Private Sector but also administered
an oath that “We pledge ourself
on this 9th day of August 2005, that we shall carry
forward the movement started by Babasaheb Ambedkar successfully
for reclaiming our human personality by eliminating all forms of
exclusion, elimination and discrimination in both public and
private sector in this country”.
In a fitting tribute to this great champion
of human rights one should be reminded of his address to the
Nation on 25 January, 2000:
“Fifty years into our life in the republic we find that justice-
social, economic and political- remains an unrealized dream for
millions of our fellow citizens. The benefits of our economic
growth are yet to reach them…. Tragically, the growth in our
economy has not been uniform. It has been accompanied by great
regional and social inequalities. … Dalits and tribals are worst
affected by this… One half of our society guzzles aerated
beverages while the other has to make do with palmfuls of muddied
waters. Our three way fast lane of liberalization, privatization
and globalization must provide safe pedestrian crossings for the
unempowered India also, so that it too can move towards equality
of status and opportunity….”
Let us
bow our head and observe two minutes silence to pay homage and
respect to this great son of India. And let us strive together to
realize an India of his dreams.
