Educate, Agitate, Organize by Ann Dennehy, class of 1986
All over central India you can see statues in public places of a serious-looking man, wearing glasses and a suit, sometimes holding a book under one arm, sometimes pointing out into the distance. On Buddhist shrines, in peoples' homes and in temples, his framed photograph is next to a Buddha rupa, amidst offerings of candles, flowers, and incense. This man, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, is respected and adored by millions of Indians, particularly those in the Dalit/ex-untouchable community. In fact, in central India people often greet one another with folded hands and the salutation "Jai Bhim", "Long-live BHIM/ Dr. Ambedkar". For the past two years I have been working with the Buddhist youth from this community, inspired by Dr. Ambeadkar's legacy, inspired by the commitment of these youth to end casteism, to create a caste-free generation. My visits to India have evolved into a non-profit to support these youth and build connections to their work that radiate out, internationally, across cultures. JAI BHIM INTERNATIONAL has been launched.
Dr. Amedkar (1891 - 1956) helped shape the direction of modern, independent India. A contemporary of Gandhi, Ambedkar, as Chairman of The Indian Constitution's Drafting Committee, wrote the first Indian constitution. He came to believe that there would only be true democracy in his country once the practice of caste was abolished.
Ambedkar had received a PhD from Columbia University in New York, where he studied under the social reformer John Dewey, passed the Bar at The London School of Economics, and completed further studies at The University of Bonn in Germany. In spite of his monumental achievements and his successful entry into professional life in India as a government worker, newspaper editor, college professor, law school dean, and elected official, he was STILL treated as an Untouchable and faced consistent incidents of caste abuse: sudden eviction from housing, beatings, and death threats. This convinced him that only a social revolution with broad support of the masses would end the prejudice and violence.
Part of Ambedkar's own journey, having been born an "untouchable", was eventually denouncing Hinduism because of its inherent caste structure, and the extreme violence and discrimination suffered by his people as a result of caste . He declared, "I was born a Hindu, but will not die a Hindu." Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in October 1956, along with nearly half a million of his followers, at an event known as The Great Mass Conversion. This event sparked a rebirth of Buddhism in modern India, and millions more from the ex-untouchable or "Dalit" community, have followed his example. This mass conversion is part of an active, engaged, inclusive, social reform movement.
Flash forward to December 2007, my first trip to India, to attend a Buddhist Youth Conference in the geographic center of the country, near Nagpur. It was a gathering of young Buddhists from all over India, student-led and organized by The National Netwrok of Buddhist Youth (The "NNBY"), coordinated by my friend and fellow Buddhist Dhammachari Kumarjeev, who invited me to attend and collaborate as part of a team of five Trainers and a team of NNBY student leaders. Each day on the conference consisted of meditation, Buddhist dharma talks, various sessions, or "offerings" as we called them, pujas, and oh yes, delicious Indian food. Since I teach English I was there to offer English; basic conversation practice, grammar review, pronunciation improvement. I also met spontaneously with students one-on-one and in small groups as they approached me, offering specific language advice and encouragement. The other trainers offered sessions in non-violent communication, drama, team-building games, aikido, study skills, time management, and many other activities
As I spoke with students throughout the week they raved of the friendships they were making and all the practical skills they were learning from the different sessions. Some told me how they struggled with self-confidence, others how much their self-confidence has grown since last year's conference. I was very impressed by their sensitivity, their emotional clarity, and their honesty. In my sessions I noticed how eager students were both to learn and to play, how direct they were in asking for what they did and did not want from our time together, how supportive they were of one another's learning, and how rapidly they were able to absorb and apply new information. It was the most fun I had had in my 17 years of English teaching.
I learned so much myself of Dr. Ambedkar's historic conversion 50 years ago, his commitment to ending the horrific caste system in Independent India, his devotion to his ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, and his inspiration from the Buddha. All the Indians present, the majority of whom were Dalits and from the community once labeled "untouchable", have known the oppression of the caste system personally, and expressed such heartfelt appreciation for Dr. Ambedkar – yet seemed so optimistic, so joyful, so motivated by his example.
Last May I returned to India for a second NNBY retreat, this time in Dehra Dun, north India, and when I returned to San Francisco last summer I created our non-profit, Jai Bhim International, to formalize my work with these youth. This past December I went to India with 20 scholarships for students to attend the Buddhist Youth Conference from regions outside central India; from Bodh Gaya, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as our first Jai Bhim International project. I also began work piloting our Community English Project, which will train Indian English teachers and coaches in more remote Dalit communities in communicative, student-centered English teaching methods, then providing follow-up mentorship with English teachers in The U.S. and The U.K. Our teaching philosophy is rooted Paolo Freire's revolutionary model of the :"Democratic Classroom", as well as the vision for public education of Thomas Dewey, who was, in fact, Dr. Ambedkar's mentor at Columbia. We are starting small with our projects, focusing on English language, and being guided by the needs and the creativity of the Dalit youth themselves. Take a look at our website to see what we are creating: www.jaibhiminternational.org.
May all beings be well. Jai Bhim.
“My final word of advice to you is educate, agitate, and organize. Have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of the human personality.” (from a speech made by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at the All-India Depressed Classes Conference, 1942)
SOURCES: “Ambedkar and Buddhism” by Sangharakshita, Windhorse Publications 1986; Christopher Queen’s article “The Great Conversion: Dr. Ambedkar and the Buddhist Revival in India” page 63Tricycle Magazine, Spring 1993