Dr Ambedkar's 125th  birth anniversary observed at UN for first time - Opening remarks by Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative on April 13, 2016
 

Ms.Helen Clark, Administrator UNDP,

Mr. Charanjit Singh Atwal,

Ms. Kalpana Saroj, of KalpanaSaroj Foundation

Mr. Deelip Mhaske, President of Foundation for Human Horizon

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a privilege and honour to welcome you to this seminal event at the United Nations.

Observing the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is now somewhat of a tradition in modern India. He was the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and independent India's first law minister, a social reformer, jurist, economist, author and a scholar of comparative religions. A multi-faceted personality, he braved the walls of prejudice and discrimination in early 20th century India to emerge as an exemplar and an unflinching crusader against the social inequities and economic deprivation that afflicted millions of Indians.

This year, thanks to the support of civil society advocacy groups such as those led byMs Kalpana Saroja woman entrepreneur whose life story is itself remarkable in many ways and the Foundation for Human Horizons led by the young activist Mr, Deelip Mhaskewe have taken a leap of faith. For the first time we have ventured to host an event at the United Nations. We do this based on the thinking that is best put in the words of Dr. Ambedkar himself:  

'Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise both will wither and die.'

Today, we have gathered to recall both Dr. Ambedkarthe man and his ideas. He was a modern day giant whose life and philosophy is a profile of courage and conviction; a reformer who strides in the league of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela as a champion of the down trodden and a conscience keeper.

Last year, when the United Nations adopted the universal and transformative Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, we, as Indians, noticed traces of Dr. Ambedkar's vision in the 'Sustainable Development Goals'.

Let me try and provide some examples of how we see these linkages.

Reducing inequality is both a stand alone goal of SDG 10 and a cross cutting issue across all SDGs.

Dr. Ambedkar fashioned a pluralistic and inclusive Indian Constitution guaranteeing equal opportunity and freedom of expression and faith for all citizens in a secular democracy. The Constitution, drafted under Dr. Ambedkar's leadership, abolished untouchability, and outlawed all forms of discrimination. Yet Dr. Ambedkar also recognized that the quest for substantive equality and justice would remain a work in progress. 

As he said, 'In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value. In our social and economic life, we shall, by reason of our social and economic structure, continue to deny the principle of one man one value. How long shall we continue to live this life of contradictions?'

This need to combat inequalities both within and among countries remains our quest even today as reflected in Agenda 2030. 

Another example of the commonality of vision is Goal 5 of the SDGs which aims at achieving gender equality as crucial to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Dr. Ambedkar'spolitical vocabulary was one of gender empowerment and is best summarized in his statement  

 'I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved'. 

Pursuing this Dr. Ambedkar provided for special provisions for women's equality both in formal and sustainable senses in India's constitution. While all other general provisions of India's constitution are applicable to women as to men there are also provisions that enable affirmative action in favour of women to ensure that no one is left behind.

Ladies and Gentlemen 

As a historian of an earlier generation once put it 

'India embraces in its orbit beliefs, customs, rites, institutions, arts, religions and philosophies belonging to different strata of societies in varying stages of development. It eternally seeks to find a unity for the heterogeneous elements which make up its totality'.

A thought that Prime Minister Modi has summarized in the clarion call 'SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas' meaning 'Together with all, Development for all'.

It is in this spirit that we approached the keynote speaker and other panelists including from Dr.Ambedkar's alma mater Columbia University.  We are deeply appreciative of their willingness to join us here.

With these introductory remarks,I am pleased to inviteMs. Helen Clark to make her keynote statement. 

Ms. Clark is the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and the Chair of the United Nations Development Group. TheUNDP plays a critical role in helping developing countries in their efforts to implement Agenda 2030 and to achieve Sustainable Development. 

Ms. Clark has served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand for three terms. During her career in public service, she has widely engaged in policy development and advocacy across the economic, social and cultural spheres. In many ways she has championed the cause for a fairer and better world. We are grateful to her for agreeing to share her thoughts with us today on issues relating to Combating inequalities for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

You have the floor Madam.