On the evening of 18 April 2026, Clayton Hall in Melbourne was transformed into a luminous gathering of culture, memory, and community resolve, as the Navyana Buddhist Charitable Organisation hosted its annual Dr Ambedkar & Mahatma Phule Jayanti celebration — one of Melbourne’s most cherished events on the South Asian community calendar. With 175 attendees filling the hall, the evening stood as a powerful tribute to two of India’s most visionary reformers: Dr B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule.
This year’s event carried a resonant theme: “Rights & Dignity: The Phule-Ambedkarite Vision in Global Feminism.” In honouring the radical legacies of both Phule and Ambedkar — whose lives and work placed the emancipation of women and the oppressed at the centre of their movements — the evening drew a deliberate and inspiring parallel with contemporary struggles for gender justice and human dignity across the world.
Ceremony led by women sets the tone
Co-hosted by Navyana Buddhist Charitable Organisation’s Prerna Sankade and Apurva Ramteke, the event opened with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony performed by the organisation’s women directors. The act — symbolising knowledge dispelling ignorance — carried particular significance within both Buddhist and Ambedkarite traditions, setting the tone for an evening defined by female leadership.
The ceremony was followed by sacred prayers and blessings offered by Buddhist monks, Venerable Amarachaiyo from Dhammakaya Buddhist Centre, Camberwell, and Venerable Adhisila of the Bangladeshi Buddhist Society. Their presence connected the celebration to the deeper legacy of Dr Ambedkar’s 1956 conversion to Buddhism — a historic act of collective self-determination that continues to inspire communities globally.
Speakers highlight rights, dignity and community leadership
The formal proceedings featured speeches, reflections, and audience engagement led by keynote speaker Dr Sunita Bapuji, alongside community leaders including Jaiceli Radhika Kumar from the Periyar Ambedkar Thought Community Australia (PATCA), Dharshinie Tirimanne, President of the Sinhala Cultural & Community Services Foundation, Melbourne, and Lakhvinder Kaur from the Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha (SGRS).
Their contributions explored the enduring relevance of Phule-Ambedkarite thought in contemporary struggles for equality, justice, and social transformation.
Cultural performances celebrate identity and resistance
A vibrant cultural programme emerged as one of the evening’s highlights, featuring 20 performances spanning classical and folk dance, devotional songs, poetry recitations, and theatrical presentations. Each act was curated to reflect themes of women’s dignity, social justice, and Ambedkarite pride, drawing on the rich artistic traditions of Melbourne’s Maharashtrian and broader South Asian community.
A diverse coalition of community voices
Jayanti 2026 was marked by the presence of a wide range of community organisations, reflecting the cross-cultural alliances inspired by Ambedkarite values. Participating groups included the Periyar Ambedkar Thought Community Australia (PATCA), Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha (SGRS), We Are One Club, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration Light (HWPL), the Sinhala Cultural and Community Services Foundation, Hindus for Human Rights, and The Humanism Project.
The coming together of these diverse voices underscored the unifying force of the ideals championed by Phule and Ambedkar.
Women lead from the front
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the evening was the extent of women’s leadership across every level of organisation. Every volunteer department — from event management and registration to décor, hospitality, and cultural programming — was led by women.
This was a reflection of the Navyana Buddhist Charitable Organisation’s longstanding commitment to gender equality, inspired by Savitribai Phule — India’s first female teacher — and Dr Ambedkar’s advocacy for women’s rights. On this night, these values were not merely discussed but visibly embodied in the structure and execution of the event.
Community, culture and shared meals
As with all Ambedkarite gatherings in Melbourne, food played a central role in fostering connection. A generous spread of traditional Indian and Maharashtrian dishes was served, creating a warm, communal atmosphere where conversations flowed across generations and backgrounds — from students to elders, newcomers to long-time members.
A call to carry the legacy forward
The evening concluded with an address by Pramod Kamble, Secretary of the Navyana Buddhist Charitable Organisation, who reflected on the significance of the theme and the collective effort behind the event. He expressed gratitude to volunteers, performers, and attendees, and called on the community to continue embodying the values of rights, dignity, and equality.
As the hall emptied and the lamps dimmed, the spirit of Jayanti 2026 lingered — in conversations carried into the night, in connections forged over shared meals, and in the quiet pride of a community committed not just to remembering its legacy, but to living it.
