Chandigarh, February 7, 2025- Today, on February 7, 2025, the Hindi Department of Panjab University, Chandigarh, organized a lecture titled “Implementation of Struggle and Inspiration: Ramabai Ambedkar” under its Jayanti Special Series. The event was hosted by the Distance and Online Education Department, with several prominent speakers in attendance, including Praveen Kumar, Dr. Sudhir Mehra from the English and Cultural Center, Shri Anand Kumar, a researcher from the History Department, and Mrs. Rekha Maurya, a researcher from the Hindi Department.
The program began with a welcome address by the Head of the Hindi Department, Prof. Ashok Kumar, who greeted the speakers, guests, researchers, and students. The first speaker, Mrs. Rekha Maurya, introduced the topic and highlighted remarkable events from Ramabai’s life, illustrating how she was a strong support for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during his struggles.
Shri Anand Kumar then spoke about the significant role Ramabai played in shaping Dr. Ambedkar’s life, noting her contributions in making him the iconic figure he became. Dr. Sudhir Mehra shared insights into how Maharashtra’s women-songwriters have kept Ramabai’s legacy alive, emphasizing her own struggles.
The main speaker, Dr. Praveen Kumar, focused on the importance of the program dedicated to Mata Ramabai, noting that it was likely the first such event. He elaborated on Ramabai’s life, her family background, and her correspondence with Dr. Ambedkar, showing how she remained a constant source of inspiration and strength through their personal challenges, including the deaths of their children and the financial and social hardships they faced.
Prof. Ashok Kumar concluded the event by thanking the speakers, guests, researchers, and students for their participation. He emphasized that such programs serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue.
Also present at the event were Dr. Kulwinder, Head of the Department of Sociology, and Dr. Vinod Chaudhary. The program was directed by Pawan Sharma, a second-year M.A. student.