Ambedkar International
Symposium at Vancouver (Canada) – April 21-26, 2023 – A Curtain Raiser
I learnt with satisfaction and pleasure from my friend Jai Birdi of Chetna Association of Canada that Chetna Association in cooperation with Ambedkarite International Coordination Society (AICS) is arranging and hosting ‘Ambedkar International Symposium on Emancipation and Equality’ in Vancouver from April
21-26, 2023 on the subjects of interest and concern with regard to Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar and his legacy in which more than 100 delegates not only from Canada but also other countries from the developed world will participate. The main theme of the Symposium will be ‘Emancipation and Empowerment on the basis of Equality. In a Press Release in this regard, Jai Birdi and Param Kainth, Co-Chairpersons of the Steering Committee set up to steer the Symposium, said, “We are very excited to welcome the delegates and community members to these gatherings and facilitate interactive dialogue on dalit emancipation through inclusion, meaningful representation and enhanced social, political and economic equality” and added, “We are also very pleased to organize these events in partnership with our academic and community partners.” It clearly sets the agenda and direction of Ambedkar International Symposium. I am confident that the deliberations at this timely event in Vancouver would be of far-reaching importance and relevance particularly to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy on ‘Equitable World Order’, the very ‘aim and objective’ of comity of nations under the aegis of the UN. Such an august gathering would be held in Vancouver by the Dalit Diaspora after almost 20 years, first such event was held in Vancouver in 2003, I understand. If one simply goes by the subjects, themes, involvement of institutions, participation of high caliber delegates and organizers, one can easily say that Ambedkar International Symposium will happen to be a high voltage event of great value to the students, scholars and decision makers on one hand and of great educative content and beneficial to the community and the society at large on the other.
It is gratifying to note that apart from the hosts, Chetna Association of Canada and AICS; there are more than six esteemed academic and research institutions and organizations namely; Department of Asian Studies of University of Columbia, Center for India and South Asia Research at University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Center for India and South Asia Studies of University of Columbia, Simon Fraser University among others, which are fully engaged and
involved in the process. The subjects and themes of lectures, discussions, deliberations viz.: Buddhism- as envisioned by Dr. Ambedkar, and outlined in his noble book, 'Buddha and His Dhamma, India's legal framework and how it enables human emancipation, Caste in academic settings in Canada and other jurisdictions, Caste and Entrepreneurship, Women and Youth Empowerment, inter alia, have been thoughtfully identified and selected, besides the most important one and of great contemporary relevance – April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as International Day of Equality under the UN arrangements. The crux of the matter is summed up when the organizers termed the show as “Dr. Ambedkar’s Menifesto”. With a view to underline the issue of discrimination on the basis of caste in the schools and universities, a session of the Symposium has been devoted and dedicated to Dr. Pamposh of Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Reaserch and Rohit Vemula of Hyderabad University and rightly so.
Why a symposium in Vancouver, Canada? The hosts have raised the question and have answered it themselves. - "Metropolitan cities of Canada are now evolving and have a stronger visibility of the South Asian populations. Similar to what is being reported in other jurisdictions, incidents of caste-based oppression are surfacing. A need to assess and develop proactive measures is critical for preventing caste-based discrimination and providing safer places are critically needed in Canada.” The Press Note has rightly observed, “In the lower mainland of British Columbia, there is already a strong foundation and partnerships created with academic, community, media, and other organizations.” It is heartwarming to note that The City of Burnaby was the first to come forward and declared April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality in April, 2020 followed by the Province of British Columbia and cities and provinces. It will not be out of place to mention and appreciate the pioneer work done by Chetna Association of Canada in this regard. They responded positively and candidly to the proposal of April 14 as International Day of Equality
in 2015, of which I happen to be a humble initiator, and wrote to PM Narendra Modi and others including their local interlocutors and pursued the matter with enthusiasm and zeal. It is thoughtful of Chetna Association and AICS to express their sense of gratitude to the local authorities in extending due recognition to the lofty ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Equality, Liberty, Justice and Fraternity. I am confident that the legacy of the greatest son of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar, will find and rightly so, greater acceptability and recognition in the friendly and democratic social and political weather like that of Canada in the years to come. It is further satisfying to note that other sister-outfits in Canada like; Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha (Vancouver),Shri Guru Ravidass Society of Calgary, Ambedkarites International Mission Society-Canada (Calgary), Shri 108 Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Trust (Western Canada) are fully supportive and cooperative of the umbrella organizations like Chetna Association and AICS in their endeavors in this regard.
Ambedkar International Symposium is all set to be a great
success not only because of the fact that the organizers and hosts of the big
event are sincere and fully dedicated but also of the fact that the mere list
of academics and intellectuals participating in the event reads like a ‘Who’s
Who’ of intelligentsia in Canada and beyond besides the availability of expert
and professional advice of the stalwarts of the community namely; Prof (Dr.)
Vivek Kumar, Dr. KP Singh, Dr. Suraj Yengde,,Dr. Sujata Gaurkhede and Dr.
Yuwraj Naranaware.
I take this opportunity to wish all the very best to the
organizers and hosts of Ambedkar International Symposium and hope that the
symposium would further enlighten and empower the depressed and oppressed
communities of the world to contribute positively in the establishing an
‘Equitable World Order’, the cherished wish of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
It was intended to be a mere ‘curtain raiser’ before the
event. More details, if required, the Media Coordinator, Rattan Paul and the
Team-ASE, 2023 may be contacted:
Ratan Paul, media coordinator. Email: paul2cc@hotmail.com or ase2023@yahoo.com and Phone: 778-772-2101
www.ase2023.ca and: Team ASE2023
(A Blog of Ambassador Ramesh Chander, a retired Career
Diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
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