NEW DELHI: Parliament street buzzed with energy but traffic was not the reason. On the 124th birthday anniversary of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, the Parliament street in Delhi enthusiastically indulged in celebrations, with hundreds of people across the nation participating in the annual event.

Colorful stalls were set-up of all sizes of various organizations, Unions and NGOs who work for the 'Dalit cause' imparting awareness through books, pamphlets etc and through various cultural activities. The street echoed with beats of drum on one hand and of inspirational songs playing on the huge speakers on the other. Flash mob, Yoga , Acrobatics were performed by school and college students who volunteered with various organizations. Food stalls selling all kinds of popular Delhi eateries were available. The street looked like one big birthday celebration. On the outside the traffic was slow but moved smoothly and this whole lane that was blocked for the celebrations echoed with slogans hailing 'Babasaheb' -B.R.Ambedkar.

Kind of mini-fest, this particular celebration is indeed not organized by any single umbrella association. Asha Kowtal, General Secretary of All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch(AIDMAM), explains how this works, "We don't have any one organization who plans this event. We come here two-three days before and block our space for our stall. We stay here in the stall overnight to ensure our place. That is how all of the other organizations do. We are small individual units working for the same bigger cause." The event is organized every year and is attracting more and more number of people from its target group from everywhere. "This event is all about keeping the legacy of B.R.Ambedkar alive. To inform more and more people about the existence of such associations who work for various causes related to SC/STs. This is not just a birthday celebration, it is an activism alongside", says Asha.

AIDMAM is working to re-write the modern history of Dalits and launched a website in 2014, dalithistory.com. "We(Dalits) are known in this nation, but for all the wrong reasons. We want our generations ahead to know us for better reasons than victims of discrimination."The website also hosts an online tracking system of various complaints that are filed." From the FIR to judgment, you can keep a tab on discrimination. We help people file complaints and guide them through the procedure, especially the women, Dalit and tribals", informs Asha.

For someone living in Delhi, educated and ignorant to discrimination might feel that 21st century has definitely liberalized when it comes to caste-based discrimination. But 22 year old Anju who is the National Youth coordinator of AIDIAM will tell you otherwise, "Once a neighbor aunty told the family of our friends to not involve with us- apni bahu betiyo ko aap kese in chamaro k saath uthne bethne de skte hai(how can you allow your sisters and mothers to involve with these low castes), that is what she advised them". But perhaps this matters more to the generation before us but Anju tells that, "I have been a victim and I know. Our generation does not out rightly discriminates, they won't be vocal about it like that neighbor aunty, but there are undertones. Discrimination has its own silent ways too".

A 19 year old volunteer, Kajal, shares, "I had gone with my friends to fill scholarship forms. That is when they got to know that I am a Dalit. Next day onwards, they were reluctant talk to me, there was hesitation, unwillingness." Kajal further explains, that such friends never harassed her or bothered her ever in any severe or straight- forward manner but their perception about her changed. "unki nazer me tha sab kuch. Ab main sirf Kajal nhi thi(it was all in their eyes. Kajal , was not my identity anymore)".

Meanwhile these young Dalit girls are fighting against the discrimination, silent or otherwise, a student at Kirori Mal College, Meenakshi pursuing her M.A in English literature had her own two cents to add. Researching on 'Caste-based discrimination' for four months now, she believes in shedding surnames. "Neutral names, these should be our choice. Us who are educated and understand the politics of caste can begin with a small step that will help us to change things on a larger scale. Why make your caste your identity. Just choose a nice name for your kids and that's it". A pundit by caste, Meenakshi has made it a rule not to reveal her surname, which is 'Shukla'. "I introduce myself only as Meenakshi. That is my name, my identity. If anyone asks me for my 'full name', I simply deny and say that I don't have a surname".

But Anju is not so convinced. "Maybe it(shedding surnames) might be of any use but in my experience I don't necessarily have to give my surname to confirm my caste status. In posh Delhi areas like Green Park or G.K it might not matter people at all who is living next door, but in areas like Lado Sarai or Vasant Vihar, people look at us and they just happen to know that who we are. You can't escape it. You can't hide it".

So are Dalit women greater victims of discrimination than men are? All the young girls standing around agree in a unison. But 22 year Old Gaurav Gill says, "It doesn't matter what caste you may belong to, if you are a girl, your challenges will always be different from men". Gaurav Gill, hails from Haryana but works in a furniture company in Punjab. He came to Delhi to attend this event. And yes he has been a victim of caste discrimination. His discrimination though lead to his conversion from 'Valmiki Dalit' to a Buddhist. "I started working for NGOs in 2011.

It happened by chance. But when I came in touch with the issue and its politicization that is when I started reading about Baba Saheb." Gaurav dropped his studies and would have been a wayward Dalit youth if he had not been influenced by the ideas of the most enigmatic Dalit leader B.R.Ambedkar. "I remember reading a story in school about Babasaheb in 6th standard. But that is all I had ever known about him. It was only after 2011 that I met people who talked about his ideologies and believed in them. It took me four years to undergo this change. I am still in the process, there is a lot that great Babasaheb expects of us and we need to carry his beacon". But isn't it strange that a Dalit did not know of B.R.Ambedkar all his life? "Yes, that is the loophole. If I had read more and known about him ever since a teenager, my life would have been so different. I have two brothers and now they too follow Buddhism. I introduced them to Baba Saheb".

There are others in the group who have let go of Hinduism and actively propagate the ideas of Babasaheb. Clearly, the youth are better informed and armed with the modern technology to work for their cause. Though the current generation no more boldly voice prejudices which obviously roots from our parents and grand-parents, but the silent treatment too eventually will have to go away. Like Gaurav concluded the conversation saying that, "Yes we have hope. We have tons of hope. If I could awake to the Dalit cause and empower myself to fight for it then there will be many like me who'll find their way too. But yes, if the general people won't try to change their mindsets then the struggle will be longer".

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