CUKashmir commemorates Ambedkar Jayanti with webinar on ‘Ambedkar and the Question of Equality in India and Its Diasporic Contexts’

GANDERBAL: Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) Tuesday commemorated the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar with a special lecture (webinar), on “Ambedkar and the Question of Equality in India and Its Diasporic Contexts” the second in its ongoing week-long series of events that commenced on April 9.

The event featured addresses by Vice Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, invited keynote speaker Prof. Vikrant Kishor of the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China. Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, Registrar, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of Departments, faculty members, research scholars and students were present.

In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor Prof. A. Ravinder Nath said, “Dr. B R Ambedkar has made a really voluminous knowledge related to how to bring better life for the underrepresented and unrepresented people.” “Dr. Ambedkar called for a reservation framework that moves beyond caste-based categorisation to ensure that first-generation learners and the most deprived receive the greatest support,” Prof. A Ravinder Nath said. Reflecting on Ambedkar’s spiritual turn towards Buddhism, he drew an insightful parallel between the Buddhist Trisharan and the tripartite mission of a university: the pursuit of knowledge through research (Buddham Sharanam Gacchami), the cultivation of ethical citizenship through teaching (Dharmam Sharanam Gacchami), and the advancement of social welfare through outreach (Sangham Sharanam Gacchami). Prof. A Ravinder Nath further said that future Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at CUKashmir should devote each day to a distinct theme from Dr. Ambedkar's thought, including environmental consciousness, gender dignity and the rights of farmers and labourers.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Vikrant Kishor offered a far-reaching exploration of Ambedkar’s relevance in contemporary India as well as in transnational and diasporic contexts. Drawing upon his documentary “Resisting Casteism in Australia,” he examined how the salutation “Jai Bhim” has evolved into a powerful cultural and political expression—embodying collective memory, and the assertion of dignity among marginalized communities. He observed that Ambedkar’s statues in cities such as Melbourne, London, and Maryland stand as enduring symbols of identity, resilience, and the global diffusion of his emancipatory ideas. Prof. Kishor, however, cautioned against the ritualistic commemoration of Ambedkar that risks reducing his legacy to ceremonial observance devoid of critical engagement.

He emphasized that caste is not geographically confined; rather, it travels with diaspora communities, subtly shaping social interactions, matrimonial alliances, and professional networks even within societies that outwardly champion equality and anti-discrimination. He emphasized that Ambedkar’s intellectual method was grounded in rigorous analysis, legal reasoning, and transformative political action.

Dean DSW Dr. Jehirul Islam paid tributes to Babasaheb as the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice, equality, and gender rights. He reflected on Ambedkar’s enduring exhortation to “educate, agitate and organize,” describing it as not merely a historical slogan but a continuing moral imperative. He urged the academic community to internalize these values and to continually interrogate how constitutional morality can guide both personal conduct and the broader democratic ethos of the nation.

Dr. Altaf Hussain, Assistant Professor, Department of Urdu, Liaison Officer, SC, ST, PWD Cell, conducted the programme proceedings while Dr. John Babu Koyye, Sr. Assistant Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, Liaison Officer, OBC Cell, introduced the keynote speaker and proposed the vote of thanks.