Boston Study Group (BSG), an organization based in Boston (MA), USA, dedicated to working towards a just and equitable society, celebrated "Equality Day" on the occasion of the 133rd Birth Anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at Boston USA.

The celebration was a colorful mix of speeches from various academics, cultural programs by participants from the Indian diaspora, and friends from all nationalities and ethnicities. Young Ambedkarite kids enthralled everyone with their dance. Adorable kids walked us through the key events of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's life and his contribution to society through an interactive game. The event was multilingual, with various songs, poetry, dances, speeches and singing the resistance to oppression.

Dr. Santosh Raut, Associate Professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy at the English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad and who is currently a Fellow in Harvard University’s Buddhist Ministry Initiative spoke eloquently about his perspective of Dr B R Ambedkar and how Dr Ambedkar shaped his life like millions of other from marginalized communities. He also narrated the impact of teachings of Dr Ambedkar’s three gurus Buddha, Sant Kabir and Mahatma Jyotorao Phule on his development of the Messiah of the downtrodden.

BSG published the 6th issue of the digital Magazine 'The Awakened', the magazine by Ambedkarites and for Ambedkarites on the BSG website- www.bostonstudygroup.org.

Governors from four states in the New England Area- Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut proclaimed 14th April as 'Equality Day' This year, many more states in the USA have issued a similar proclamation such as Arizona, Colorado,Michigan, City of Burlington. BSG believes that issuing this proclamation by the state governors will help increase public awareness of caste discrimination which is growing in South Asian communities in the USA. In addition, many Universities in the USA, including Brandeis University, Harvard University, Brown University, Colby College, and the City of Seattle, included caste in the list of the non-discriminatory policy.

The event was supported by Coalition for Democratic India (CDI), Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, Boston South Asian Coalition, South Asian center, Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Massachusetts Indian Christians, Kabir Society, Global NRI Forum (GNF).

BSG's foundation is based on developing critical conversations around caste, race, and gender through studying Dr Ambedkar's ideology and a call for the 'Annihilation of Caste' while working in solidarity with various other social struggles in the US. BSG, in the past several years of its existence, has pioneered engagements with the academic community and social organizations on the issues of caste, race, gender, and social exclusion. BSG is dedicating extraordinary efforts to further the vision of B.R. Ambedkar. Much credit goes to the hard work of BSG members. As Ambedkarites around the Boston area have grown, BSG's membership has been increasing rapidly to form a strong form of community and belonging.