To
The President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
New Delhi, India.
Your Excellency,
We, the academics and activists of South Asian origin from across the world, as well as our international allies engaged with and concerned about India write to add our voice in support of Dr. R. S. Praveen Kumar, Secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TSWREIS). We research and teach the histories and emancipatory struggles of marginalized communities in India. Therefore, we are fully aware of the importance of educational opportunities provided by the Indian government to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Every year from March15 to April 14, coinciding with the birthdays of Kanshi Ram and Dr. B.. R. Ambedkar, Dalits across India celebrate Bhim Diksha. This year, on March 15, 2021, Dr. R. S. Praveen Kumar participated in Bhim Diksha and the organizers recited the pledge of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar recited at the time of his conversion to Buddhism. Some vested interests recorded the pledge and started a smear campaign against Dr. Kumar, labeling him anti-Hindu. Even though he has distanced himself and stated that as a responsible administrator and citizen of the country, he stands by the constitutional values of inclusion, attacks on him are continuing in social media and other platforms, to the extent of demanding his removal.
Please read the full statement and support it with your signature!
