AHMEDABAD: It's not bought by schools, but the alphabet book for children, 'Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar - Balpothi' is witnessing great demand in areas with high population of dalits. "It is good that our children would learn 'Ka' for 'Kalam' rather than 'Ka' for 'Kamal'- BJP's election symbol," said Priyadarshi, who also owns a library on Ambedkarite literature.He had published the book about four months ago to enlighten kids about the life of Babasaheb and other great personalities, he said. He said that sale of the books increased after Gujarat started witnessing dalit agitation after the Una flogging incident.The book counts Jesus Christ, Karl Marx and Prophet Muhammad along with Ambedkar among five greatest personalities in the history of humanity. "Parents belonging to dalit and other downtrodden communities buy the 60-page book to inform their children about the life of Babasaheb," said Priyadarshi, adding, "The book in demand in city areas with high population of dalits like Vadaj, Vejalpur, Amraiwadi, Majurgam, and Behrampura. "In Gujarati and Hindi alphabets, the book teaches 'Kha' is for 'Khet' (farm), 'Ga' for 'Gareebi' (poverty), 'Chha' for 'Chhatrapati Shahuji', 'Ja' for Janmbhoomi Mhow' (Ambedkar's birthplace), 'Ba' for 'Bandhuta' (fraternity), 'Da' for 'Dikshabhoomi' (where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in Nagpur), 'Dhha' for 'Dharmantaran' (conversion) and 'Va' for 'Varna Vyavastha' (caste system).The book also carries the 22 pledges Ambedkar made at the time of renouncing Hinduism and embracing Buddhism.

Source: Times of India September 06, 2016 00:24 UTC