Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: chumbermedia@yahoo.com

VOL- 11 ISSUE- 47 February 5, 2020 www.ambedkartimes.com www.ambedkartimes.org

I met Mr. C.L. Chumber during my fieldwork study visits to Jalandhar in the late1990s. In fact, after my initial familiaritywith the Ad Dharam movement and oneof its most vocal founder leaders, BabuMangu Ram Mugowalia, from the readingof the classic of Professor Mark Juergens-meyer - Religious Rebels of Punjab - itwas Mr. Chumber who helped me gettingin touch with the idiom of Dalit awaken-ing in Punjab as ignited by this historicDalit movement and its versatile progen-itors. I come to know about Mr. Chumberfrom Mr Chattarsen, eldest son of BabuMangu Ram Mugowalia, who I met alongwith late Sh. K.C. Shenmar. Sh. ShenmarSahib, Retd. police officer, had the honourto meet Babu Mangu Ram Mugowaliaafter his graduation from Forman Chris-tian College Lahore and to receive fromhim a testimonial for a suitable Job in thepre Partition province of Punjab. It waslate Mr Chattersen who told me thatmuch of the literature relating to AdDharam and some of the photographs ofthe leaders and activists of the movementwere collected by Mr C. L. Chumber fromhis family. Mr Chumber was an openhearted person. He provided me a quite

good amount of published material aboutthe movement and its most prominent

leader Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia,which he was able to carry in his monthly

Journal, entitled "Kaumi Udarian" (National Flights). My acquaintance with

Mr Chumber lasted till thevery end of his mortal jour-ney. The last I met him wasduring the marriage functionof his niece Takshila at Ja-landhar (Takshila D/O PremKumar Chumber). He was fullof zeal and zest as usual tocontribute for the bettermentof his Samaj. I saw him al-ways talking about the lifeconditions of his fellow com-munity persons and the waysthat could make the thingsbetter for them. He wasoverwhelmingly impressedby the persona of BabuMangu Ram Mugowalia andthe role of the Ad Dharammovement in bringing socialand political consciousnessamong the Dalits of Punjab.He published a souvenir onthe life of Babu Mangu RamMugowalia and the emer-

gence of the Ad Dharam movement. Healso published the famous Ad Dharam

Mandal Report in Punjabi and Hindi, anddistributed widely free of cost. He organ-ized many functions to commemorate theadvent of the Ad Dharam movement andits significant contribution towards theemancipation and empowerment of theDalits in the region. He resigned from hisrespectable Government service and be-came a full time social activist to promotethe ideals of Ad Dharam movement astaught by Babu Mangu Ram Ji Mu-gowalia. I remember him fondly on hisanniversary and pay my floral tribute tothe departed noble soul.

Floral Tribute to Mr. C. L. Chumber on his 4th Anniversary

Prof (Dr.) Ronki RamDean (Faculty of Arts)

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair Professor,Panjab University, Chandigarh (India)

In the loving Memory of Late Mr. C.L. Chumber, A dedicated Soul

Four years ago on February 6th, 2016 Mr. C. L. Chumber, Editor and publisher of “KaumiUdarian” (National Flights), Newspaper Jaland-har, suddenly left for his heavenly abode. We allmiss him for his unique role in serving the com-munity. Mr. Chumber was unequivocally a per-son of a very strong will power, firmdetermination in every endeavor of his life forsafeguarding the rights of the voiceless seg-ments of society.

He was embedded with an unflinchingspirit of dedication in reviving and glorifying theAd-Dharm Mandal movement founded byGhadri Baba, Babu Mangu Ram Muggowalia Jiin 1920s'. He was a staunch follower of Babasa-heb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Saheb Shri KanshiRam Ji for their sacrifices and services to thecause of the down trodden.MEDIA ACTIVIST: - Mr. Chumber was a re-search scholar as well as a prolific writer. By dintof his hard work, devotion and penetratingstudies into the history of the socially deprived,Mr. Chumber took a strong stand in support ofour distinct identity as the original and nativeinhabitants of India. He awakened the ignorantand the helpless people about the restorationof human rights and dignity of the down- trodden.AMBEDKAR TIMES AND DESH DOABA:- Mr.Prem Chumber, Chief Editor, Ambedkar Timesand Desh Doaba Newspapers and youngerbrother of Mr. C. L. Chumber was greatly inspired by his elder brother to start these twoweekly publications, currently in circulation in

USA.In a

recently heldf u n c t i o n( D h a n v a dSamagam)arranged byDesh Doabaand AmbedkarTimes in Hay-ward, Califor-nia, many eliteand notedspeakers likeProf. H.L.Kapur and Dr.Gian Singh ofPatiala Univer-sity also remembered and paid their tributes tothe memory of late Mr. C.L. Chumber for his valuable services to the society.

HUGE LOSS: - The loss of a persongifted with such socially awakened and liberalideas is irreplaceable and a huge setback to thesociety as a whole. He will be greatly missed byall those who admired his great ideals.

I, on behalf of all the members of theSupreme Council, Sri Guru Ravidass Sabhas,USA remember Mr. Chumber for his adorablecontributions to the society with wishes andprayers for his rich legacy to survive and continue through the esteemed columns ofDesh Doaba and Ambedkar Times, for future generations.

O.P. BalleyGeneral Secretary:

Sri Guru Ravidass Sabhas USA

C. L. Chumber commonly calledChumber Sahib was one such friendwho often comes in my thoughts as aman of substance who was fully ded-icated to the community. I thought ofreviving my cherished memories offriendship and association with Chum-ber Sahib on his death anniversary onFebruary 6 (1958–2016) through thecolumns of the “Desh Doaba” and the“Ambedkar Times”. It is gratifying tonote that both these media organswere the brain-children of ChumberSahib which are successfully run byhis worthy brother Prem Kumar

Chumber. I think Chumber Sahib, given his love for journalisticand intellectual pursuits must be happy to the plants of The“Desh Doaba” and The “Ambedkar Times” have become trees.Chumber Sahib was astaunch Ambedkaritewhile appreciative ofthe contribution of aGhadri Baba BabuMangu Ram Mugowaliato the community. Inthe present context,Chumber Sahib was anardent follower of Babu Kanshi Ram and his Bahujan Samajmovement. Chumber Sahib with his leftist leaning, if we talk ofhis political thinking, had a special flare for publications. I recallhis well-documented Souvenir on Babu Mangu Ram Mugowaliaand his endeavours to launch The “Kaumi Udarian” (NationalFlights)in the 1985s. Chumber Sahib was a temperamental socialactivist who was fully devoted and involved in the matters of in-terest and concern to the community and the society at large.

With this, I pay my humble tributes to Chumber Sahiband conclude by reciting this couplet:

न हाथ थाम सके; न पकड़ सके दामन ,बहुत करीब से उठकर चला गया कोई!

Remembering C.L. Chumber on his 4th Anniversary

Ramesh ChanderAmbassador - I.F.S. (Retired)

91-99885-10940

www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 2V0l-11 Issue-47 February 5, 2020

AKHAND PATH AND SAHEJ PATH SEWA PERFORMED BY Bhai MAJOR SINGH AND FAMILY

Waheguru blessed family of Bhai MajorSingh joined by his wife Bibi Pritpal Kaurand two sons performed AKHAND PATHAND SAHEJ PATH SEWA at Sri Guru Ravi-dass temple, Pittsburg. Bhog ceremony ofthe recitations of Path was held on Feb-ruary 2nd.2020 (Sunday) .The familyhosted this Sewa to invoke Waheguru'sblessings for peace, prosperity and hap-

piness of the family.Mr. Dharam Pal Chonkria, Gen-

eral Secretary and Mr. O.P. Balley FounderMember of Guru Ghar managed the pro-ceedings of the function from the stageand thanked the host family for their de-voted services. Bhai Gurnam Singh andBhai Om Pal Singh, the priests of ourGuru Ghar shared Gurbani teachings with

the Sangat through their melodiousShabad Kirtan. The renowned KirtaniJatha led by Bhai Nirbhai Singh also em-bellished the occasion with their melodi-ous Kirtan based on the teachings ofGurbani. Bibi Kamlesh Kaur Bhatia andBibi Satnam Kaur also participated withtheir Shabad Kirtan. Mr. Major Singh, hiswife Bibi Pritpal Kaur and their two sons

were honored by Guru Ghar with Siropasto acknowledge their devoted Path Sewaand Langar Sewa. Mr. Prem Chumber,Chief Editor Desh Doaba and AmbedkarTimes covered the entire program liveand took pictures for insertion in thisissue of the Newspaper. The host familyalso thanked Mr. Chumber for his services. - O.P. Balley

All pictures by P. K. Chumber Ambedkar Times

www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 3V0l-11 Issue- 47 February 5, 2020

Grand Celebrations on Guru Ravidass Utsav at Bootan MandiGuru Ravi-dass Utsavto cele-brate theGurpurabof GuruRavidass isan impor-tant eventin the cal-endar ofactivities ofthe Doabaregion ofP u n j a b .

The festivities for the forthcoming Gur-purab falling on February 9 have beenset into motion today with the tradi-tional “Path Rakhna” – Recital of Guru-vani ceremony atGuru RavidassDham at BootanMandi on February2 with all solemnity.These festivitieswith full spiritualand social fervorwill continue throughout the week andwill climax with the Grand Shobha Yatrastarting from Bootan on February 8, theBhog of the Path of Amritvani will beheld at a Grand Kirtan Darbar in theforenoon of February 9 and will con-clude with the Grand Sangeet Darbar inthe evening in which famous poets andsingers like Shah Sisters and Sardar Mo-

h a m a damong oth-ers will par-t i c i p a t ealong withsocial andp o l i t i c a lpersonal i-ties of thea r e a .B o o t a nMandi andthe adjoin-ing area willbe deckedand illuminated with lights to add to thegrandeur of the events. It is gratifyingto note that millions of people of thearea look forward to the Guru Ravidass

Utsav every succes-sive year to enjoyand pay tributes tothe great Guru.

P r o m i n e n tpersonalities ofBootan Mandi parti-pated in the launch-

ing festivities of February like; OmParkash Mahey, Amar Nath Ram, Prof.Mahesh Chander representing GuruRavidass Educational and CharitableTrust and Seth Sat Paul Mal, ManoharLal Mahey, Seth Harish Mahey, Sat PalMahey, Paramjit Mahey, Param Heer,Prem Shant, Ambassador RameshChander among others.

Ambedkar Times and Desh Doaba Fondly Remember

Mr CL Chumber on his 4th AnniversaryWe deeply remember Mr C.L. Chumber on his 4th anniversary. His valuable contribution to-wards highlighting the importance of the Ad Dharm movement for developing Dalit conscious-ness in Punjab has generated a lot of interest in that regard both at the general public andacademic levels. Qaumi Udarian and a well-documented Babu Mangu Ram Muggowalia Sou-venir on the Ad Dharm and the role of Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia Ji in the awakening ofDalit consciousness in pre-partition Punjab became very popular in Punjab.Ambedkartimes.com and www.deshdoaba.com (Ambedkar Times & Desh Doaba weeklynewspapers) pay floral tribute to Mr. C.L. Chumber Sahib on his 4th Anniversary.

Prem K. Chumber (Editor-In-Chief )Ambedkar Times and Desh Doaba weekly newspaper

AKHAND PATH AND SAHEJ PATH SEWA PERFORMED BY Bhai MAJOR SINGH AND FAMILY

All pictures by P. K. Chumber Ambedkar Times

www.deshdoaba.comwww.ambedkartimes.com 4V0l-11 Issue-47 February 5, 2020

Prof Mark Juergensmeyer in Panjab University ChandigarhAn interactive session was organised bythe Department of Political Science, Pan-

jab University with Prof Mark Juergens-meyer, Professor of Sociology and GlobalStudies, University of California, SantaBarbara on 31st January, 2020. Thetheme for the session was “India in TheGlobal Rise of Religious Politics”. Dr. Nav-toj, Chairperson of the Department, wel-comed the learned speaker. Prof. RonkiRam, (Dean Faculty of Arts & ShaheedBhagat Singh Chair Professor of PoliticalScience), introduced the eminent scholar

and his close association with the PanjabUniversity developed during his teaching

stint in the mid 1960s as well as his in-tensive field work in rural Punjab leadingto his classic 'Religious Rebels of Punjab'.Prof Mark began his talk while going backinto deep memories of his encounterswith the elusive realities at the grassrootsin Punjab. He meticulously mapped outthe rise of Dalit religious mobilizations inPunjab in response to the political reali-ties contextualized within the British Cen-sus politics. Similarly the khalistani

movement, he cogently argued, emergedas a response to another political reality

rooted in the failure of the Indian modelof secular nation state. By drawing paral-lel between these movements and cur-rent events like Brexit and Trump’selection, Prof Mark brilliantly articulatedhow globalization became yet anotherpolitical reality for the radicalization ofprotectionist paradigm and new identitypolitics in America and Europe . This hasled to what he called a new wave of nar-row nationalism where the idea of the na-

tion states is again being tied to religiousand ethnic identities. The talk was fol-

lowed by rich question-answer session.Professors: T.R. Sharma, Harish K. Puri,B.S. Brar, Kuldip Singh, Ashutosh Kumar,Pampa Mukherjee, Deepak K. Singh,Janaki Srinivas, Emanual Nahar, DevinderSingh and Rajesh Kumar were amongthe large number of faculty members, re-search scholars and students who at-tended the academic event. The talk wasconcluded with remarks and vote ofthanks by Prof Ronki Ram.