Kathmandu, July 17- On this Saturday (July 19), the Constituent Assembly (CA) members will vote for Ram Prit Paswan (UML) and Maan Bahadur Bishwakarma (NC) to elect them respectively as the first ever President and Vice-President of Nepal, if Dalits are to be at least partially compensated for discrimination and oppression meted out to them for centuries. However, in the real world of political equations playing complex role, it is less likely that it will happen in it’s entirety. Nominated by Maoists the largest party and if supported by the fourth largest party Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum (MJAF), Ram Raja Prasad Singh, who is an iconic leader and veteran advocate of establishing a republic in Nepal already commands little over simple majority of votes only from the two sponsoring parties. Other smaller parties may also add some feathers in his hat in decorating him as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. In the election of the Vice-President, however, many alternative possibilities may play the game. One of the most probable things to happen is that Maan Bahadur Bishwakarma will win in this game. The votes of the second largest party NC, the votes of Dalit CA members largely from Maoists’ camp, and the votes of CA members from smaller parties that did not field their candidates for either of the two top positions can be counted on to catapult him to the second-in-command position. For the greater interest of Dalits, who have been most oppressed and downtrodden in the history of Nepal, it shall be an epoch making event to have a Dalit as the first ever Vice-President of the country. Can all Dalit CA members unite on this? Can Dalit CA members from Maoists camp convince their top Party leadership and Chief Whip that they could have a little non-partisan politics for a good cause of their own? Answers to these questions will have heavy bearing on the outcome of this election.

Report by:
Bhakti Nepal
for nepaldalitinfo network

The nepaldalitinfo adds (July 19, after the election results came out) :

It was understandable that the political parties, which nominated Dalit leaders Ram Prit Paswan and Maan Bahadur Bishwakarma respectively for Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates had not fielded them any seriously to elect them to the country’s top positions. The candidates were used only as the Baliko Bokos (the pawns) in the political game fastly unfolding, as they did not have even an opportunity to withdraw their candidacies. In the results, both the candidates were deprived of votes from the CA members of their own parties. This is one of the many instances where all Dalits and particularly their leaders should rethink about their allegiance to their political parties that do not serve their interests.

Desirably, if Madheshis could claim the President, Dalits should have gotten the Vice-President, while a Bahun is almost certainly going to be the Prime Minister, and Janajati may get the CA Speaker, some of the persons holding these positions being women. We will have to go a long way ahead to see such a situation materialized.

RELATED NEWS:

Candidates for president, veep file nominations; Singh stands fair chance (Nepalnews.com)

राष्ट्रपति र उपराष्ट्रपतिमा सातजना उम्मेदवार (BBC Nepali Service)

- Uday Pariyar
ud.pariyar@gmail.com

Kamal Nepali suddenly became a superhero after he successfully rescued a little girl trapped in the Seti river crevasse for over 20 hours. He received bravery awards from many organisations and individuals. The media gave an unprecedented coverage of his achievement. We even heard of competition between two TV stations in Kathmandu over who should project Kamal’s heroism better.

Kamal Nepali with PM Girija Prasad Koirala after the felicitation of the little superhero by Government of Nepal

That fateful deed saved the life of a two and half year old girl and dramatically changed the life of the rescuer - a 13-year-old poor Dalit boy in Pokhara. He received not just name and fame but also money and an opportunity for quality education in Kathmandu. The boy deserves it all for his extraordinary deed.

Everybody is excited about the outcome, but interestingly nobody has asked the obvious moral and legal questions about the process. A simple question we can ask ourselves is, would we contemplate sending our kids as small as Kamal for a potentially fatal rescue mission such as this one? Would the girls’ parents consent to send their elder child down for the same task? If another unfortunate incident of a similar nature occurred again, should we venture another child down the deep gorge? Was it right to use the boy?

It was a violation of national and international laws to exploit a child like that. It is annoying to see that even the organisations that claim to champion the movement against exploitation of child labour such as CWIN actually welcomed the task and announced cash prize for Kamal, instead of condemning the use of the child.

What prevented the government, child and human rights organisations, intellectuals and civil society to point out the serious mistake? What do ILO, UNICEF, OHCHR and like minded organisations think about this event? Who would be responsible if Kamal had got trapped and killed? He would have easily lost his life if everything had not gone right. There was no way of saving him because he was sent to a deep hole where nobody was able to enter. The other side of the coin would have the loss of life of one more innocent kid.

According to the news, he was asked for his consent to undertake the risky task. Still it was wrong because he was not an adult who could make an independent, rational choice about his actions. As a minor, he was not able to envisage the potential dangers to his life. Besides, he was not a trained rescue worker and was not given any training before he was sent for the arduous task. Probably his parents were also not consulted beforehand. From that perspective, it was an illegal and immoral undertaking.

It is not hard to understand that he was assigned the task because everybody involved were least bothered about his safety and security. He was used because he was a son of poor, uneducated cobbler parents struggling to feed the family. He was exploited. The fact remains that even dogs are not sent for any dangerous missions without training and preparing them well. In essence, it appears the rescuers and others were prepared to sacrifice a boy’s life in an effort to try and save the unfortunate girl. Everybody’s life is equally important and valuable, isn’t it?

The other big question is – why did the father let the girl fall down the crevasse in the first place? There are many children who get killed or physically harmed every year due to parent’s carelessness, very few are as lucky as little Aradhana Pradhan.

(This article also appeared in this week’s issue of Newsfront weekly, Nepal)

RELATED NEWS:

National Hero born in a Dalit community: Kamal Nepali receives accolades for his bravery

News from ekantipur.com

Accolades, money showered on Kamal

BY PREM NEPALI

KASKI, June 27 - Kamal Nepali, 12, who rescued two-and-half year old Aradhana Pradhan from a 60-feet deep gorge in Pokhara on Wednesday at risk to his own life has been given a number of rewards and words of appreciations.

On Thursday, Nepali could not even attend all the functions organized to felicitate him for his bravery. His hectic schedule was proof that this young boy from a poor family had turned into a public hero.

Commending his valor, various organizations and individuals in Pokhara city were making preparations to felicitate him, but they could not get hold of him as he had already bought an air-ticket for Kathmandu. Since early morning, Nepali remained busy. Media jostled for an interview.

Amidst this hectic activity, leaders of the Democratic National Youth Union, Gandaki chapter were complaining that they only got five minutes to felicitate him. “We did not get time to even hand over the money collected in different places,” said Rajiv Pahari, president of the union, adding that the government should honor him for his valor.

Ashbir Nepali of Annapurna Mijar Society was complaining that he could not hand over to him a shawl and a token of appreciation. Many have been showing eagerness to sponsor his education and ensure him a successful future. His father Nil Bahadur, who makes shoes for a living, was more than happy to acknowledge all the appreciation together with his son.

“I had never imagined in my wildest dreams that he would win such rewards and appreciation at such a tender age,” he quipped.

Money pours in
Meanwhile, many organizations have shown interest in rewarding Kamal. Commending his courage in rescuing a child from a ‘death trap’, Everest Insurance Company Ltd on Thursday announced a cash award of Rs 101,001, along with a token of appreciation.

Industrialist and president of the insurance company, Rajendra Khetan, in a statement also pledged to give Rs 21,001 to the rescued child for her patience.

Likewise, Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN), an NGO involved with the rights of child workers, promised to award Nepali a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and commend his bravery. CWIN, in a statement, also wished speedy recovery to the rescued child. She is undergoing treatment at Pokhara-based Manipal Hospital.

Who is Kamal?

BY KULCHANDRA NEUPANE

POKHARA

Born in an impoverished family, Kamal Nepali is the youngest son of Nil Bahadur Nepali. Previously residents of Ram Bazaar, Kamal’s family now lives in Tutang since the their house at Ram Bazaar was sold to clear a debt.

Kamal’s family and friend know him as a restless and brave boy who scoots off into the neighborhood sometimes performs acrobatic stunts, wowing his friends and elders alike. His friends know him better as Michael. Kamal’s father, Nil Bahadur, who knew about his son’s heroic deed only after the whole thing was over, is proud of his son’s extraordinary feat.

“Kamal is very fond of children. This might be the reason why he risked his life to save the little girl in the first place,” said Nil Bahadur. Sumek Adhikari of Nepal Canoeing Association says, “Kamal projected incredible valor when I first saw him volunteering for this dangerous task.” “A brave son like Kamal is what a country like ours needs.”

Extraordinary tale of nation’s little hero

Until Wednesday, little did this 12-year old lad know he would rescue a toddler stuck some 60 feet below a treacherous gorge, just bigger than a rabbit hole, and be hailed as a hero nationwide.

Just like any other day, Kamal was home watching television, unaware that a baby girl Aradhana Pradhan was fighting for her dear life inside the gorge for almost two days. All this while the locals and rescue personnel from Nepal Canoeing Association from Kathmandu, along with Nepal Army soldiers were making rescue bids to save the child without success.

Kamal knew about the situation only after his elder brother Salum, who was actively engaged in the rescue bid since day one, brought him to the incident site to try Kamal’s petite physique into the narrow gorge to rescue the little girl.

Salum himself had staked his life in the gorge to rescue baby Aradhana but he could not make it below 25 feet due to the narrow hole beneath him. After hearing disappointed rescue personnel say that only a small boy could enter the slender hole, Salum had brought his brother Kamal to undertake the Herculean task.

At first, locals raised their eyebrows at Salum for trying to risk his own brother’s life by lowering him down the narrow gorge, where another minor was already trapped. But after Salum decided to go for it and Kamal too accepted the risk audaciously, locals accepted this bold step.
sa
Rescue personnel then helped Kamal to put on the safety harness and took him down till the spot from where the gorge got narrow. From there on all hope lay on Kamal. Two rescue personnel waited for Kamal outside the narrow passage of the gorge, while he lowered himself down following instructions from rescue personnel through walkie-talkie.

The crowd outside were on tenterhooks all this while until Kamal emerged from the gorge with Aradhana tucked inside a bag. Kamal emerged as the savior of Aradhana, he emerged as a hero. He won the hearts of the crowd.

But most of all Kamal won the hearts of Aradhana’s parents, John and Easter, by saving their only daughter from the death trap. Overjoyed by their daughter’s rescue at the hands of this little boy, they decided to regard Kamal as their son.

The doctors involved in the treatment of little Aradhana say the girl is doing fine and she shall be discharged soon.

Posted on: 2008-06-26 20:50:48 (Server Time)

the nepaldalitinfo special report

Baltimore (Maryland), June 23- Nepali-American Society for Oppressed (NASO) Community is holding its First Convention in Washington DC, United States on Saturday, August 9, 2008. A number of distinguished speakers will be giving their talk on contemporary issues relating to elimination of all forms of social oppression including caste discrimination and untouchability in Nepal, and relevant topical interactions among participants in the program are planned for the day.

“Even though we had organized a number of general meetings and interaction programs in the past, this convention is going to be a historical gathering,”, said Mr. Dharam Bishwakarm, the NASO President, “We are expecting participants to arrive from “Coast to Coast” and from North (Canada) to the South in Americas”

Watchout for further details of the Convention Programs at this page!

For more information, please contact:
Dharam Bishwokarma,
President, NASO Community
6485 Woodland Forest Dr
Elkridge, MD 21075
Phone: (443) 690-5677
Email: dbishwokarma@yahoo.com

RELATED SITES:

Nepali-American Society for Oppressed (NASO) Community’s Website

Nepali-American Society for Oppressed Community (NASO)

Nepal Dalit Information Resources

The nepaldalitinfo report by Bhakti Nepal

Kathmandu, May 26- The moment when Nepali people are to declare themselves as citizens of a republic through the first meeting of Constituent Assembly (CA), as mandated by the CA election results is only two days away. A series of national mega celebrations are underway welcoming the nation as republic. Rubin Gadharva of Janaandolan-II fame, a young artist from Dalit community, will be featuring among nationally popular artists, including Ramesh, Rayan, Madan Krishna, Hari Bansha, Manoj Gajurel, JB Tuhure, Nanda Krishna Joshi, Ramkrishna Duwal, Madhu Gurung, Hari Pangeni in a gala evening cultural show at the Open Theatre at Ratna Park. The national celebrations are planned to take place throughout the country for the whole day on May 28th. In the the morning hours, a citizen mass rally starting from Basantapur is planned.

The Citizen Committee for Republican Day Celebrations, in its media promotion through distribution of leaflets, email and internet, has urged all countrymen to partake in the celebrations.

RUBIN GANDHARVA’S MUSICAL SAGA FOR REPUBLIC:

Songs from Kathmandu (US NPR interview during the CA election)
Day to Day, April 17, 2008 · A young musician in Kathmandu offers a unique take on the Nepali Democracy Movement and the new constitution. Ballots are still being counted in Nepal, a week after the election.

Rubin Gandharva’s Pro Democratic Song (during Jana Andolan II):

Maila Nani Raichheu Beimani:

Katthmandu, May 24- Staging a demonstration in front of Prime Minister’s quarters in Baluwatar, the members of Ghandharva community demanded a CA seat out of 26 seats to be nominated by Government cabinet decision to represent their community. Both The First-Past-the Post (FPTP) as well as Proportional Representation (PR) systems failed to elect a CA member from their community.

Gandharva Community staging a demonstration demanding CA seat

Kathmandu, May 24- National Dalit Commission organized today a program to felicitate all Constituent Assembly members elected from Dalit communities.

Some of the CA Members elected from Dalit communities (Photo Source: www.nepalnews.com

RELATED NEWS:

The Rising Nepal: National

Dalit CA member feted

KATHMANDU, May 24: The National Dalit Commission honoured 49 members elected from the Dalit community to the Constituent Assembly amid a function here today.

Minister for Woman, Children and Social Welfare Pampha Bhusal honoured the CA members. On the occasion, the CA members signed on a commitment paper prepared by the commission to ensure Dalit’s proportional representation at all levels of state mechanism through the new constitution in a secular, federal and democratic state.

Declaring untouchability and caste discrimination as social crimes, the commitment paper calls for constitutional guarantee to practically end the untouchability system in Nepal.

Minister Bhusal said the Maoists would be always with the Dalits to ensure their rights through the new constitution.

Chairman of the commission Ram Lal Bishwokarma chaired the programme.

Secretary of the commission Janaki Barah, UML’s Shanta Manawi and NC’s Bijul Kumar Bishwokarma called all Dalits for unity to end feudalistic system and build an inclusive state.

Nepaldalitinfo adds:

Recently, CA member Kabita Sardar Bantar representing Madheshi Dalits has spoken with BBC Nepali Service about her commitment for Dalit community. (Listen BBC’s record of her commitment)

Kathmandu, May 14- Dalit Citizen Movement (DCM) presented a letter of memorandom to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today to pressurize the Nepal government to nominate more Dalit candidates in the constituent assembly from the remaining 26 seats to be nominated by the cabinet. The memorandom also stressed to include Gandarv and Badi communities whose representation is absent in the CA under the First Past The Post as well as the Proportional Representation systems of CA poll.

Report by:

Ram Nepali

The Memorandum follows:

मितिः २०६५/२/१
श्री सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री ज्यू,
प्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्री परिषद्को कार्यालय

ज्ञापन-पत्र

राज्यलाई सही दिशातर्फडोर्‍याउन आम जनताको महान बलिदानपछि नेपाली जनताले प्राप्त गरेको संविधानसभाको पहिलो चरणको काम अन्तिम बिन्दूमा रहेको तथ्य जग जाहेरै छ । अन्तरिम संविधान २०६३ अनुसार संविधानसभाको सभासद छनौटको कार्य मनोनित हुने २६ जनाको छनौटपछि समाप्त हुनेछ । त्यसपछि मात्र राज्य संविधान निर्माणको दोश्रो चरणको कार्यमा प्रवेश गर्नेछ । हुनत राज्यले यो प्राविधिक काम पूरा गर्दैमा राज्यको दायित्व पूरा भएको मानिने छैन, जबसम्म उक्त कार्य सम्पन्न गर्न सामाजिक, राजनितिक, संास्कृतिक, आर्थिक पक्षलाई वैज्ञानिक र न्यायिक ढंगले संबोधन गरिने छैन । यसको लागि राज्यपर्ुनसंरचना गर्दा यिनै बिषयलाई केन्द्र बिन्दुमा राख्नु पर्छ भन्ने तत्वबोध सबैमा रहेकै हुनु पर्छ ।

र्सबविदितै छ कि बिगत १ बर्षेखि संविधानसभा तथा राज्यको पर्ुनसंरचना कार्यमा मानवीय अस्तित्व नपाई रहेका दलित समुदायको लागि समुचित, न्यायपर्ूण्ा र सम्मानजनक प्रतिनिधित्व सुनिश्चित गराउन आफ्नो १५ सूत्रिय मागसहित वादी आन्दोलनको सहयोद्धा हुंदै संविधानसभा चुनावमा समेत सक्रिय भई आफ्नो उद्धेश्य प्राप्त गर्न दलित नागरिक आन्दोलन संर्घष्ारत थियो र छ । दलित नागरिक आन्दोलन मात्रै हैन, संपर्ूण्ा दलित समुदायकै भूमिका चाहे २०६२/६३ को जनआन्दोलनमा होस् या संविधानसभाको चुनाव, सबैमा अग्रणी रहेको छ । तर पनि यस तथ्यलाई राज्य पक्षबाट कहिले पनि सहि मूल्यांकन गरेको पाईएको छैन । यसैले हाम्रो आग्रह छ - हाम्रो मूल्यांकन होस्, कदर होस् ।

एकातिर दलित समुदायको उचित कदर भएको छैन भने अर्कोतिर राज्य आफैले कबुल गरेको प्रतिबद्धताप्रति पर्ूण्ा बिमुख छ । यसको ज्वलन्त उदाहरण २०६४/६/२७ मा वादी आन्दोलनकारीसंग नेपाल सरकारले गरेको वार्ता हो । उक्त वार्तामा संविधानसभामा वादी जातिको प्रतिनिधित्व सुनिश्चित गराउने कुरा उल्लेख छ । तर राज्यले त्यसतर्फपहल गरेको र राजनैतिक दललाई सचेत समेत गराएको पाईएन । प्रत्यक्ष र समानुपातिक दुवै निर्वाचन प्रणालीबाट प्रायशः दलितको पनि हरेक क्षेत्रमा अघि रहेकै जातिहरुको मात्र प्रतिनिधित्व रह्यो । वार्तामा उल्लेख भए अनुसार वादीको प्रतिनिधित्व हुन सकेन । यसले वार्ताको पर्ूण्ात उल्लंघन गर्‍यो नै साथै समग्र दलितको समानान्तर बिकास गर्ने चेष्टा समेत गरेन ।

अतः प्रत्यक्ष र समानुपातिकबाट प्रतिनिधित्व हुन नसकेको तर प्रतिनिधित्व हुनै पर्ने जातिको रुपमा रहेको वादी तथा गर्न्धर्व जात लगायतका छुटेका जातीलाई मनोनित हुने कोटामा अनिवार्य रुपमा मनोनित गरियोस भन्ने हामी जोडदार माग गर्दछौं

संस्कृत विद्यालयमा दलित धेरै

सन्तोष पोखरेल

भानु -तनहु“, वैशाख २७ - बाहुनले मात्र संस्कृत पढ्छन् भन्ने मान्यता यहा“को संस्कृत विद्यालयमा तोडिएको छ । भानुस्थित भानु संस्कृत माविमा ब्राह्मणभन्दा धेरै दलित र जनजाति छन् । यसमा पनि अधिकांश विद्याथी छात्रा हुन् ।

दस कक्षासम्म पढाइ हुने विद्यालयमा ब्राह्मणबाहेक अन्य जातिका विद्यार्थी दोब्बर छन् । छात्रा पनि बढी छन् ।

प्रधानाध्यापक सुधीरकुमार झाका अनुसार विद्यालयका करिब ३ सय ५० व्ािद्यार्थीमध्ये २ सय ५० दलित, जनजातिलगायत छन् । दलित-जनजातिमध्ये आधीभन्दा बढी

छात्रा छन् ।

१९९९ सालमा स्थापित विद्यालयमा ६ देखि ८ कक्षासम्म संस्कृत विषय अनिवार्य छ । ९ र १० कक्षामा भने ऐच्छिक बनाइएको छ । गत वर्षेखि मावि तहमा अर्थशास्त्रलाई ऐच्छिक विषयका रूपमा थप गरेपछि संस्कृत पनि ऐच्छिक बनेको प्रधानाध्यापक झाले बताए ।

झाका अनुसार अर्थशास्त्र थपेपछि मावि तहमा संस्कृत पढ्नेको संख्या घट्दो छ । र्’अर्थश्ाास्त्र राख्नुअघि बाध्य भएर संस्कृतलाई ऐच्छिक बनाउनुपथ्र्यो’ उनले भने, र्’अर्थशास्त्र पढ्न पाएपछि संस्कृत पढ्ने घटेका छन् ।’ एसएलसीमा अन्य विद्यालयस“ग प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्नुर्ुपर्ने भएकाले अर्थशास्त्र थपेको

उनले बताए ।

परम्परागत रूपमा बाहुनले पढ्ने विषय अन्य समुदायका सदस्यले पढ्दा अनौठो लागे पनि अहिले सामान्य ह“ुदै गएको उनले बताए । ‘संस्कृतको जगर्ेना गर्नुर्ुपर्ने हुन थालेको छ,’ झाले भने, ‘बाहुनले जस्तै दलित र जनजाति विद्यार्थीले एकैछिनमा कविता लेख्न सक्ने भएका छन् ।’

कक्षा आठका अमृत विकले बाहुनसहित सबैले आफ्नो इच्छाअनुसार विषय रोज्न पाउनुपर्ने बताए ।

‘पहिले पहिले स्वस्थानीका श्लोक पढ्नसमेत मुस्किल हुन्थ्यो, अहिले सरर पढ्न सकिन्छ,’ उनले भने, ‘नेपाली भाषालाई सजिलो र सरल बनाउन यसले मद्दत गरेको छ ।’ संस्कृत विषय पढ्दैमा कुनै फरक नपरेको ८ कक्षाकी करुणा विकले बताइन् । अरूको भन्दा फरक विषय पढ्दाको आनन्द बेग्लै हुने उनको भनाइ छ । ‘संस्कृत ज्ञानको भण्डार हो यसलाई बचाइराख्नुर्ुपर्छ,’ उनले भनिन् ।

संस्कृतलाई टपरी विद्या भनेर हेला गरे पनि यसले नेपाली भाषालाई शुद्ध बनाउने संस्कृतका शिक्षक हरिभक्त ढकालले बताए । समयअनुसार परिवर्तन हुने भन्दैमा संस्कृतलाई पनि भुल्न नहुने उनको तर्क छ ।

Source: ekantipur.com Posted on: 2008-05-09 19:31:07

International Commissison for Dalit Rights (ICDR) is organizing an Interaction Program on

“Internationalize Dalit Rights Movements in Changing Society: Indian Experience”

on Saturday, May 17 2008, from 3.30 PM to 5.30 PM
at the American University, May Garden Centre
Room # 200 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D. C.

Invitation

Greetings from ICDR!

International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) is pleased to invite you in the interaction program on “Internationalize Dalit Rights Movement in Changing Society: an Indian Experience”. This program will focus on existing movement against the caste based discrimination, social inequalities, poverty and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s conversion to Budhism, who is the chief Architect of the constitution of modern India. The program also shares about the “real life of Dalit people” in the grassroots and its immediate impact in India.

The program will actively engage participants to ask the questions and share their thoughts with a Key speaker. We expect to gain a better understanding of the different dynamism of social exclusion and inequality like caste or work and descent based discrimination, role of religion, current Dalit rights movement, both at the international and ground levels, and their degree of effectiveness towards the social inclusion and justice.

We would like to invite you to participate in the program in an effort to internationalize Dalit rights movement in changing society in May 17 2008 at the American University, Washington DC. Please register your participation in advance.

Please contact Mr. DB Bishwakarma, President-International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR) via email at db@icdrforum.org or Shoshanna Sukma, American University on sumka@american.edu for further information. We would be obliged.

We are looking forward to your active participation in the program.

Sincerely,

Wendy Serafin,
Secretary General,
International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR)
International Secretariat, Washington DC, USA
wendy@icdrforum.org

Key Speaker Mr. Mangesh Dahiwale’s brief biography:

Mr. Mangesh Dahiwale is a prominent civil/Dalit rights advocate in India. He is working as the Director for International Relations at the JAMBUDVIPA TRUST in India, which is based on realization of vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedker to transform society through peaceful means. Mr. Dahiwale has been served as an officer in the Ministry of Commerce of Government of India and WTO respectively. He has a wide range of experience and actively engaged in people centre civil/Dalit rights movement and represented for national as well as international agencies. Many of his articles on social justice, Budhism, caste system and Dalit rights have been published in various media and he has presented many papers at seminars in Indian and abroad. He is also highly involved in the socially engaged Buddhist movement both in Indian and through out the world. He is an electronic engineer by education.

International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR):

ICDR is an independent and impartial global forum whose mission is to enhance, educate and empower civil and political leaders from Dalit Communities and their local and national organizations, as well as other concerned civil and state agencies. The ICDR was formed, and is managed by Dalits; it is supported by academia, development professionals, and international rights activists. Currently, ICDR is engaged in South Asia specifically in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan where we enhance and empower Dalit in socio-political process and collaborate with various stakeholders. These partnerships are established to achieve effective national and global development policies and programs , as well as to alleviate discrimination and extreme poverty.