An international webinar on โAmbedkarโs Vision of Equality vs. Contemporary Social Inequalitiesโ was jointly organized by the Ambedkar Society for South Asia (ASSA) and the Jinnah-Ambedkar Chair, Centre for South Asian Studies, University of the Punjab on Friday, 27 February 2026, at 2:00 PM with following guest speakers:
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Ex-VC & Dean of Dr Ambedkar university of Social science. Senior Buddhist Lawyer, Ambedkarite Scholar, Author of 60 books, long-serving Dhammaguru from India
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Founding Member & Vice President of Ambedkar International Mission, Oman (AIM Oman).
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Buddhist Monk and Peace Activist, Ph.D. Student in Innovative Mindfulness and Peace Studies at MCU Thailand, Peace Activist: HWPL in South Korea. from Myanmar
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Assistant Professor at the School of Integrated Social โฃSciences, University of Lahore, Pakistan.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. C. D. Naik underlined that Dr. Ambedkarโs vision of equality must be understood as a comprehensive social and moral project rather than a limited legal promise. He stated, โDr. Ambedkar did not imagine equality merely as a constitutional promise, but as a moral and social revolution. Without annihilating caste and entrenched hierarchies, democracy becomes only a ritual of voting. For Ambedkar, Equality means equal respect, equal opportunity and equal access to knowledge and power. Todayโs inequalities in education, justice and employment show that social reform must move alongside legal reform. The struggle for dignity must therefore continue through organised and enlightened social action.โ Sandeep Mohite focused on the global relevance of Ambedkarโs thought and the growing importance of international networks in confronting modern discrimination. He observed, โAmbedkarโs vision travels with the global Dalit and Bahujan diaspora. Inequality today is no longer limited to villages and institutions; it is also visible in migration spaces and workplaces abroad. Discrimination adapts itself to modern systems of recruitment, technology and social networking. Our responsibility is to build international solidarity around Ambedkarโs ideas of justice and fraternity. Only global cooperation can confront globalised forms of social exclusion.โ He said that true equality is impossible without inner transformation and compassion for the suffering of others. Structural violence, caste and exclusion continue to damage peace in our societies. Mindfulness and social awareness together can challenge hatred and inherited prejudice. Peace is not passiveโit is an active struggle for justice and human worth.โ From a sociological and policy perspective, Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq highlighted the urgency of translating Ambedkarโs ideas into institutional reform and inclusive governance. She stated, โAmbedkarโs concept of equality demands more than symbolic inclusion of marginalized communities. Contemporary inequalities in Pakistan and South Asia must be analysed through class, gender and structural vulnerability. Public institutions often reproduce privilege instead of correcting historical disadvantage. Policy reforms must therefore be grounded in social justice frameworks, not charity-based approaches. Ambedkarโs thought provides a powerful lens for re-imagining inclusive governance and citizenship.โ The discussion emphasized how caste, class, gender and institutional structures continue to shape social exclusion in South Asia and beyond, and highlighted the need for collective intellectual engagement to transform democratic and social practices. The webinar concluded with an interactive Question/Answer session and a collective call to strengthen cross-border academic collaboration and advocacy for social justice in South Asia. The programme was attended by 18โ20 participants on Google Meet, while around 48 viewers joined and watched the session live on Facebook.
