Dr. Ambedkar’s Idea of a Nation and Nation Building
Hi all,
Just wanted to bring to you in words, pictures and videos my trip to Bloomington and Indianapolis to attend Prof. Vivek Kumar’s seminar on “Dr. Ambedkar’s Idea of a Nation and Nation Building”.
What I’ve learned and gained from this trip was much more. I got a chance to create a personal relationship with Prof. Vivek Kumar, and also reconnect with Lalit and Vijay. I also witnessed the wide reach that Dr. Ambedkar’s movement has and made some great connections with people not just from India and US but across the world, who are ready to support us in our struggle for Human Dignity.
The event started of at 4PM on 04/26 with an introduction of the attendees about 20 of them listed below, then introduction of Prof. Vivek Kumar by Prof. Brown and then the actual topic, followed by Q&A session.
The group was a mixed bunch, we had Prof. Kevin Brown the sponsor, his brother Darryl Brown, professor at Kelly School of Business, Prof. Verma Ex IPS and current faculty in Criminal Justice, Prof. Basu, prominent Geologist, Camille, an Indian studies student, Gulshan Patil, India Studies Faculty, Lalit, Dali Bor, a visiting professor of Criminal Justice from Crotia, Amy Herschlick, PHD student of religious studies, Prof. Otarbayeva, visiting Scholar from Kazakhstan, Ms. Radha Surya, faculty at IU and Valerie Grimm, African Studies faculty and few other student audience. So all in all it was an eclectic and diverse crowd.
This seminar was followed by a networking and dinner event hosted by Prof. Kevin Brown at his residence. I think with this networking event I am confident that we have many well wishers in the community, to support us and even champion us for the cause of Dalit upliftment.
Next on the way back home was a stop at Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, and surprisingly at 10PM in the night we were welcomed in and treated to a cup of Chai. It was an Indian Banthe at the monastery and seeing us he was over joyed and invited us into their quarters and showed us around, the conference area when the Dalai Lama visits, his ceremonial rooms and then it was all topped of by some Chai … I think the pictures below say it all.
2 minute snippet of the seminar: http://youtu.be/ieD_9Yh5KoQ
[slideshow]
In this slide, do note Prof. Kevin Brown pointing to the Elmina Castle in Ghana, which was the slave hold through which slaves were transferred to the US. He takes students from America to this location, to help them understand the history of African Slavery.
And if you thought that was all … Prof. Vivek Kumar had more for us when we got back to Lalit’s residence!
Video: http://youtu.be/FO6b5d97jSY
Note: I do not have the actual paper on the topic, but it should be available on request from Prof. Vivek Kumar. Easiest way to reach him would be through Lalit.