By Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net
Rajkumar Daulatrao Kamble, popularly known as Raju Kamble, the founder of Ambedkar International Mission breathed his last on 16th August 2018 in Canada at the age of 64. ,
Raju Kamble, born on January 4, 1954, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, was a fearless visionary and a towering Ambedkarite who fought for justice for all oppressed castes.
He believed that Dalits of the diaspora had a powerful responsibility to payback to society and remain committed to Ambedkar’s vision wherever they are in the world. This commitment, rooted in love for all Ambedkarite people, helped Ambedkar International Mission (AIM) grow and create an international impact for the last 24 years. And today AIM has its chapters in US, Canada, Japan, Middle East, and across Europe. Through AIM he also organized several international ‘Dr. Ambedkar conventions’ in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Paris, France.
He was currently involved in organising the upcoming convention in Japan this year.
Beyond his public works, Raju Kamble supported many Dalit students in their studies offering them scholarships and helping them with their test preparation fees so that promising students from across India could pursue education and better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.
The Global Ambedkarite community on the occasion of his death expressed their gratitude, love and respect for his exemplary work.
“As we consider the impossible world where we must continue forward in this work without Rajkumar Kamble, we want to honor and remember how his legacy lives on in all of us. His unfortunate and untimely demise leaves a huge void in our movement. But we should keep him in our thoughts and draw motivation from his life and continue to strive in taking Babasaheb’s caravan further, as a fitting tribute to him and his values which he instilled in many of us as a mentor. His and his family’s personal sacrifices have ensured that the Ambedkarite movement outside India has blossomed over the years, and in his memory we will continue to grow it until we indeed see the end of Caste Apartheid once and for all,” the community said in their press release statement.
Rajkumar Daulatrao Kamble is survived by his wife Nanda and two daughters, Prachi and Shaily.