134th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Grandly Celebrated at Columbia University

New York- The 134th birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Columbia University, New York. The keynote address was delivered by renowned American philosopher Dr. Cornel West. Prominent speakers included Dr. Bishnu Pariyar, Dadasaheb Tandale (Ph.D. scholar at Boston University), Ram Gautam, Captain Vijay Bambole, Dr. Salam Shaikh, Adv. Deepak Chatap, and Ishan Parmar. The event was held at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University.

During the program, Vikas Tatad was honored with a formal Proclamation from the Mayor of Jersey City, which he accepted in the presence of his parents. The celebration highlighted Dr. Ambedkar’s enduring message of equality, justice, and education.

The event began with the recitation of Trisharan and Panchsheel. A powerful cultural performance by Lokshahir Sambhaji Bhagat captivated the audience, emphasizing constitutional values through his unique musical style. The energy in the room soared during a rap performance by Vipin Tatad and evocative poetry by Naveen Kumar.

Chief organizer Vikas Tatad delivered the opening address, tracing the legacy of Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at Columbia and sharing the students’ long struggle to have caste-based discrimination recognized as a protected category. He noted that the scale and impact of the event have continued to grow each year due to the students’ tireless efforts.

Dr. Salam Shaikh reflected on his family's historical involvement in Babasaheb’s movement in India and shared his dedication to bringing these values to students in the U.S., including through a school in New Jersey that celebrates Ambedkar Jayanti annually.

Adv. Deepak Chatap emphasized that the legislature, executive, and judiciary are the lifeblood of democracy—and that maintaining diversity within them is critical to safeguarding against oppression. He urged attendees to remain vigilant about whether policymakers are upholding the constitutional values set forth by Dr. Ambedkar. He drew parallels between Babasaheb’s vision and global movements, including those for human rights in the U.S., the Roma people in Hungary, labor rights, and other marginalized communities around the world.

Dr. Bishnu Pariyar underscored Babasaheb’s profound contributions to women’s rights, while Captain Vinay Bambole spoke on the international relevance of Ambedkar Jayanti and his visionary educational ideals. Dadasaheb Tandale shared the story of founding SSD International and the organization’s mission.

Ishan Parmar, a young Diana International Award winner, reflected on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s enduring legacy, emphasizing that “education was Babasaheb’s greatest weapon against inequality.” He shared how Ambedkar’s journey deeply inspired him to carry forward that legacy by supporting underprivileged communities through education. “Garlanding his photo is not enough,” he said, “we must follow his path by uplifting others with knowledge and opportunity.”

The event saw large participation from students, scholars, and members of the broader community. Special artistic contributions were made by Kailash Khanjode and Prajakta Kedare. Notably, over 20 staff members from Air India also attended the celebration.

The success of the event was made possible by the unwavering dedication of Ambedkarite students at Columbia University, including Maitri Ramteke, Yogita Kamble, Palash Gajbhiye, David, Gege, Karishma Makeshwar, Pranali Bansod, Ashutosh, Vighnesh, Nayan Meshram, Shraddha Meshram, Bipin Khade, Poonam Khade, Mahendra Jadhav, and others on the organizing committee.

Vikas Tatad extended special thanks to numerous Columbia faculty and staff the Columbia University Libraries, for their immense support. He also expressed his gratitude to attendees from various countries and institutions—including representatives from the United Nations—and shared his hope of organizing an even larger celebration next year.