Shogun Gaikwad On 14th October 1956, Dr. Ambedkar accomplished what no one else could—perhaps the only comparable figure is the Buddha. He liberated those considered lesser than animals, stripped of their humanity and left destitute for 2,000 years. Exactly 68 years ago today, the world witnessed the largest mass conversion event in history, as millions …
50 Years of Bangladeshi Independence and the Unresolved Question of the Lower Castes
Mayur Kudupale Bangladesh is celebrating 50 years of independence from Pakistan. It has been a remarkable journey for this country that has set an ideal example in the Indian subcontinent. The independence of Bangladesh and post-independence development is directly associated with the India-Pakistan tussles. Soon after independence, Henry Kissinger had famously called Bangladesh a ‘Basket …
A Tribute to a liberated AdiDravida Christian
D. Albert, S.J. [JC Anthony was born in colonial India into an impoverished AdiDravida family. His father was a cook in the British cantonment. He worked in the Indian Air Force of independent India and then in a civilian defence establishment, followed by decades aiding the social welfare activities of the christian church. He reflects …
White Strings
Dr. R. Praveen Who are you? Where are you from? Which is your native place? What’s your religion? What’s your caste? While these questions loom around… Evoking prejudices that are kindled, depending on the answers.. Biological blobs held in framework of bones… Unicellular, aeons ago. Stand aside and look at anyone, They are no special… …
Dhammachakra Pravartan Day: The Psychological Impact of Conversion
Dhamma Darshan Nigam At the historical Yeola conference, in Nasik district, on 13th October 1935, Dr. Ambedkar exhorted the Depressed Classes to leave Hinduism and embrace another religion. He declared: ‘I was born as a Hindu but I will not die as a Hindu’. And finally on 14th and 15th October 1956 Ambedkar …
The Long Exit: Conferences of the Depressed Classes During the 1930s
Gerard Baared [The long exit from Hinduism/Brahmanism for the ‘untouchables’ is naturally an ongoing movement, given the scale of the task, the multiple levels of responsibilities to understand, process and communicate people’s aspirations regarding their rights, and the complex logistic factors to be dealt with. The term exit predicates an imagined or real inclusion, …
Remembering Babasaheb on his 61st Mahaparinivan Diwas
United Dalit Students’ Forum JNU (UDSF-JNU) Remembering Babasaheb on his 61st Mahaparinivan Diwas 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956 On this Mahaparinirvan day when we remember Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, we must not forget the dreams of an egalitarian society which Babasaheb envisioned. In the present day Indian society we witness crimes which vehemently …
Kanshi Ram, the political genius and true game changer
Raj Kumar Politics is the most difficult of life skills, and those who remain reluctant to master this art are condemned to remain as obedient slaves while the masters of politics enjoy undiminished supremacy in all human relations. History bears testimony that civilization developments have been made possible by the leadership of the political …
Dr Ambedkar and the freedom struggle of Dalits
Gail Omvedt (An excerpt from her book ‘Ambedkar: Towards an Enlightened India’) Less than two months after the huge conversion ceremony, Bhimrao Ambedkar was dead, found on the morning of 6 December, slumped over the papers he had been working on late at night. His death was followed by outpouring of grief as great as …