2. What Is The Ambedkarite Press?
• Adjective “Ambedkarite” comes from word “Ambedkar”
• Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956),
popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political
leader, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, economist,
teacher, and editor.
• He was also the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian
Constitution.
3. • Born into a poor Mahar (considered an Untouchable caste)
family, Ambedkar campaigned against social discrimination
and the caste system
• He converted to Buddhism and is also credited with providing
a spark for the transformation of hundreds of thousands of
Dalits or untouchables to Buddhism.
4. • His mantra was „educate, agitate and organize‟
• There has been a good deal of progress among Dalits in
education, although it still lags behind that of others.
• With the spread of education, Dalits began expressing
themselves and created their own literature, „Dalit Literature‟.
5. • Dalit Literature today has challenged & questioned the
literature written from an “Upper Caste Point of View” & has
gained recognition & respectability
• Besides literature, there are groups which work for cultural
awakening of Dalits through the medium of songs, music,
street plays and dramas
6. • Several newspapers & magazines from the “Dalit” point of
view are published
• Dr Ambedkar himself was a voracious reader & a prolific
writer, authoring several books and publishing various
publications
7. • There are numerous e-mail groups, blogs and social networks
like facebook, twitter, and so on with which Dalit youths have
formed their virtual networks which are also reflect deep
concern for the community issues.
• There is also talk of having TV Channels & Radio Stations
dedicated to Ambedkarite thought.
8. • So, in short, The Ambedkarite Press refers to
the media or press (print, broadcast & new
media) that identify and propagate ideas from
the “Ambedkarite” point of view.
