Foundation For Human Horizon – End Caste Discrimination by 2030: A Call of Action to United Nations - Velivada

In the 1940s, Dr. Ambedkar contacted Du Bois to inquire about the National Negro Congress petition to the U.N., which attempted to secure minority rights through the U.N. council. In a letter dated July 31, 1946, Du Bois responded by telling Ambedkar he was familiar with his name, and that he had “every sympathy with the Untouchables of India.” After this letter response, Dr. Ambedkar become first law minister and did not had a chance to pursue his dream to ask United Nations secure minority rights “indigenous peoples” rights for Dalits. 77 years later Deelip Mhaske a social entrepreneur, alumni of IIT Bombay, Harvard Business School ,Tata Institute of Social Sciences , Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalya and leading voice of Indian American’s in the USA politics as well as United Nations, reopen the claims of giving Dalits in India “Indigenous peoples/minority group” status in the United Nations. In his keynote speaker’s address, Mr. Mhaske requested United Nations Deputy Secretary General Madam Amina J. Mohammed to end caste discrimination by 2030. He further claimed that the United Nations has all powers to make difference in the lives of 300 million Dalits, if they formed different nations it will be third most populated nation on the planet and it will be as big as the USA but it will be the poorest country in the world, and economically, will have difficult to survive for one week . As a United Nations, they cannot ignore the suffering of millions of Dalits and women. He even presented his mother who worked 18 hours a day to give him an education. She was facilitated during the 126th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar by United Nations.

There were 140 countries more than 1000 participants registered for the event. A long “Global Harmony Day March” was also organised by Deelip Mhaske on this occasion in front of the United Nations. Worldwide Dalit organisations took part in the event. The Prime Minister of India Shri Modiji also message to Mr. Mhaske that his government is committed to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and give justice to Dalits in India.

A prominent India-born rights activist and founder of a US-based NGO, has urged the UN leadership to work towards ending caste discrimination by 2030.

Deelip Mhaske, President of the Foundation for Human Horizon and an IIT and Harvard Business School alumnus, underscored the need to follow Dalit icon Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s principles to achieve a world free of caste and race-based prejudices.

“The duty of the (world) leaders …is to the serve citizens of the United Nations and work together to move from fear of each other, to trust in each other — trust in the values that bind us and trust in Ambedkar’s principles (to) serve and protect humanity,” Mhaske said in a statement.

He called on the UN leadership to take action to end “caste discrimination completely by 2030”, saying that if technological advancement achieved in the world and the United Nations come together to work towards human values, “we will see a world without discrimination among human beings based on race, religion, gender, class and caste.”

Mhaske’s NGO, which has ECOSOC Consultative Status within the UN, had co-organised a special commemorative event along with India’s Permanent Mission to the UN and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) at the world body’s headquarters on April 13 to mark Ambedkar’s 126th birth anniversary.

During his address at the commemorative event, Mhaske had said that technological advances in the world will become inclusive only when citizens from all backgrounds are allowed to share in its opportunities.

The United Nations exists for and must serve, the needs and hopes of people everywhere. It comes down to Ambedkar’s values, he fought for each of us, and those values are enshrined in the UN Charter as well — peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance and solidarity,” he had said.

[irp]