Fall 2024 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim!
It gives me the utmost honor and pleasure to announce the launch of 7th Volume of the digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG), “The Awakened”. This magazine was started to provide a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement.
Beginning of 2024, BSG’s flagship event “Ambedkar Lecture Series” hosted 14 online lecture series and still ongoing. Ambedkar Lecture series is providing a platform to discuss various social issues by Ambedkarites thought leaders from all over the world allowing them to reach out to global audience.
BSG celebrated the 133rd Birth Anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as Equality Day at two locations this year. First on April 13 in Boston which was attended by 150 people from diverse Communities and supported by 7 organization and Massachusetts Cultural Council – which is stage government organization. Second celebration was held for the first time at UMass Amherst in Dubois Library on April 20, 2024. The event was supported by Progressive South Asia organization from UMass Amherst and attended by UMass Amherst students, staff.
BSG is proud to announce that 4 states from New England, MA, CT, NH and VT declared 14th April 2024 as ‘Equality Day’. Efforts and support from BSG leadership and other sister organizations for this overwhelming success is highly appreciated.
BSG supported event hosted by BSAC and IAMC organization about Indian election results and people quest for change to show our solidarity against social atrocities that is happening in South Asia region was overwhelmingly successful. BSG was part of IAMC celebration of 77 years of India’s Independence. This volume of ‘The Awakened’ provided opportunity to know more about IAMC as organization and its activities in Boston area.
BSG team hosted summer picnic at Castle Island in Boston on July 14, 2024. It was attended by many new students and new members from diverse community
The caste awareness workshop conducted by BSG in collaboration with TAARA student group at MIT Universityon Oct 6, 2024, was well attended by more than 30 students across multiple nationalities. BSG mission is to spread the awareness of Annihilation of Caste and Caste discrimination’s ill effects on community. BSG plans to conduct many more such workshops in academic areas in New England
BSG hopes to use ‘The Awakened’ as a medium to share literary contributions of Ambedkarites and I am sure you will enjoy reading it.
Spring 2024 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim !
It gives me the utmost honor and pleasure to announce the launch of “The Awakened”—Vol.6 Spring 2024, a digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG). The Awakened provides a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement. Here are some notable programs BSG organised in the past year.
BSG partnered with Brandeis University for The Sixth International Conference on the Unfinished Legacy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. This Conference focuses on the role and effectiveness of laws in annihilating discrimination associated with the institution of caste and untouchability in India and other countries with caste histories. The Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, The Chief Justice of India, was the keynote speaker.
BSG hosted two panels, “Perspectives on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Vision of Equality and Its Current Status in India” and “Caste, Ambedkar, and Policy: Reflections from the Young Ambedkarite Researchers in India and the USA”. These panels complement the broader anti-caste activism and policy work of the Boston Study Group in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with comparative evidence insights from India. The panel further reflects on Dr Ambedkar’s philosophy with empirical indicators in the areas of education, policy, activism, and the fulfilment of constitutional guarantees for caste-oppressed people in India.
BSG commemorated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s work as “Equality Day” on Saturday, October 21, 2023, by hosting a cultural event night during this Conference. Internationally renowned classical singer Pandit Sudhakar Chavan from India had enthralled the audience with the classical songs of Dr. Ambedkar. Deepak Bhanuse and Rajesh Pai accompanied him on Flute and tabla.
The caste awareness workshop conducted by BSG in collaboration with a South Asian student group at Wellesley College on November 16, 2023, was attended by more than 50 students across multiple nationalities. BSG’s mission is to spread awareness of caste and its ill effects on the community. BSG plans to conduct more such workshops in academic areas in New England.
BSG hosted a talk by Chandra Bhan Prasad, an Indian journalist, writer, activist, and political commentator, on the topic “Economic Reforms of 1991 and its Impact on Countryside Dalits: A Case Study of Azamgarh Villages.” The talk was hosted at MIT University on November 4 and attended by more than 30 people.
BSG commemorated Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s 67th Death Anniversary on December 9, 2023, at Goldfarb Library of Brandeis University. The day serves as a solemn occasion for reflection and remembrance, prompting individuals to contemplate the strides made in upholding the ideals set forth by Dr Ambedkar while acknowledging the persistent challenges on the path toward a more just and equitable society.
Beginning in 2024, BSG’s flagship event, “Ambedkar Lecture Series,” hosted three women speakers for an online lecture series. The Ambedkar Lecture Series provides a platform for Ambedkarite thought leaders worldwide to discuss various social issues, allowing them to reach a global audience.
We hope to use The Awakened as a medium to share BSG’s stellar contributions and provide a platform for the Ambedkarite diaspora to develop and share content!
Fall 2023 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim !
It gives me the utmost honor and pleasure to announce the launch of “The Awakened”- Vol.5 Fall 2023 Issue 01, a digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG). “The Awakened” is a magazine that provides a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement.
BSG partnered with Brandeis University for The Sixth International Conference on the Unfinished Legacy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. This Conference focuses on the role and effectiveness of laws in the annihilation of discrimination associated with the institution of caste and untouchability in India and other countries with caste histories. The Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, The Chief Justice of India is the keynote speaker.
BSG will be hosting two panels, “Perspectives on Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s Vision of Equality and Its Current Status in India” and “Caste, Ambedkar, and Policy: Reflections from the Young Ambedkarite Researchers in India and the USA”. These panels complement the broader anti-caste activism and policy work of the Boston Study Group in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with comparative evidence insights from India. The panel further reflects on the philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar with the empirical indicators in the areas of education, policy, activism, and fulfillment of constitutional guarantees for the caste-oppressed people in India.
BSG will commemorate the work of Dr. B.R Ambedkar as “Equality Day” on Sat Oct 21 by hosting a cultural event night during this conference. Internationally renowned classical singer, Pandit Sudhakar Chavan from India will enthrall the audience with the classical songs of Dr. Ambedkar. Deepak Bhanuse and Rajesh Pai will accompany him on Flute and tabla.
Dr. B R Ambedkar Bust donated by BSG to The University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018 and was installed in the ‘The W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies’ has a new place in W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Large members of university staff, students, and New England Ambedkarite communities attended a glorious Inauguration event on Dec 3, 2022. Boston Study Group donated 2 sets of 17 volumes of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writing and Speeches to the University Libraries on this occasion. “The UMass Libraries emphasize advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as raising student awareness on these subjects,” said Dr. Nandita S. Mani, the Dean of University Libraries. “The volumes of Dr. Ambedkar’s writings are excellent resources and meaningful symbols for our campus.”
The caste awareness workshop conducted by BSG in collaboration with a South Asian student group at Heller School of Brandeis University on Sept 21, 2023, was attended by 35 students across multiple nationalities. Two more Universities and Social Organizations reached out to BSG to conduct such workshops which are scheduled in the first week of November.
We hope to use The Awakened as a medium to share stellar contributions made by BSG and also provide a platform for the Ambedkarite diaspora to develop and share content!
Spring 2023 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim!
It gives me the utmost honor and pleasure to announce the launch of the spring 2023 issue of “The Awakened, a digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG) providing a platform for all Ambedkarites from all over the world to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement.
To recap a few of the achievements of BSG in the year 2022, our ‘Ambedkar Lecture Series’ team organized 25 lectures on various social issues by Ambedkarites thought leaders from all over the world allowing them to reach out to a global audience.
BSG partnered with Reclaiming India Conference for a panel on ‘Breaking Caste Barriers: Stories of Resilience’ bringing three Ambedkarite intellectuals from three continents together to share their experience of how caste was a barrier to the realization of their dream of higher education and empowerment and what kind of social, constitutional and personal endeavors paved their way to break these barriers to defeat the Caste.
First Kabir Festival was organized by South Asian organizations of Massachusetts including BSG to commemorate the birth anniversary of Kabir Das, an ancient South Asian mystic and social reformer honoring the values propagated by Kabir Das, a 15th-century poet whose message of humanism, fraternity, love, harmony, and equality still resonates today.
The 5th India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB) allowed BSG to showcase movies of social relevance. After reviewing many documentaries on various social issues, ‘Writing with Fire’, an Oscar nominee and two-time Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary was an official entry from Boston Study Group. A fearless and tenacious group of women journalists who are from socially deprived communities and very poor families confront social injustice while fighting for marginalized voices in the world’s largest democracy just using smartphones.
Fall 2022 FROM BOARD OF DIRECTORS' DESK
Jai Bhim!
It gives us utmost honor and pleasure to bring women only edition ‘The Awakened”, a digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG), on this auspicious occasion of the 65th Anniversary of Dhammachakra Pravartan Din. “The Awakened” is launched to provides a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement. The intent is to publish the magazine twice a year, in spring and fall.
Since centuries women from all over the world belonging to any religion or any nation, developed or developing, were treated as second class citizens. Condition of women in India was very miserable due to social and religious constraints put on them. This misery become multifold for women from oppressed communities, Dalit communities. Non access to education for centuries to these communities and women from all communities has deprived 50% of the population access to knowledge which could have produced equals of male writers, artist. Starting of first school for girls by Savitribai Phule paved that path for women from India. Constitutional provision to treat all citizens equal, irrespective of gender and subsequent addition of Hindu Code Bill gave tremendous boost to success of women in India. Articles, Poems and arts published in this edition is testament of not only what women can do but prove what equal opportunity can do to success of women from oppressed communities. We are awed by the talents of girls and women from Ambedkarite communities. Way to go Girls!
Boston Study Group plays its part in promoting women whether it is composition of our Board of Directors, bringing women speakers to Ambedkar Lecture Series or giving exposures to women from our community to express their literary and artistic skill through ‘The Awakened’. We assure you; we will bring many more Women only edition in future.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar said “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved”. When you are done reading this magazine, you will realize how much literary progress women from Bahujan communities made in just 75 years of independence.
Spring 2022 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim!
It gives me utmost pleasure to publish second edition of ‘The Awakened”, a digital Ambedkarite magazine by Boston Study Group (BSG) on 131st Birth Anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. BSG started this magazine to provide a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement. This Magazine will be published twice a year, in spring and fall.
BSG is very active even during COVID period by organizing 20 lectures under ‘Ambedkar Lecture Series’, a platform for Ambedkarites thought leaders from all over the world to reach out to a global audience to spread the message of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and creating awareness globally about the Indian Caste system. ‘Ambedkar Lecture Series’ has conducted more than 60 lectures both online and in-person and still growing!
BSG partnered to setup panel on “Overcoming Caste and Religious Exclusion: A way Forward to Inclusive Development” in ‘Harvard India Conference 2022’ which was held virtually and attended 15,000+ attendees.
Distinguished panelist proposed wide-ranging solutions and innovations including undertaking a caste census, prosecution of hate speech, expanding reservations, education reform, and protecting the public sector from indiscriminate privatization. The panelist reflected on these issues drawing from their own experience as analysts and change agents who are fighting for an inclusive and equitable society.
BSG is committed to provide support to artists from Bahujan communities who are creating any form of arts, movies, literature which propagates Dr. B.R. Ambedkar thoughts and brings real stories of “Our” people to life. ‘Jayanti’ is such a feature film depicting the influence of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts on people and how those very teachings have the power to change the aimless and ignorant youth of today. As always happens to arts of our people, this powerful movie was ignored by main stream media and hence BSG scheduled private screening in New England area. BSG partnered for screening of Oscar nominee and two time Sundance Film Festival award winning documentary ‘Writing with Fire’ as part of the annual Women Take the Reel Film Festival sponsored by: MIT Program in Women’s and Gender Studies. The documentary points the camera at Khabar Lahariya, an independent newsroom in rural northern India run by women from historically marginalized communities — Dalits, Muslims, those from indigenous tribes and other “lower” castes.
BSG filed the Proclamation with Office of the Governor of Massachusetts to celebrate & recognize April 14 2022 as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Equality Day is an opportunity to remember and honor his legacy of dedication to equality, social justice, human rights, and dignity, which continues to inspire people in Massachusetts and across the world.
Many Ambedkarite Organizations are working cohesively in North America. These are our sister organizations and we would like world to know about them and tremendous work they are doing through ‘The Awakened’. We are pleased to share story of Ambedkar Association of North America, AANA in this issue.
We are looking forward to your comments, feedback and most importantly your literary contributions for our future issues.
Spring 2021 FROM PRESIDENT'S DESK
Jai Bhim!
It gives me utmost honor and pleasure to announce the launch of ‘The Awakened”, a digital Ambedkarite magazine published by Boston Study Group (BSG). With the pride of an Ambedkarite, I on behalf of the BSG want to share the inaugural edition with you all.
“The Awakened” is a magazine that provides a platform for all Ambedkarites in the diaspora to share their stories, thoughts, views, and talents to enhance the Ambedkarite movement. The intent is to publish the magazine twice a year, in spring and fall. We are looking forward to literary contributions for our future issues from Ambedkarites across the globe including our young Ambedkarites
During the last year, BSG contributed to multiple initiatives, the most important being providing financial support to non-profit organizations in India that work at the grass-root level for underprivileged people who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations include: · Abhidhamma Educational and Social Trust, Bhandup West, Maharashtra · UDAN – Women Empowerment Welfare Society, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh · Ambedkar Mission Society, Jalandhar, Punjab · Mudita Multi Purpose Society, Amravati, Maharashtra · Rural Development Center, Beed, Maharashtra.
BSG also donated 30 smartphones to underprivileged students as part of ‘Each One Reach One’ drive to help them continue with online education.
BSG partnered with US-based Ambedkar International Center (AIC) to endorse the Amicus brief in Cisco Caste Discrimination Case in California. This brief will help the court rule on Cisco’s motions by shedding light on the nature of caste discrimination.
BSG organized a total of 6 lectures this year under ‘Ambedkar Lecture Series’ providing a platform to Ambedkarites thought leaders from all over the world to reach out to a global audience to spread the message of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and creating awareness globally about the Indian Caste system.
BSG’s focus is on University and college students- to educate them about the Caste system and discriminations. BSG has partnered with the South Asian Youth Initiative (SAYI 2021) for the virtual conference on discrimination in the tech/IT industry, with “SAPNA”, a student group at Columbia University for the Caste awareness workshops and with Brandeis University on the workshop on Migration of Caste
BSG team is the proud recipient of the Archival Creators Fellowship by SAADA for 2021 to create an audio/video archive of the Ambedkarite community in the USA and their anti-caste movement.
BSG is partnering with The International Commission for Dalit Rights (ICDR International) and other Ambedkarite organizations for advocacy and litigation program to recognize, include, and implement Caste-based discrimination within the current U.S. legal system. The plan is to appeal to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to recognize, integrate, and enforce caste-based discrimination into compliance and non-discriminatory laws.
We hope to use The Awakened as a medium to share stellar contributions made by BSG and also provide a platform for the Ambedkarite diaspora to develop and share content. So, stay tuned!