For those who had known Babu Jagjivan Ram as the icon of dalits, the 105th birth anniversary of the great visionary organised in the city on Thursday, brought to fore his multi-faceted personality right from his nascent life.
Delivering a talk on Babu Jagjivan Ram who also rose to decorate the seat of deputy prime minister of the country, K Sadashiva from the History department of University of Mysore, said Babu had a strong desire for studying literature in its original form.
His curiosity was such that, he learnt Bengali language only to pursue his love for literary works in the very language.
He also had vast knowledge on Sanskrit.
Dwelling on his early student life, Sadashiva said, he was a topper in matriculation. He had scored cent per cent marks in Mathematics.
It angered the management of the school who questioned the principal as to how a dalit boy could score above other class students?
Not only that, an American christian missionary had even offered to sponsor Babu’s higher education abroad.
However, Babu outrightly rejected the offer, for the fear of conversion he has to agree in return for the favour. Science was his subject in the intermediate in Banaras University and he was also the recipient of Birla Scholarship then.
Before shaping his future in Indian politics, Babu at the age of 20 had successfully organised dalit movements.
He was the brain behind Ravidas Mahasabha an organisation committed for the welfare of dalit upbringing by creating awareness against liquor and how to keep good health.
Similarly he had organised many such movements, that holds mirror to his acumen to mobilise people.
Though he emerged as finest parliamentarian, it was again due to his student days where he had successfully participated in mock parliaments.
Though he held various ministries during his four decade long political life from 1946, it didn’t deter him from breaking out of the shackles of Congress party, he was deeply associated with, after emergency.
Babu was also responsible for installing a non-Congress government in the centre.
Vice-chancellor, University of Mysore, V G Talawar inaugurated the programme organised by Babu Jagjivan Ram Studies, Research and Extension Centre in coordination with SC, ST Special Cell at Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies.
Former vice chancellor H J Lakkappa Gowda, visiting professor of extension centre Lakshminarayan Aurora, deputy registrar of SC, ST Special Cell, S Anjaneya, director, Students Welfare, D K Srinivas, director, KIKS, K N Ganga Naik and director of extension centre Mylahalli Revanna were present.