Celebration of Dhammachakra Pravartan Day by Dr Ambedkar International Mission Europe

Dr. Ambedkar International Mission, Europe celebrated the 68th Dhammachakra Pravartan Day in the picturesque village of Birbeek, Belgium, on October 20. Nestled just 30 km from Brussels and near the historic "Katholic University Leuven," which boasts a legacy of 700 years, Birbeek welcomed around 30 families from Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, who attended the event with their children. This year's highlight was the commendable initiative taken by women to organize and successfully conduct the entire program. The event was further enriched by the presence of esteemed guests.

The program commenced with floral tributes to Lord Gautama Buddha and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, followed by a prayer and Dhamma discourse by monks from Thailand. The chief guest, Sister Jenny Devos, delivered an inspiring lecture on "Dr. Ambedkar: An Inspiration for Women." 

At 90 years old, Sister Jenny Devos has dedicated 43 years of her life to India, arriving as a missionary around 1960. She fought against bonded labor and forced prostitution and noticed the plight of domestic workers who were treated like slaves with no platform to voice their issues. To address this, she founded the "National Domestic Workers Movement" in India around 1980, which now operates in 18 states with over 200,000 members. Sister Jenny Devos devoted her entire life to uplifting the Dalit community and the poor in India. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for her relentless fight for their rights. In 2009, she was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order by King Albert II of Belgium, and in 2012, she received the Ramkrishna Bajaj Memorial Global Award.  

The second guest, Dr. Swati Kamble, who completed her doctorate in Switzerland, is now part of the Green Party in Belgium, working on environmental issues. Active in Belgian politics, she will soon begin her work in the Belgian Legislative Assembly. Dr. Swati Kamble elaborated on how women's participation in politics is integral to their liberation struggle, highlighting ShantabaiDani of the Scheduled Caste Federation as an inspiration.

The third guest, Professor John Keune from Michigan State University, delivered an inspiring lecture on "Buddhism and Fraternity in Dr. Ambedkar’s Time and Today," explaining the concept of fraternity in a simple and elegant manner. Following this, the guests were divided into four groups to discuss the question, "What is women's role in setting Buddhist values in the family and society, and how can a man support her?" Each group then presented their conclusions on stage.

The event was concluded with a vibrant cultural program presented by the children, featuring speeches, plays, and dances inspired by the thoughts of Phule, Shahu, Ambedkar, and Buddha. These young performers will continue to uphold the values of equality, fraternity, and freedom even abroad. The day ended with the distribution of books.