Bodh Gaya- Scholars, academicians, and social activists from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), and Magadh University gathered in Bodh Gaya under the banner of the Birsa Phule Ambedkar Samta Foundation (BPASF) for a landmark three-day conference. The event, held from 7 to 9 February at the International Meditation Centre, Bodh Gaya, brought together critical academic voices and social movements to deliberate on the transformative role of higher education in promoting equality and long-term social change.

The conference's central aim was to foster social consciousness and strengthen the Phule-Ambedkarite movement, with a particular focus on education and academia as powerful instruments for social transformation. Organizers stressed that this was not merely an academic event but a deliberate political, social, and intellectual intervention aimed at challenging entrenched structures of inequality and exclusion faced by the Bahujan community.

The theme 'Higher Education and Social Transformation' highlighted how universities, research institutions, and intellectual spaces can serve as sites of resistance, empowerment, and democratic change. Participants noted that access to higher education for the Bahujan community remains uneven and structurally constrained. Despite constitutional guarantees and policy measures, various forms of deprivation persist within educational institutions, limiting the full and equal participation of Bahujan individuals in academic life.

A key focus of the discussions was the representation of the Bahujan community in higher education, including faculty positions, research leadership, administrative roles, and decision-making bodies. Speakers emphasized that representation goes beyond mere numbers, it encompasses voice, dignity, epistemic justice, and the recognition of Bahujan knowledge traditions. The conference underscored the urgent need to democratize knowledge production and challenge exclusionary control over academic spaces.

Several sessions examined the structural, social, and institutional deprivations shaping the educational experiences of the Bahujan community. These include challenges faced by first-generation learners, economic hardships, caste-based discrimination, lack of mentorship, financial precarity, and the psychological toll of everyday marginalization. Participants highlighted how many Bahujan students encounter not only academic pressures but also hostile social environments that undermine their confidence, mental health, and sense of belonging in universities.

The conference deliberately shifted the discourse from social justice to social transformation. While social justice frameworks have been essential in securing rights, safeguards, and representation, speakers argued that the current moment demands a deeper overhaul of social relations, institutional cultures, and power structures. Education was framed not merely as a pathway for individual mobility but as a collective tool for reshaping society and building enduring equality, dignity, and fraternity for the Bahujan community.

The conference featured prominent speakers, including Prof. Harish Wankhede, Prof. N. Sukumar, Dr. Jaswant Rai, and Dr. Karmanand Arya, whose contributions brought significant academic and political depth to the discussions. Their participation reflects the growing national engagement with issues of caste, higher education, social justice, and transformation.

In the inaugural session, speakers underscored the historical and contemporary relevance of a rich tradition of social equality and resistance, drawing inspiration from Gautam Buddha, Sant Ravidas, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Birsa Munda, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Kanshi Ram. This intellectual and political lineage represents an ongoing struggle for human dignity, social equality, and democratic transformation, serving as a guiding framework for contemporary movements in education and society.

The inaugural session saw participation from scholars, academicians, and activists across institutions and regions, reflecting a growing commitment to building a sustained intellectual and social movement. The involvement of participants from JNU, Jamia, CUSB, and Magadh University symbolized a vital bridge between national academic centers and regional universities, decentralizing knowledge production and positioning historically underrepresented regions as key sites of intellectual and political engagement.

The conference's success was due to the dedicated efforts of the organizing team, Akhilesh, Prakash, Rupak, Aishwarya, Sandeep, Dayasheel, and Manish, who handled coordination, academic planning, and on-ground execution. Their collaborative work created a vibrant platform for dialogue and collective learning among scholars, activists, and students.

The Birsa Phule Ambedkar Samta Foundation (BPASF) reaffirmed its long-term commitment to platforms that connect scholarship with social movements. Future initiatives will include academic conferences, public lectures, student outreach programs, research collaborations, and community-based educational interventions. Through these efforts, BPASF aims to nurture a new generation of critical scholars and activists dedicated to equality, social justice, and transformative democracy for the Bahujan community.

The conference concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen networks among universities, activists, and community organizations, sustaining intellectual and political momentum for social transformation. Participants expressed hope that this Bodh Gaya initiative would inspire similar academic-social collaborations elsewhere, contributing to a broader national movement for inclusive, democratic, and socially responsive higher education.