THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT, UK-
The Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) made a significant contribution by donating 19 volumes of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches (BAWS) to Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, on October 24th, 2024. This marks a historic moment for the AANA and the Ambedkarite communities across the USA and Canada, furthering their mission to promote Ambedkar’s legacy and provide educational resources to institutions
Gaurav Gautam, a dedicated Ambedkarite and soon-to-be graduate of Adelphi University, played a key role in the donation process of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches (BAWS) to the university library. By managing the technical and official formalities, he ensured the books were added to the library’s collection. Dana (Tomlin) Sinclair Collections and Open Strategies Librarian received these books. Gaurav expressed gratitude to the faculty and the Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA) for their contribution, highlighting the importance of these writings for students in diverse fields like Humanities, Religious Studies, Economics, Anthropology, and Indian History. He noted that Dr. Ambedkar’s extensive body of work addresses a wide range of subjects, making these volumes a valuable resource for research and study
Adelphi University, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States, with a long history of serving older adult students. Currently, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs to over 8,100 students, including more than 700 international students from over 76 countries. The recent donation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches (BAWS) to its library brings joy to the Ambedkarite community, as future generations of Adelphi scholars will now have access to the profound wisdom contained in these works.
In their efforts to promote education and social justice, AANA, AIC, AIM, ABAT, and BSG have been actively involved in donating Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches (BAWS) books to numerous prestigious universities and libraries across the USA and Canada. These donations have helped increase awareness of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s contributions to social reform, equality, and human rights.
Some of the institutions that have received these books include:
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
- Michigan State University, Lansing, MI (digital catalog: baws.in)
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- North Park University, Chicago, IL
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
- York University, Toronto, Canada
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
- Pacific University Oregon, Forest Grove, OR
- University of Georgia, Athens, GA
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA
- University of Delaware, Newark, DE
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
- Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
- Columbia University, New York, NY
- Franklin University, Ohio
These donations have also extended to many local libraries across America, contributing to the availability of critical texts on Ambedkar’s philosophies and his lifelong work for the betterment of marginalized communities.
The Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA), Ambedkar International Center (AIC), Ambedkar International Mission (AIM), Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas (ABAT), and the Boston Study Group have been instrumental in contributing to the spread of knowledge about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s life, works, and philosophy. These organizations have been active in donating books to libraries across the USA and Canada, helping to promote awareness of Ambedkar’s role in social justice, caste reform, and the rights of marginalized communities, especially Dalits.
By facilitating the donation of books related to Dr. Ambedkar’s writings, social justice movements, and Buddhist philosophy, they ensure that a wider audience has access to literature that highlights issues of caste discrimination, equality, and human rights. This collective effort by various Ambedkarite groups strengthens the Ambedkarite movement in North America by encouraging academic study and general public interest in Ambedkar’s vision for a just society.
These organizations’ commitment to donating books reflects their dedication to educating and empowering communities through Dr. Ambedkar’s ideas, both within the diaspora and beyond.
The Ambedkar Association of North America (AANA), founded in 2008, follows Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of uplifting marginalized communities through education and spreading Buddha’s message of peace and kindness. The organization focuses on cultural, educational, social, and economic activities to benefit the South Asian diaspora in North America, emphasizing the transformative power of education for the oppressed.
www.aanausa.org, aanausa@gmail.com;
https://www.mea.gov.in/books-writings-of-ambedkar.htm
https://velivada.com/dr-b-r-ambedkar-books-2/
https://www.ambedkarmission.org/books/
Report by: M Wasnik a NRI Ambedkarite
