(Samaj Weekly)- One of the most fascinating books that came by the end of last year was ‘Ambedkar in London’. An extremely important work on Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s association with London as a scholar in the London School of Economics when he enrolled as an MSc student in 1916 and this despite the fact that he had already acquired a PhD from Columbia University in the United States.
Ambedkar in London has brilliantly articulated and well researched work hitherto unknown is a must read for all those who wanted to know his struggles and understanding of the international issues. The book is authored by William Gould, a Professor of Indian History at University of Leeds, Ms Santosh Dass, MBE is a former Civil Servant, President of Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations ( FABO), UK, and Chair of Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance, UK and Chirstophe Jaffrelot, Avantha Chair and Professor of Indian Politics and sociology at the King’s India Institute, a well known author who has been writing regularly in the Indian media.
The Foreword of the book is written by Suraj Milind Yengde, well known Ambedkarite scholar. The book has two parts. One part is basically dedicated to Dr Ambedkar’s stay in London in 1916 for his Masters and later in 1920s for his PhD on ‘Problem of Rupee’. Later Dr Ambedkar also called to Bar at the Gray’s Inn as Barrister in 1916. This part of the book also contain his political work, participating at the Round Table Conference and meeting various political leaders in UK. The book contains article from different scholars apart from the editors.
The second part of the book contains extremely important documentation. Santosh Dass and Arun Kumar, both closely associated with Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations in UK, have brilliantly documented the history of Ambedkarite movement in the UK. The second fascinating work is that of Professor Kevin Brown which is Ambedkar in London & Afro American Community. This essay gives you ideas of how the Afro American community look at Dr Ambedkar. Fascinating work and a must for all those who wish to work on the issue of Dalit Rights, Ambedkarite movement and the issue of African Americans.
The book also contain two important chapters on the Anti Caste Discrimination law campaign in UK as well as the issue of Ambedkar Museum and how the Ambedkarite fought for it. Ms Santosh Dass, the President of FABO actually worked hard to make it possible that finally the government of Maharashtra ultimately purchased the property.
This is all a short description. I have already finished a large part of the book and will definitely write a detailed review of it. The book is not yet published in India and on Amazon it is available for price of Rs 2,700/-. Hope it will soon be published in India and the price be made economical so that it reaches more people.
Vidya Bhushan Rawat
March 5th, 2023
