Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expanded his cabinet with the induction two ministers in the government.
Mahendra Paswan-representing the Madhesi-Dalit community will head the ministry of Land Reform and Ram Charan Chaudhary, representing the Tharu Community will be leading the Ministry of Women, Children and Social welfare.
Both Paswan and Chaudhary are the Maoists’ central committee members and the Consistent Assembly Ministers as well.
Minister for Information and Communication Mr. Krishna Bahadur Mahara talking to journalists on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, said that with the induction of two new ministers in the cabinet, the government has taken a full shape.
The cabinet meeting held on Wednesday March 25, 2009, also decided to transfer six government’s secretaries.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Pakistan’s first ‘Dalit Senator’
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
By Imtiaz Ali
Karachi
Dr Khatumal Jeewan, the first Dalit (scheduled caste) senator, was born in a remote village near the historic town of Umar Kot — the birth place of Mughal emperor Akbar, and the commercial centre of desert zone communities.
Jeewan, who is proud to be where he is today, received his medical degree from the Dow Medical College (DMC). He said that being a doctor was considered to be the most honourable thing in his neighbourhood.
Being involved in students politics actively, he learnt how to mobilise comrades and rallied for various causes. When he joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), it was probably these attributes which inspired leadership, and he was awarded a ticket to contest elections several times (traditionally, the rich Hindu families would get tickets for elections). He was elected as Member National Assembly (MNA) more than once, and worked for the well-being of the deprived scheduled castes in the province.
Before joining parliamentary politics, Jeewan practiced in emergency and paediatrics wards in a public sector hospital for 12 months till 1987. However, he felt that if he was a legislator, he would be in a better position to serve his community. “Joining mainstream politics was the only way to bring about changes, as the priorities of rich Hindu legislators were not in favour of the deprived communities,” he said.
Dr Jeewan was elected as MNA for the first time in 1988 on a PPP ticket. He was re-elected as MNA in 1990, 1993 and 1997 on a ‘reserved seat’. Unfortunately, he was subjected to victimisation and a former Sindh chief minister got “several fake cases” registered against him, forcing him to go underground.
When the PPP-P government came into power in 2008, Dr Jeewan was made advisor to Sindh chief minister on mines and mineral development, as well as assuming responsibilities of Chairman of Sindh Coal Authority.
Recalling his days of student politics, Dr Jeewan said that when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto first came to Umar Kot in 1971, there was a huge crowd to welcome him. “I was inspired at that moment to join politics,” he added.
Interestingly, he has been against the joint electoral system (introduced by former President Musharraf). According to him, only the upper class are given tickets by political parties under this system. Previously, there were four seats for Hindus/scheduled castes, four for Christians, one for Parsis, Buddhists and Sikhs, and one for Ahmedi/Qadiani.
According to the last census, there are 2.4 million Hindus in the country, a figure which has probably increased now. Eighty per cent of this population consists of scheduled castes.
About his political experience, he said that when he met people, he realised that the upper class Hindus were not mentally prepared to tolerate the scheduled castes. In fact, half of Thar’s population comprises Hindus, who are mostly scheduled castes. “I tried to unite and organise them”, because these were the people who voted for me.”
Discussing the problems faced by scheduled castes, he said that the first and foremost was education, which was followed by the non-availability of clean drinking water. “Upper class Hindus insist that their animals should drink water first from the wells, and then women from scheduled castes are allowed to fetch water,” he elaborated.
Dr Jeewan has provided separate wells to around 300-400 villages in Thar and schools to each village in Mirpurkhas. For him, the parliament is a proper forum to defend the community in vigorous way.
He is now striving for the proper utilisation of coal reserves in Thar – there are 175 billion tones of coal in Thar. If his efforts prove to be fruitful, then scheduled castes will get jobs in the mining sector. “A three-year diploma was initiated after starting a ‘mono-technical institute’ in Thar,” he explained. A mining department has also been established at Mehran University, Jamshoro.
Dr Jeewan said that from 2007 to 2008, Pakistan spent over seven billion dollars on oil imports for power generation while Thar has coal worth trillions of dollars. There is also a rehabilitation plan in the offing, and a ‘new’ city would also be established at Islamkot to rehabilitate the affected. “Lands will be refilled and compensation will be given. I have also suggested the setting up of a ‘granite city’ in Thar,” he added.
By Imtiaz Ali
Karachi
Dr Khatumal Jeewan, the first Dalit (scheduled caste) senator, was born in a remote village near the historic town of Umar Kot — the birth place of Mughal emperor Akbar, and the commercial centre of desert zone communities.
Jeewan, who is proud to be where he is today, received his medical degree from the Dow Medical College (DMC). He said that being a doctor was considered to be the most honourable thing in his neighbourhood.
Being involved in students politics actively, he learnt how to mobilise comrades and rallied for various causes. When he joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), it was probably these attributes which inspired leadership, and he was awarded a ticket to contest elections several times (traditionally, the rich Hindu families would get tickets for elections). He was elected as Member National Assembly (MNA) more than once, and worked for the well-being of the deprived scheduled castes in the province.
Before joining parliamentary politics, Jeewan practiced in emergency and paediatrics wards in a public sector hospital for 12 months till 1987. However, he felt that if he was a legislator, he would be in a better position to serve his community. “Joining mainstream politics was the only way to bring about changes, as the priorities of rich Hindu legislators were not in favour of the deprived communities,” he said.
Dr Jeewan was elected as MNA for the first time in 1988 on a PPP ticket. He was re-elected as MNA in 1990, 1993 and 1997 on a ‘reserved seat’. Unfortunately, he was subjected to victimisation and a former Sindh chief minister got “several fake cases” registered against him, forcing him to go underground.
When the PPP-P government came into power in 2008, Dr Jeewan was made advisor to Sindh chief minister on mines and mineral development, as well as assuming responsibilities of Chairman of Sindh Coal Authority.
Recalling his days of student politics, Dr Jeewan said that when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto first came to Umar Kot in 1971, there was a huge crowd to welcome him. “I was inspired at that moment to join politics,” he added.
Interestingly, he has been against the joint electoral system (introduced by former President Musharraf). According to him, only the upper class are given tickets by political parties under this system. Previously, there were four seats for Hindus/scheduled castes, four for Christians, one for Parsis, Buddhists and Sikhs, and one for Ahmedi/Qadiani.
According to the last census, there are 2.4 million Hindus in the country, a figure which has probably increased now. Eighty per cent of this population consists of scheduled castes.
About his political experience, he said that when he met people, he realised that the upper class Hindus were not mentally prepared to tolerate the scheduled castes. In fact, half of Thar’s population comprises Hindus, who are mostly scheduled castes. “I tried to unite and organise them”, because these were the people who voted for me.”
Discussing the problems faced by scheduled castes, he said that the first and foremost was education, which was followed by the non-availability of clean drinking water. “Upper class Hindus insist that their animals should drink water first from the wells, and then women from scheduled castes are allowed to fetch water,” he elaborated.
Dr Jeewan has provided separate wells to around 300-400 villages in Thar and schools to each village in Mirpurkhas. For him, the parliament is a proper forum to defend the community in vigorous way.
He is now striving for the proper utilisation of coal reserves in Thar – there are 175 billion tones of coal in Thar. If his efforts prove to be fruitful, then scheduled castes will get jobs in the mining sector. “A three-year diploma was initiated after starting a ‘mono-technical institute’ in Thar,” he explained. A mining department has also been established at Mehran University, Jamshoro.
Dr Jeewan said that from 2007 to 2008, Pakistan spent over seven billion dollars on oil imports for power generation while Thar has coal worth trillions of dollars. There is also a rehabilitation plan in the offing, and a ‘new’ city would also be established at Islamkot to rehabilitate the affected. “Lands will be refilled and compensation will be given. I have also suggested the setting up of a ‘granite city’ in Thar,” he added.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Untouchables win a landmark equality ruling
A LANDMARK legal ruling that granted India's downtrodden "untouchables" the right to defend their reputations has been hailed as a symbolic victory for the lower castes.
An appeal court judge in Jammu and Kashmir ruled all Indians were worthy of respect and entitled to a good reputation, regardless of their wealth or social status.
The ruling amounts to a direct challenge to India's caste-focused society in which attacks on "untouchables", or dalits, because of their "polluting presence" are common.
Dalits have been killed for drinking water from the same well as their caste "superiors" or for complaining when their daughters are raped. In this context, the court ruling has been hailed as revolutionary.
Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, an unemployed man from Kupwara, sued the Kashmiri newspaper Tameel-i-Irshad after it published a false report claiming he was a defendant in a murder case. He had asked the judge to waive the court fee in the case because he was too poor to pay it. The judge threw out his case, ruling the poor did not have reputations that could be damaged in newspaper reports.
"When the plaintiff is not even in a position to pay the lawsuit fee, he cannot seek damages for defamation," Judge Nazir Ahmed Fida said. "The dignity of a person of low integrity will not be lowered further [if] his name appears in a defamatory piece of news."
Mr Mir's lawyer said he was shocked by the decision, made despite the judge acknowledging the news report was untrue, and launched an appeal. In his appeal ruling, High Court Judge Muzaffar Hussain Attar reprimanded the trial judge and said his ruling had been "offensive to conscience".
"The respect and reputation of a person is not dependent upon how much wealth he has accumulated," he said. If only the rich were entitled to respect, "a great disservice will be done to society", he said.
A Supreme Court lawyer, Zafar Shah, said the ruling narrowed the gap between the equal rights promised to every Indian in the country's constitution and the reality where "the respect and dignity of a person is determined by [his] economic and social status".
Social commentator Pavan K. Varma said the ruling heralded "the beginning of change". "To say that someone who is poor can't have status reflects the mindset of another century, but old attitudes die hard," he said. "That the appeals judge threw out the ruling means there's a beginning of change. Caste is now standing on its head."
A Dalit leader, Udit Raj, said the ruling was a "symbolic victory" but the reality in India was closer to the original judge's ruling. "It's impossible for the poor, minorities and low castes to get justice. The trial judge should be dismissed … There is some way to go before dalits get the respect they're entitled to."
An appeal court judge in Jammu and Kashmir ruled all Indians were worthy of respect and entitled to a good reputation, regardless of their wealth or social status.
The ruling amounts to a direct challenge to India's caste-focused society in which attacks on "untouchables", or dalits, because of their "polluting presence" are common.
Dalits have been killed for drinking water from the same well as their caste "superiors" or for complaining when their daughters are raped. In this context, the court ruling has been hailed as revolutionary.
Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, an unemployed man from Kupwara, sued the Kashmiri newspaper Tameel-i-Irshad after it published a false report claiming he was a defendant in a murder case. He had asked the judge to waive the court fee in the case because he was too poor to pay it. The judge threw out his case, ruling the poor did not have reputations that could be damaged in newspaper reports.
"When the plaintiff is not even in a position to pay the lawsuit fee, he cannot seek damages for defamation," Judge Nazir Ahmed Fida said. "The dignity of a person of low integrity will not be lowered further [if] his name appears in a defamatory piece of news."
Mr Mir's lawyer said he was shocked by the decision, made despite the judge acknowledging the news report was untrue, and launched an appeal. In his appeal ruling, High Court Judge Muzaffar Hussain Attar reprimanded the trial judge and said his ruling had been "offensive to conscience".
"The respect and reputation of a person is not dependent upon how much wealth he has accumulated," he said. If only the rich were entitled to respect, "a great disservice will be done to society", he said.
A Supreme Court lawyer, Zafar Shah, said the ruling narrowed the gap between the equal rights promised to every Indian in the country's constitution and the reality where "the respect and dignity of a person is determined by [his] economic and social status".
Social commentator Pavan K. Varma said the ruling heralded "the beginning of change". "To say that someone who is poor can't have status reflects the mindset of another century, but old attitudes die hard," he said. "That the appeals judge threw out the ruling means there's a beginning of change. Caste is now standing on its head."
A Dalit leader, Udit Raj, said the ruling was a "symbolic victory" but the reality in India was closer to the original judge's ruling. "It's impossible for the poor, minorities and low castes to get justice. The trial judge should be dismissed … There is some way to go before dalits get the respect they're entitled to."
Churches meet to express global solidarity with Dalits
The suffering and injustice experienced by millions of Dalit people and communities "is a challenge to the credibility of the churches' affirmations of faith in India and worldwide," according to the Rev Deenabandhu Manchala who heads the World Council of Churches (WCC) Just and Inclusive Communities Programme.
Manchala was speaking on the eve of the 'Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits' which will take place from 21 to 24 March 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the joint initiative of the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Hosted by the Christian Conference of Asia, the conference will bring together over 100 representatives of churches and church-related organizations from all over the world, with a significant representation from Indian churches and members of affected communities.
The first of its kind, this global ecumenical event is intended to gather up experiences and perspectives on the challenge of securing justice for Dalits and similarly affected communities. It will also provide a forum for articulating theological and ethical responses to the struggles of Dalits for survival and identity, focusing on the role of the global church family in relation to these struggles.
An estimated 250 million people in South Asia are Dalits, who are traditionally regarded as "untouchable". This type of social convention can also be found in communities in many other parts of the world. It goes against every Christian, ethical and human rights perspective. "Untouchability and discrimination based on caste affect a significant proportion of the world's people, and are a direct contradiction of the God-given dignity of every human being," noted LWF deputy general secretary Rev. Chandran Paul Martin.
The Bangkok conference comes just one month before the United Nations' Durban Review Conference, to be convened in Geneva from 20 to 24 April 2009, to review the implementation of the plan of action adopted by the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance – in which the problem of caste discrimination was not mentioned.
"The entire international community turned a blind eye to the plight of the world's Dalits when they met in Durban, and they are set to do so again in Geneva in April," said Peter Prove of the LWF Office for International Affairs and Human Rights. The Bangkok conference organizers expect the churches of the world to take up the challenge that the governments of the world have refused to confront.
The churches in India have taken the issue of justice for Dalits as a core priority for their ongoing mission, and have been supported by the National Council of Churches in India, the WCC and LWF. These organizations have actively promoted the empowerment of Dalits in church and society by providing theological and ethical responses to the Dalit struggle, and in advocating the elimination of the centuries-old discrimination on the basis of caste.
These ecumenical initiatives have also been instrumental in initiating many community-based programmes for Dalit empowerment. Recent years have also seen a growing mobilization of civil society in India and elsewhere for Dalit human rights.
Representatives of Dalit social movements, national and international coalitions are also attending the Bangkok conference. The principal aim of this historic event is to affirm and strengthen the solidarity of the global ecumenical movement with the Indian churches and other organizations that are committed to the cause of justice for the Dalits.
Additional information about the conference on the LWF website: http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OIahr/OIAHR-Dalit_Justice.html
Manchala was speaking on the eve of the 'Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits' which will take place from 21 to 24 March 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the joint initiative of the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Hosted by the Christian Conference of Asia, the conference will bring together over 100 representatives of churches and church-related organizations from all over the world, with a significant representation from Indian churches and members of affected communities.
The first of its kind, this global ecumenical event is intended to gather up experiences and perspectives on the challenge of securing justice for Dalits and similarly affected communities. It will also provide a forum for articulating theological and ethical responses to the struggles of Dalits for survival and identity, focusing on the role of the global church family in relation to these struggles.
An estimated 250 million people in South Asia are Dalits, who are traditionally regarded as "untouchable". This type of social convention can also be found in communities in many other parts of the world. It goes against every Christian, ethical and human rights perspective. "Untouchability and discrimination based on caste affect a significant proportion of the world's people, and are a direct contradiction of the God-given dignity of every human being," noted LWF deputy general secretary Rev. Chandran Paul Martin.
The Bangkok conference comes just one month before the United Nations' Durban Review Conference, to be convened in Geneva from 20 to 24 April 2009, to review the implementation of the plan of action adopted by the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance – in which the problem of caste discrimination was not mentioned.
"The entire international community turned a blind eye to the plight of the world's Dalits when they met in Durban, and they are set to do so again in Geneva in April," said Peter Prove of the LWF Office for International Affairs and Human Rights. The Bangkok conference organizers expect the churches of the world to take up the challenge that the governments of the world have refused to confront.
The churches in India have taken the issue of justice for Dalits as a core priority for their ongoing mission, and have been supported by the National Council of Churches in India, the WCC and LWF. These organizations have actively promoted the empowerment of Dalits in church and society by providing theological and ethical responses to the Dalit struggle, and in advocating the elimination of the centuries-old discrimination on the basis of caste.
These ecumenical initiatives have also been instrumental in initiating many community-based programmes for Dalit empowerment. Recent years have also seen a growing mobilization of civil society in India and elsewhere for Dalit human rights.
Representatives of Dalit social movements, national and international coalitions are also attending the Bangkok conference. The principal aim of this historic event is to affirm and strengthen the solidarity of the global ecumenical movement with the Indian churches and other organizations that are committed to the cause of justice for the Dalits.
Additional information about the conference on the LWF website: http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OIahr/OIAHR-Dalit_Justice.html
Caste, clan, vendetta in play in Punjab
At 32%, Punjab probably has the largest concentration of Dalit votes in any state in the country, but the caste factor has, strangely, never played
a prominent role in poll calculations here.
This is because, traditionally, Dalits in the land of Nanak have always aligned with one of the two major national parties — Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — since the 60s.
All that may change this time. The twin forces of Mayawati and delimitation will bring Dalit politics — and vote bank — into the spotlight like never before. With four of the 13 seats getting reserved — three during the previous elections — BSP has decided to field candidates in all the constituencies. BSP, which had earlier won three Lok Sabha seats while in an alliance with SAD, is hoping for a windfall.
The delimitation exercise has upset many a plan, including those of SAD’s leading family, the Badals. Other leaders like deputy speaker of Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal, and BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna have also lost their traditional seats. The Badals were quick to identify a new bastion, Bathinda, and nurture it over the last one year. Atwal is working overtime in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Khanna, however, has been left high and dry. For SAD-BJP, there seems to be some frown forming on the anti-incumbency front. No wonder then that they are trying to woo voters desperately using the development plank. Sops like regularizing illegal colonies, relaxing anti-pollution norms for industrialists and doles for BPL families have been showered by the cash-strapped government. It remains to be seen how many will show their gratitude through votes.
As it is, the margin of victory for the ruling combine over Congress during the 2007 assembly polls was anything but impressive. Congress, on the other hand, is still battling infighting, especially between the camps of stalwarts Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and will need a huge heave to come together as a compact unit. But it’s the negative sentiment against the Akali-BJP axis that Congress is counting on.
“Within two years of their misgovernance, people are already drawing comparisons between their rule and our times,” said Amarinder Singh, former CM and leader of the Congress campaign committee in Punjab.
“We would raise emotive issues like their handling of Sacha Sauda crisis, which tore apart the social fabric of the society; power shortage, along with zero support to the industry and farm sector. Then, there is the vendetta against Congress workers.”
But in all this, the battle of ballot is increasingly getting confined to two families — the Badals and the erstwhile Patiala royals. While the Badals would want to consolidate their position, Amarinder and his clan would like to avenge their assembly defeat. No wonder, a top cop said that the polls are likely to be violent this time, given the recent history of bloodshed between these two parties. Not surprisingly, eight out of 13 seats have been declared sensitive.
(Source: TOI)
a prominent role in poll calculations here.
This is because, traditionally, Dalits in the land of Nanak have always aligned with one of the two major national parties — Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — since the 60s.
All that may change this time. The twin forces of Mayawati and delimitation will bring Dalit politics — and vote bank — into the spotlight like never before. With four of the 13 seats getting reserved — three during the previous elections — BSP has decided to field candidates in all the constituencies. BSP, which had earlier won three Lok Sabha seats while in an alliance with SAD, is hoping for a windfall.
The delimitation exercise has upset many a plan, including those of SAD’s leading family, the Badals. Other leaders like deputy speaker of Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh Atwal, and BJP MP Avinash Rai Khanna have also lost their traditional seats. The Badals were quick to identify a new bastion, Bathinda, and nurture it over the last one year. Atwal is working overtime in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Khanna, however, has been left high and dry. For SAD-BJP, there seems to be some frown forming on the anti-incumbency front. No wonder then that they are trying to woo voters desperately using the development plank. Sops like regularizing illegal colonies, relaxing anti-pollution norms for industrialists and doles for BPL families have been showered by the cash-strapped government. It remains to be seen how many will show their gratitude through votes.
As it is, the margin of victory for the ruling combine over Congress during the 2007 assembly polls was anything but impressive. Congress, on the other hand, is still battling infighting, especially between the camps of stalwarts Amarinder Singh and Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and will need a huge heave to come together as a compact unit. But it’s the negative sentiment against the Akali-BJP axis that Congress is counting on.
“Within two years of their misgovernance, people are already drawing comparisons between their rule and our times,” said Amarinder Singh, former CM and leader of the Congress campaign committee in Punjab.
“We would raise emotive issues like their handling of Sacha Sauda crisis, which tore apart the social fabric of the society; power shortage, along with zero support to the industry and farm sector. Then, there is the vendetta against Congress workers.”
But in all this, the battle of ballot is increasingly getting confined to two families — the Badals and the erstwhile Patiala royals. While the Badals would want to consolidate their position, Amarinder and his clan would like to avenge their assembly defeat. No wonder, a top cop said that the polls are likely to be violent this time, given the recent history of bloodshed between these two parties. Not surprisingly, eight out of 13 seats have been declared sensitive.
(Source: TOI)
International Seminar on “Comparative Context of Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policies in Asia”
IIDS is organizing an International Seminar on International Seminar on “Comparative Context of Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policies in Asia”.
Venue : Gulmohar Hall India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Date : 6,7 & 8 May , 2009
Download Concept Note
RSVP:
Martin Kamodang, Ph: 91-9868773723, Abhay Xaxa, Ph: 91-9711430185
Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, D-II/1, Road No- 4,
Andrews Ganj, New Delhi-110049Tel +91-11-26252082, 26251809, 26265703, Fax: +91-11-26251808, Email: admin@dalitstudies.org.in
Venue : Gulmohar Hall India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Date : 6,7 & 8 May , 2009
Download Concept Note
RSVP:
Martin Kamodang, Ph: 91-9868773723, Abhay Xaxa, Ph: 91-9711430185
Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, D-II/1, Road No- 4,
Andrews Ganj, New Delhi-110049Tel +91-11-26252082, 26251809, 26265703, Fax: +91-11-26251808, Email: admin@dalitstudies.org.in
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Public Lecture on Dr B R Ambedkar : Advocate of political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables
Colombo, 01October, (Asiantribune.com): Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Tourism appointed a committee headed by Ambassador Mangala Moonesinghe recently to organise a series of guest lectures. The fist of the above series will be oration, on Dr B R Ambedkar, by professor S Thorat , Chairman, University Grants commission of India and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 14 October, at the Hotel Management and Training School Auditorium, in Colombo.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit political leader and a Buddhist revivalist. He was also the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
Born into a poor Untouchable family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna - the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas - and the Indian caste system.
Born into a poor Untouchable family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna - the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas - and the Indian caste system.
He is also credited with having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. Ambedkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first "untouchables" to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar returned home a famous scholar and practiced law for a few years before publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables.
- Asian Tribune -
Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first "untouchables" to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar returned home a famous scholar and practiced law for a few years before publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables.
- Asian Tribune -
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