Symposium on Ambedkarite Ideology to be held in Vancouver from April 21

Delegates from around the world will attend a symposium in Vancouver, organized by the Chetna Association of Canada and the Ambedkarite International Coordination Society. The symposium  which will be held from 21 to 26th April, will feature discussions on different avenues of Ambedkarite ideology. As the Ambedkarite movement grows internationally, the celebrations of Ambedkar Jayanti have also grown in scale and duration. A week-long symposium has been planned in Vancouver to extend the celebration of Ambedkar Jayanti.

"We are very excited to welcome delegates and community members to these gatherings and facilitate interactive dialogues on Dalit emancipation through inclusion, meaningful representation, and enhanced social, political, and economic equality", Param Kainth and Jai Birdi, the hosts, said. 

Discussions on Range of Issues from Buddhism to Dalit Empowerment

The symposium, scheduled from April 21st to April 26th, will feature discussions on a range of issues, including Buddhism, Caste entrepreneurship, and Women and Youth Empowerment. The events also include a pilgrimage to Guru Ravidass Community center in Burnaby. The city of Burnaby was the first city in North America to proclaim April 14 - Dr. Ambedkar Day of Equality.

Jai Birdi, who is also the co-chair of the steering committee, emphasized the need to organize a Symposium in Canada, saying, "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.

Symposiums have also been dedicated to people who have been victims of extreme caste-oppression in academic settings like Rohit Vemula and Dr. Pamposh. Approximately 100 delegates are expected to attend the event. The symposium will see the participation of Rajratna Ambedkar, the great-grandnephew of Dr. Ambedkar, among other participants from around the world.

Professors and Academics to Serve as Academic Advisors for Symposium

The academic advisors of the event include Prof. (Dr.) Vivek Kumar, Dr. KP Singh Sr., Suraj Yengde, Sujata Gaurkhede, and Dr. Yuwraj Naranaware. The media team includes Meena Kotwal from The Mooknayak, Ratan Paul, Ashok Das, Dalit Dastak, Surbhi Gogoi, and Prem Chumber, among others.

Canada has a strong South Asian population and a sizeable representation of people belonging to marginalized communities from the region. British Columbia was the first provincial and state-level government in Canada to proclaim Dr. Ambedkar Day of Equality and April - Dalit History Month. The Human Rights Tribunal in the province found incidents of caste oppression valid, and the offenders were penalized close to ten thousand dollars.