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Ambedkarite Movement Across The Globe

Ambedkarite Movement Across The Globe
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During his lifetime, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar travelled to many countries outside India for the purpose of higher studies and research. He had seen and experienced the freedom and lifestyle available to the people in western countries. He wanted to see the same freedom and equality being accorded to his people in India who were called untouchables and were discriminated by so called higher caste Hindus.

Inspired by his monumental work for the society and the marginalised community, many Ambedkarites living outside India started organising with the sole objective of helping and paying back to the oppressed society of India. And thus a strong network of NRI Ambedkarites had been woven across the world. Through this network , Payback to society is being done in various forms. Broadly speaking , it is done by aiding projects for welfare programmes for the down troddens back there in India , protecting their human rights under the wings of various international institutions. Another siginificant objective is to make the world take notice of Dr Ambedkar, the saviour of millions of downtrodden.

Ambedkarite movement in USA and UK dates back to 60s. Many Punjabi and some Maharashtrian Buddhists migrated to countries like UK, Canada, USA in the early days. They found work and settled in those countries for good. Now there is a tremendous Network of individuals & organizations in North America, UK, Japan, Europe , Gulf countries & around the world. Most of them have the main objective of ‘Payback’ to society with many others working for the youths and students from oppressed classes in India. In USA, mainly we have Ambedkar International Mission (AIM), Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA), Ambedkar International Centre (AIC), Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT), AmbedkarTimes.com, Friends For Education International (FFEI). In UK, we have Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK (FABO). FABO owns a huge Ambedkar centre in Southall UK which acts as a hub of activities for the movement. It also houses a massive Buddha Vihara where people gather every month for celebration of full moon day. FABO also organises Ambedkar Jayanti every year in Indian Embassy London. Ambedkarites from all corners of UK flock to the Indian Embassy to pay tribute to the emancipator of humankind. Another one such organisation is Dalit solidarity Network (DSN) which was spearheading the struggle for inclusion of caste discrimination clause under racial discrimination law in the UK parliament. About two years ago, the British parliament officially outlawed caste discrimination. Anyone practising caste discrimination is punishable under the new law. There have been instances of caste discrimination in UK in the last few years. Hindus who migrated to UK years ago also carried the caste with them to UK. This has led to the caste discrimination in this land of freedom and equality. While there is never-ending love for Babasaheb in the hearts of Ambedkarite people overseas, and the passion to do a lot good for the society back home in India, there are differences between various organisations and the individuals heading various entities. Punjabi Buddhist Ambedkarites mainly Valmikies and Ravidasis, set up their own tents and organise the events separately. Maharashtrians have various political affiliations which hinder the cause of movement and at times become the obstacle for the people wanting to come together under one umbrella.

In Columbia University USA, where Babasaheb earned his masters and PHD in economics, sits a stately bronze statue of this distinguished liberator. Recently in Japan, a life-sized bronze statue of Dr Ambedkar was installed at the Koyasan University. In LSE, London where Babasaheb studied during 1920s, sits the inspiring and scintillating statue of Dr Ambedkar installed in the main hall of the building. No doubt that the presence of Babasaheb in those elite educational institutions will inspire many students and the younger generations.

While Babasaheb is near and dear to the hearts of Ambedkarites settled outside India, what needs doing aggressively is spreading the teachings of Babasaheb and his revolutionary thoughts on equality and liberty among the local people in those respective countries. This must be done through demonstrating the work and teaching of Babasaheb to the foreigners who seem to know only about Gandhi. Sadly, not many Britishers or Americans, have heard about this towering personality and greatest ever champion of human rights. They know very little about Dr Ambedkar.

All Ambedkarites are proud to inherit the legacy of their hero, with the feeling “We are because he was”. Let’s all salute this colossal epitome of equality and social justice on his 125 th Birth Anniversary and resolve to realize his dream of casteless society by working together irrespective of our affiliations and associations with various organisations. JaiBhim.

Param Ghodeswar

ME (VJTI, Mumbai)

IT Consultant, Home Office UK Govt, London

Updated : 13 April 2017 4:29 AM GMT
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