Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford
Most of the Indians started arriving in the UK in early fifties. They were single and were living When their families joined in seventies, numbers increased and they needed places for socialising. They started to organise themselves and set up their social and religious organisation. Some of the enlightened Dalits were following Dr BR Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution and one of the greatest champions of human rights. Dr Ambedkar also sacrificed whole of his life for the benefit of down trodden and their empowerment.
To carry on the message of Dr Ambedkar, Bheem Association was formed in 1972 and in 1983, on the advice of a Dalit intellectual, late Bhagwan Dass the name was changed to Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford to connect with global Ambedkar mission. Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford (AMS) is a Not –For-Profit, charitable community organisation created by the followers of Dr BR Ambedkar in Bedford and surrounding area to promote his thoughts of equality, liberty, fraternity and equal justice. Dr Ambedkar gave a clarion call to his followers to ‘educate, agitate and organise’ to establish an egalitarian society. Inspired by the life and works of Dr Ambedkar, the members of the AMS resolved to prepare marginalised communities to fight against social and economic inequalities. As educated and economically well of Ambedkarites are the product of Dr Ambedkar’s life long struggle against inequality and their empowerment, they have an obligation to ‘pay back to the society’ by helping the disadvantaged through their educational, social, economic and cultural development. AMS had been organising events including screening of films, seminars, exhibitions, talks and public on the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.
The main objective of the Society is to bring awareness about Dr Ambedkar’s life and his works by way of publishing and distributing Ambedkar literature. Over a half dozen of books had been published and also brought out periodicals on the lives and works of Dalit icons-Dr Ambedkar and Guru Ravidass. The Kirti Publication Trust was set up in 1984 under the chairmanship of late Chanan Chahal, one of the founders of AMS and brought out a weekly newspaper ‘Kirti Weekly’ from 1984 to 1987. In collaboration with Adult Learning Programme, Bedfordshire County Council, a small booklet on Dr Ambedkar’s life was published for the beginners.
In India a number of free medical camps were organised for the marginalised communities. AMS helped to organise competitions amongst students in Punjab on life and works of Dr. Ambedkar and Dalit icons and the successful candidates were given prize money to encourage them to get involved in the Ambedkar movement. In education field, a number of schools were given financial support in the form of donating class rooms, books and computers. AMS had helped the victims of caste oppression in India and natural disasters.
AMS had also played a key role in the construction and establishing Taxhilla Buddha Vihara, the biggest in North India at Ludhiana, Punjab. It contains twenty residential rooms for monks, library, main Buddha Vihara (Seema) and Kitchen with large dining hall. AMS donated £10,000 towards the construction of the building. The main gate, a replica of Sanchi Gate, Ambedkar statue and elephants welcoming the visitors were also donated by the members of AMS.
Bedford has been in the forefront to discuss and expose the caste discrimination amongst the Indian diaspora and raised this issue through public talks, writing to the media and hosting exhibitions not only in the UK but also other parts of the World as well. Late Mr. Bhagwan Dass, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and one of the Ambedkarite scholars attended many sessions of the World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Kenya, Japan, Malaysia, USA, Australia and many other countries. AMS supported him in all his ventures throughout his life. He gave testimony in the 36th Session of the United Nations Commission on Prevention of Discrimination of Minorities held at Geneva in August 1983 on behalf of Ambedkar Mission Society Bedford and many other organisations from India and abroad.
On global stage, members of the AMS attended international conferences and seminars in various countries. During the International Dalit Conference held in Vancouver in May, 2003, AMS gifted a bronze bust of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and displayed for exhibition in the Conference Hall. Later on this bust was installed on 14th October 2004 in the WAC Bennett Library of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
Though this organisation has been raising the caste discrimination issue for the last forty years, it received greater attention in 2004 when the British government introduced White Paper on equality legislation. Many new organisations came into existence and started campaign to include caste discrimination in the legislation. AMS continued campaigning for this legislation and supported all organisations engaged in this campaign. Members participated in numerous seminars and conferences and lobbied government authorities. BBC News Night report that became the focus for discussion in the Parliament was mostly filmed in Bedford. AMS wrote to all the MPs and Lords for their support for the legislation to include caste discrimination in the Equality Act 2010. A petition was submitted to the local MP in support of the Caste legislation. Ambedkar Mission Society along with other organisations was mentioned during the debate on the legislation in the House of Commons.
AMS continue celebrating the events connected with Dr Ambedkar’s life by holding public functions and inviting various scholas from different fields.
Arun Kumar
General Secretary
