DIGNITY REPORTER
KATHMANDU, APRIL 17: Founder general secretary and former chairperson of Jagaran Media Centre Rem Bishwokarma, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of dignitypost.com has been honored by the President of The Jersey City Council of USA on Saturday.
Bishwokarma, who was also the former secretary of the Federation of Nepali Journalists–an umbrella organization of all the journalists of Nepal–was honored at the function organized by The Jersey City Council in coordination with Dr. Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) to mark the 131st birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar at the Jersey City Hall.
A human rights and Dalit rights activist Bishwokarma has been advocating for Dalit rights and social inclusion for decades through various platforms including media. 
After a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ambedkarites in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania enthusiastically celebrated this special day.
This year’s event was made even more special as the City Council of Jersey City partnered with Ambedkar International Mission (AIM), USA, and made the historic declaration of recognizing 14th April as “Equality Day,” a fitting tribute to the champion of equality, whose life mission was establishing equality through the constitution in a society where it was most needed.
Jersey City is renowned to be immigration friendly and a champion in upholding human rights values.
“AIM takes this opportunity to express our profound gratitude towards the City Council of Jersey City and hope that this pioneering step towards upholding humanist values will inspire more civic, public, and private organizations across the USA to take up similar initiatives,” states a press statement issued by AIM.
Since there is growing curiosity and interest in Dr. Ambedkar’s work in academia and civil society across the globe, AIM had designed the event to rekindle and strengthen its platform for engaging with varied thinkers and expand the reach of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s monumental work.
The erudite and enlightening speeches by dignitaries like Professor Timothy Loftus, Professor Jenik Radon, Professor Jayashree Kamble, Professor Biju Mathew, Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar and Ms. Yashica Dutt were followed by cultural performances by AIM artists, adding a joyous note to the occasion.
Continuing the tradition started by AIM’s founder-president, late Mr. Raju Kamble, AIM had also set up a booth for free distribution of Dr. Ambedkar’s writing and speeches.
“AIM would also like to thank Jersey City’s Immigrant’s Affairs Commission(IAC) team for initiating this proclamation and also the Mayor of Jersey City, Steven M. Fulop for signing it, which is now available under public record,” the statement said. “AIM also thanks to the representatives from the Consulate General of India, New York, for gracing the occasion.”
Around 200 guests attended the function which was also covered by local news channels.
