Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Tourism appointed a committee headed by Ambassador Mangala Moonesinghe recently to organise a series of guest lectures. The first of the above series will be oration, on Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, by professor. S. Thorat, Chairman, University Grants Commission of India and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 14 October 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Hotel Management and Training School Auditorium, 78, Galle Road, Colombo-03.


Bhirmrao Ramji Ambedkar known as Babasaheb, was an Indian nationalist, jurist, Dalit political leader and a Buddhist revivalist. He was also the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Born into a poor a  untouchable family, Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination, the system of Chaturvarna - the Hindu categorization of human society into four varnas and the Indian caste system. He is also credited with having sparked the Dalit Buddhist movement. Ambedkar has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.


Overcoming numerous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first “untouchables” to obtain a college education in India. Eventually earning law degrees and multiple doctorates for his study and research in law, economics and political science from Columbia University and the London School of Economics, Ambedkar returned home a famous scholar and practiced law for a few years before publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India’s untouchables.