Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT) Donated the Volumes Written by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar to A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center at Southwestern University
February 20th, 2025
Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT) donated the volumes written by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar to A. Frank Smith Library at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas.
Georgetown, TX – As a part of Black History Month, a panel discussion about the radical Black-Dalit solidarity work of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and the urgency for radical anti-caste work in the United States was organized by the Race and Ethnic Study (RES) team and the A. Frank Smith Library team at the Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Dr. Lamiyah Bahrainwala, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Southwestern University, played a very key role in organizing this event. The erudite panelists included scholars from the University of Texas, Austin- Dr. Scott Stroud, Vishal Thakare, and Meenakshi Yadav.
The event was attended by various faculty members at Southwestern University and many students. The panelists reflected a range of topics, providing some introductory information about Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, as well as throwing some light on Dr. Ambedkar’s work towards Dalit- Black solidarity. Drawing on historical connections and relationships of Black and Dalit struggle, the panelists talked about the caste, the need for caste awareness, and opportunities for social justice in the US.
One of the panelists, Dr. Scott Stroud, a professor of communication studies at the University of Texas at Austin, emphasizing Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891-1956) described him as a “theorist, historian, philosopher, and activist”, and explained how his time at Columbia University in NYC shaped Dr. Ambedkar’s formative ideas of democracy and social equality and influence on his teacher, John Dewey.
Vishal Thakare and Meenakshi Yadav commented on the habits and customs of caste hierarchy, its global spread, and its perpetual existence across India and the United States, especially within the Indian Diaspora. Concluding the session, Vishal Thakare underscored the relevance of Dr. Ambedkar’s Ideas in contemporary times as a way of living life.
Following the panel discussion, the Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT) donated the collected writings and speeches of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar to the A. Frank Smith Jr. Library. These volumes will provide access to his views on caste, democracy, equality, and fraternity to the students and faculty members at Southwestern University.
Explaining the importance of the donation drive, Kamlesh Nandagawali, a senior ABAT member, stated the books and work of Babasaheb are key to empowerment, self-respect, and social transformation. He continued by stating that these books will help the knowledge seekers develop critical insights about India’s socio-political realities and particularly Dr. Ambedkar’s life work while quoting Ambedkar’s message —“Educate, Agitate, Organize”.
The event attracted a diverse audience, including students, academics, and library staff. The Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT) is a registered non-profit organization that started in 2015 through an initiative by like-minded Ambedkarite families living in Texas. Now, ABAT proudly works with universities and other organizations to spread the work of Dr. Ambedkar and his ideology. For more information on this event, please also visit the Southwestern University https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/16775-ambedkar-buddhist-association-of-texas-abat.
(L to R) Dr. Lamiyah Bahrainwala, Dr. Scott Stroud, Dr. Laura Skandera Trombley, Kamlesh Nandagawali, Vishal Thakare, Meenakshi Yadav, Casey Duncan, Yogesh Khankal, Amit Rangari, Pranit Jadhav. Photo Credit: Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas