Message of Ms. Helma Ritscher, Chairwoman, Indo-German Society Affiliate Remscheid
It is a great honor for me, to celebrate together with all of you today
and with the many invited guests the 50th anniversary of our
Indo-German Society Remscheid here in Varanasi. In Germany, we will
start the celebration in June 2016 in the town hall of Remscheid, where
we will have Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi as our guest of honor.
As Dr. Lenin told me that he decided together with his wife Shruti
and the whole PVCHR team to invite me to India for celebrating the
anniversary of our company here together with all of you, I felt deeply
touched. Moreover, I am even now deeply moved in the moment I stand here
before you, holding this wonderful booklet in my hands. This booklet
was a very lovely idea of PVCHR!
Before I continue, I would like to take this opportunity once again to
express on behalf of our society and personally as "Helmaji" our
whole-hearted gratitude towards Dr. Lenin and the whole PVCHR- team.
Thank you for your generous gifts, the invitation and the ceremony as
well as the successful brochure.
Thank you! This brochure tells
the story of the extraordinary friendship and harmonious cooperation
between the PVCHR and our Indo-German Society Remscheid, since early
2002, when we met each other for the first time. What has brought us
together? I will tell you.
At the time of our first meeting, the
PVCHR was at the beginning of its development to become a recognized
organization for human rights. Our society from Remscheid had experience
since many years: we organized numerous events and projects in which we
wanted to explain and show the diversity of the Indian culture and its
unique traditions, past and present to the German public. We also
organized an exchange between Indian and German schools: thanks to pen
pal-friendships and project work, the students were able to overcome
prejudices, create a better understanding for each other, and develop an
appreciation of each other's culture.
We were convinced, to be good mediators between the two cultures.
That changed abruptly with the "Global March1998", which was initiated
by Kailash Sartyarthi, as the International Coordinator. Here I want to
add, that Mr. Sartyarthi was honored for his tireless efforts against
the exploitation of children in South Asia and his fight for the access
of all children to education with the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2014.
The "Global March" brought child laborers from different parts of the
world for the first time to Geneva, Switzerland, to the meeting of the
ILO (International Labour Organization). They should get the
opportunity, to talk for themselves about their rights and against
intolerable child labor. They also came with thousands of thumbprints
they had collected on their way to Geneva, as an evidence of solidarity.
We suddenly became aware of our global responsibility for the fate of
this world's suffering children, particularly children in India. The
examination of "child labor and the lives of the marginalized and
neglected Dalit-Communities” showed us quite plainly, that we also had
marginalized them in the programs of our Indo-German Society Remscheid –
until the "Global March".
The issue of human rights was
immediately on the agenda of our Society. From this moment on, we
actively participated in the "Global March", updated the theme in
Remscheid schools through information material and organized a day of
action in the city center. One of our activities was a charity concert
of the esteemed musicians and brothers Prakash, (who unfortunately
died), Subhash and Vikash Maharaj of Varanasi. We know each other since
1983. Today we share a deep friendship and a multifaceted cooperation.
Vikash Maharaj, founder and vice-president of human rights organization
PVCHR at that time, invited me after the concert to Varanasi to meet the
founder of the PVCHR, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi.
Unfortunately, it
took four more years, until I met Dr. Lenin and the PVCHR for the first
time. The Global March had already given me an insight into the
discriminatory situation of the Dalits, but to see the situation with my
own eyes shocked me even more. However, how happy the crowd of children
greeted when I arrived at the villages - the people were so friendly!
From this moment, the cooperation between PVCHR and our Society was
decided: The promotion of Dalit in the struggle for their rights and
their appreciation as equal human beings became the main topic of the
affiliate Remscheid.
Beginning in 2007, the Indo-German Society
utilized public funds of the German Government in North Rhine-Westphalia
and sponsors from Remscheid, to enable the construction of social and
educational facilities in the villages around Varanasi, like Ayer,
Baghwanala and Shivrampur. In the more distant village Raup, a community
center was built for and by the Dalit community, headed by Dr. Lenin
and the PVCHR.
One year before, in 2006, our affiliate and the
PVCHR had started an educational initiative between a student team of a
Remscheid Gymnasium and Dalit students. The Remscheid-students have
campaigned on public actions to promote the struggle of their Dalit
friends for equal rights. Today the German students are grown up but
still engaged on sustainable projects. One of them, Henrik Sadlowski,
will come in March for the third time to Varanasi – to be with the PVCHR
and his Dalit friends.
Over the years, an indestructible bridge
of friendship has been created. This bridge brought Dr. Lenin also to
Remscheid, where the Lord Mayor in the town hall received him. Moreover,
on behalf of our Indo-German Society, I have been here in India for
many times. In all the years, I attended some inaugurations of important
buildings, like the "Savitri Bai Puhle Women Centre" in 2012.
After this opening ceremony in Baghwanala, the "Helma Ritscher Education
Scholarship Fund" was initiated by PVCHR as recognition for the work of
our Society and our commitment to education for all children. The
scholarship, as a long-term and sustainable initiative, offers
underprivileged boys and girls the opportunity to receive continuing
education. Deeply impressed and moved by the idea I accepted this honor.
Tomorrow I will share happiness with all the young people who have
successfully graduated with the help of the "Helma Ritscher Education
Scholarship Fund". It will be a great honor to me, to hand over the
“Certificate of the Indo-German Society Remscheid” to the young Dalit
graduates.
A certificate as a symbol of recognition and as a
sign, that they are equal, emancipated and well educated Indian
citizens, with rights and dignity.
We truly celebrate this occasion today and tomorrow here in Varanasi:
The unique friendship and sustainable cooperation between PVCHR and the
Indo-German Society Remscheid – on special occasion of the 50
anniversary of the Indo-German Society Affiliate Remscheid.
But, why a German celebration in Varanasi?
Because Germany and India, Remscheid and Varanasi, Indo-German Society and PVCHR
live in our hearts – today and in future!
In deep attachment,
Helma Ritscher,
Chairwoman
Indo-German Society
Affiliate Remscheid
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