Vancouver, BC · March 15–16, 2026

ASE 2026

Dr. Ambedkar Symposium on Emancipation

Overcoming Caste Barriers for Social and Economic Equality

March 15 SFU Harbour Center, Room 2270, 515 Hastings Street, Vancouver
March 16 University of British Columbia, The Robson Centre, Vancouver
March 16 · 7:00 PM · Film Screening
ORIGIN — Followed by Discussion
The Cinematheque Theatre, 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver
ASE 2026 Event Poster — Dr. Ambedkar Symposium on Emancipation
🎬 Film Screening · March 16 · 7:00 PM
ORIGIN
Directed by Ava DuVernay
Followed by panel discussion
The Cinematheque Theatre
1131 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC

Moderated by Dr. William Brown (UBC)
Panelists: Dr. Moussa Magassa · Dr. Asma Sayed · Dr. Gaurav Pathania
🎟 Book Your Free Ticket ↗
Free admission — tickets required to guarantee your seat
About the Symposium

A Global Dialogue for
Emancipation & Equality

The symposium is a two-day international community–university symposium in Vancouver on March 15–16, 2026 that will allow for collaborative exchange and planning that will direct our ongoing partnership for the coming three years.

The Dr. Ambedkar Symposium on Emancipation (ASE 2026) will bring together scholars, students, activists, journalists, filmmakers, and community leaders from countries including Australia, India, Nepal, the UK, the USA, and Canada to address the oppression faced by people of Dalit background — those individuals most marginalized within the caste system (the term "Dalit" literally means "broken").

Grounded in the human rights and justice legacy of reformer and constitutionalist Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891–1956), the Symposium will create an inclusive space for activists, scholars, members of caste-oppressed communities, and allies of diverse backgrounds to share lived experiences and research insights.

Interactive engagement will be central to the event, which will feature keynote addresses; the screening of the film Origin (2023), which explores the relationships among racism, caste discrimination, and anti-Semitism; a locally-developed exhibition; and workshops and panels on social, political, and economic emancipation.

Concrete outcomes will include a volunteer-written report on event content and findings, and a collaboratively developed action plan that outlines pathways for continued advocacy, research, and educational initiatives.

Chetna Association of Canada and its partners have built a sustained partnership dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and community-engaged research. Building on the achievements of this partnership, our next phase focuses on deepening anti-caste scholarship, expanding community outreach, and enhancing knowledge mobilization across academic and public spheres.

Organizer

Chetna Association of Canada

Founded in 1999 in British Columbia, the Chetna Association of Canada (Chetna in short) is the organizing host of the symposium, and is a non-profit organization dedicated to building equality, justice, and inclusion by addressing caste-based discrimination and other systemic inequities.

The word Chetna, meaning awareness, reflects the organization's mission to awaken social consciousness, challenge casteism, and empower communities toward systemic change.

Chetna primarily serves South Asian diaspora communities in Canada, focusing on Dalit and caste-marginalized groups through education, advocacy, and community leadership. Rooted in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's human rights philosophy, Chetna partners with UBC, SFU, UFV, KPU, and other institutions to bridge grassroots activism with academic research and policy development.

Schedule

Event Outline

Day 1 — Sunday, March 15 · SFU Harbour Centre, Room 2270, 515 Hastings Street, Vancouver
8:00 AMSet Up+
AV check (Vineeth, 8:00 AM) · Dr. Drona Rasali keynote speech setup · Photography & video recording (GMK) · Exhibition setup — Diamond Alumni Lounge, 2nd floor HC2065 (Anita Lal) · Registration desk setup (Sam, Kavya, Chanchal, Clovis) · Refreshments: coffee/tea & muffins for 40 (Surjit) · Event & sponsor banners (Clovis Bernard)
Room Coordinators: Dr. Karun Karki (Associate Professor, School of Social Work, UBC) · Dr. Seema Mahi (Post-doc Fellow, History Dept, UBC) · Volunteers
9:00 AMOpening Ceremony+
Moderated by Dr. Shivajee Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Political Science, Simon Fraser University.

· Land Acknowledgement — Dr. Shivajee Mukherjee
· Welcome on behalf of the Chetna Association of Canada — Mrs. Manjit Bains, Vice-President
· Gifting of portrait of Dr. Ambedkar to Dr. Ranganathan — Dr. Varinder Dabri
· Introduction of Poetic Justice Foundation display — Ms. Anita Lal, Co-Director
· UFV Exhibition — Gender and Caste (confirmation pending) · Dr. Sujata Gaurkhede

Note: This is the formal opening ceremony, not a panel discussion.
9:30 AMKeynote Address: Why Canada Must Add Caste as a Protected Category in Human Rights Codes?+
Moderator: Mr. Major Mal, President, Ambedkar International Society of Calgary (Canada)
Presenter: Dr. Drona Rasali (The University of Memphis Law School, 2023 & Chair, Global Conference for a Caste Free World 2025, Toronto) — Video recorded presentation
10:00 AMBreak+
Coffee & refreshments break.
10:15 AMPolitical Emancipation+
Moderator: Dr. Gaurav Pathania, Assistant Professor, Sociology & Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University
Panelist: Senator Baltej Dhillon (presented with a plaque for contributions toward inclusion through legal, policy, and structural change)
10:45 AMBooks & Authors+
Books featured:
1. Fighting the Blemish of Caste — Mr. Om Parkash VK Gahatraj
2. The Past is Never Dead — Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh
Moderator: Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains, Advisor, Chetna Association & former Director, South Asian Studies Institute, UFV
Panelists: Mr. Om Parkash Gahatraj (author & activist) · Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh (author & former Premier of BC)
11:30 AMCaste in Academic Settings: Community & Student Voices+
Moderator: Dr. Sharnjit Kaur Sandhra, scholar and activist
Panelists: Manmit Singh (student & coordinator, Poetic Justice Foundation) · Mr. Manish Kumar (UBC Okanagan) · Ms. Kavya Jidugu (Ph.D. candidate, Queen's University)
12:15 PMCaste Discrimination — Research Findings+
Moderator: Dr. Nicole Ranganathan, scholar, UC Davis
Part 1: Presentation on the Caste in Canada Project — Dr. Anne Murphy (Associate Professor, History Dept, UBC) & Dr. Seema Mahi (post-doc fellow, History Dept, UBC) — 20 minutes
Part 2: New projects related to the study of caste: Dr. Jeremy Rinker (scholar) · Dr. Sasha Sabherwal (scholar)
1:00 PMLunch+
Catered lunch. Contact Mr. Surjit Bains, Treasurer, Chetna Association of Canada (778-388-9046) for info.
Coordinator: Mr. Surjit Bains, Treasurer, Chetna Association
2:00 PM"Buddha and His Dhamma": Religion, Emancipation, and the Struggle for India's Buddhist Heritage+
Moderator: Dr. David Geary, Associate Professor, UBC (scholar)
Panelists: Dr. Gitanjali Surendran (scholar) · Dr. Rajesh Sampath (scholar) · Dr. Jeremy Rinker (scholar) · Mr. Manish Kumar (researcher & meditation teacher)
2:45 PMCaste and Gender: Impact on Integration+
Moderator: Dr. Sasha Sabherwal (scholar)
Panelists: Ms. Harpal Malhi (Ph.D. candidate, School of Social Work, UBC) · Dr. Karun Karki (Associate Professor, School of Social Work, UBC)
3:30 PMBreak+
Afternoon refreshments break.
4:00 PMElimination of Caste Discrimination: Community Voices+
Moderator: Mr. Om Parkash VK Gahatraj (author & activist)
Panelists: Mr. Gopal Bishwakarma (community organizer) · Mr. Santosh Vishwakarma (community organizer) · Mr. Dhan Bahadur Gahatraj (community organizer) · Mr. Surinder Sandhu (Asst. Secretary, Chetna Association)
4:30 PMCaste and Media — Complexities and Contradictions+
Moderator: Dr. Gaurav Pathania (scholar, artist, and activist)
Panelist: Mr. Sumit Chauhan (Founder, News Beak)
5:00 PMEconomic Emancipation — Innovative Practices+
Establishing cooperative banks in India, Canada, and globally; strategies for networking and empowering young entrepreneurs.
Moderator: Mr. Aman Saini
Panelists: Dr. Rajratan Ambedkar (scholar & leader) · Ms. Chanchal Mal (advisor, Chetna Association & philanthropist) · Dr. Vimal Pandey (visiting scholar, SFU) · Mr. Harmesh Chander (past VP, Chetna Association)
5:45 PMSummary of Day 1 & Plan for Day 2+
Dr. Seema Mahi (post-doc fellow, UBC) & others
6:30 PMDinner — Ticketed Event+
Contact Mr. Surjit Bains, Treasurer, Chetna Association for a ticket if you wish to join.
Coordinator: Mr. Surjit Bains
Day 2 — Monday, March 16 · UBC Robson Centre, Theatre Room
8:00 AMSet Up — Day 2+
AV check (Vineeth) · Photography & video recording (GMK) · Exhibition setup (Anita Lal — to be confirmed) · UFV exhibition (to be confirmed) · Registration desk setup (Sam) · Refreshments (Surjit) · Event & sponsor banners
Room Coordinators: Dr. Priti Narayan & Dr. Seema Mahi
9:00 AMOpening Session — Day 2+
Welcome and greetings: Mr. Harmesh Chander (Chetna Association) · Land Acknowledgements (Dr. Priti Narayan) · Opening Remarks · Introduction of exhibitions and displays
Moderator: Dr. Priti Narayan, Executive Member, CISAR at UBC
9:30 AMKeynote Address+
Introduction by: Harmesh Sandhi (activist & past president, Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha of Ontario)
Keynote Speaker: Ms. Santosh Dass MBE — Chair, Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance (ACDA), London, UK
Talk: "Educating, Agitating, and Organising — Reflections from the frontlines of struggle in the UK"
Delivered virtually via Zoom
10:00 AMBreak+
Morning refreshments break.
10:30 AMAcknowledging & Celebrating Milestones: Addressing Caste Discrimination in Canada+
Adding caste as a protected category — celebrating groundbreaking accomplishments.
Moderator: Dr. Priti Narayan (Executive Member, CISAR at UBC)
Panelists: Ms. Kavya Jidugu (Queen's University, Ph.D. candidate) · Dr. Rajesh Sampath (Brandeis University) · Dr. Nicole Ranganathan (University of California, Davis)
11:15 AMStrengthening Safeguards — A Case for Adding Caste as a Protected Category+
Moderator: Ms. Ritu Mahil, Labour Lawyer
Panelists: Ms. Janet Andrews (Secretary-Treasurer, New Westminster & District Labour Council) · Dr. Moussa Magassa (Associate VP, EDI, Mount Royal University) · Mr. Surjit Bains (Treasurer, Chetna Association) · MLA & Parliamentary Secretary P.S. Shah (anti-racism initiatives — confirmed)
12:30 PMLunch — Venue TBD+
Contact Mr. Surjit Bains for a ticket if you wish to join (limited capacity).
Coordinator: Mr. Surjit Bains, Treasurer, Chetna Association
1:30 PMCelebrating Groundbreaking Accomplishments+
· Dr. Ambedkar Award at SFU by Chanchal and Harjinder Mall Family
· Establishments of Banks in India (Dr. Raj Ratan Ambedkar)
· Enhancing solidarity — caste, color, and race initiative (Harsh Trivedi)
· Accomplishing the landmark Human Rights decision (Manoj Bhangu)
· Enhancing representation in community organizations (Lamber Rao)
Moderator: Mr. Jai Birdi, Executive Director, Chetna Association
Panelists: Mr. Harjindar Mal (activist & philanthropist) · Mrs. Chanchal Mall (advisor, Chetna & activist) · Mr. Rajratan Ambedkar (leader) · Mr. Harsh Trivedi (founder, Dr. Ambedkar Study Group, Vancouver) · Mr. Manoj Bhangu (Change Champion) · Mr. Lamber Rao (President, Five Rivers Funeral Home Society) — Recognition plaques presented
2:00 PMThe Dr. Ambedkar Center for Emancipation in Canada — Needs Assessment & Course of Action+
Moderators: Dr. Anne Murphy / Mr. Jai Birdi
Panelists: Dr. Gaurav Pathania (scholar, artist, activist) · Dr. Moussa Magassa (VP, EDI, RMU) · Dr. Jeremy Rinker (scholar) · Dr. Seema Mahi (post-doc, UBC) · Mr. Harmesh Sandhi · Ms. Vanessa Fajemisin (co-director, BLAC Art Centre, Surrey)
3:00 PMBreak+
Afternoon refreshments break.
3:30 PMResolutions & Strategies Emerged from the Symposium+
Discuss and confirm priority actions.
Moderators: Dr. Seema Mahi (post-doc, UBC) / Dr. Anne Murphy (scholar & principal investigator, Caste in Canada Project)
Team of Rapporteurs
4:30 PMDance / Songs of Resistance+
Dance performance by Naach India — Song: Jai Bheem Anthem
Coordinator: Mr. Surinder Sandhu, Asst. Secretary, Chetna Association
5:00 PMClosing & Dinner+
Formal closing of ASE 2026. Dinner to be confirmed — contact Mr. Surjit Bains for a ticket (limited capacity).
Evening — Monday, March 16 · The Cinematheque Theatre, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver
7:00 PMFilm Screening: ORIGIN — Followed by Discussion+
Screening of Ava DuVernay's film Origin at The Cinematheque Theatre, 1131 Howe St, Vancouver BC V6Z 2K8.
Moderator: Dr. Will Brown (UBC)
Discussants: Dr. Moussa Magassa · Dr. Asma Sayed · Dr. Gaurav Pathania
🎟 Book tickets at thecinematheque.ca ↗

* Schedule as of March 10, 2026 — times subject to change.

Vision

Why Establish an
Emancipation Center?

Why would Chetna like to establish the Dr. Ambedkar Emancipation Center in Canada?

Establishing an Ambedkar Emancipation Center in Canada would serve multiple meaningful purposes, especially in light of the growing interest and engagement with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's legacy among the South Asian diaspora and human rights advocates in North America. Tap each card to explore why such a center would be significant.

Launch Plan

To be developed collaboratively after the symposium.

1
Community Consultations & Feasibility Study
Initiate broad community consultations to assess needs and evaluate feasibility for the Center's establishment.
2
Secure Infrastructure & Supports
Identify and secure physical location, funding (Canadian Heritage grants, philanthropic foundations, community fundraising, and international Ambedkarite networks).
3
Pilot Programs
Launch initial educational programs, community dialogues, and research initiatives to demonstrate impact.
4
Grand Opening
Celebrate with an international symposium and cultural festival, bringing together the global Ambedkarite community.
Speakers

Invited Moderators & Panelists

Distinguished scholars, activists, and community leaders from across the globe. Tap each card to read their full profile. Full details at the

Moderator
Panelist
Moderator / Panelist
Filter:
Dr. Moussa Magassa
Dr. Moussa Magassa
Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Mount Royal University
March 16⏱ 11:15 AM & 2:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 7:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Moussa Magassa
Mount Royal University
Dr. Moussa Magassa (he/him) is the Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and an adjunct professor in education at Mount Royal University. His work is driven by lived experiences and the concepts of ethical responsibility, cultural understanding, and systemic change. He previously served as Principal Strategist EDI & Anti-Racism at the University of Victoria for 15 years and is also CEO of Magassa Intercultural Capacity Building.
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Ms. Santosh Dass MBE
Ms. Santosh Dass MBE
Founder & Executive Director
ACDA, London, UK
March 16⏱ 9:30 AMModerator
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Ms. Santosh Dass MBE
ACDA, London, UK
Santosh Dass MBE is the London-based Chair of the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance (ACDA) and a leading advocate for equality and human rights in the UK. She co-founded CasteWatch UK in 2003 and the ACDA in 2008, and made history as the first woman to serve as President of the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK (2013–2023). She was instrumental in establishing the Ambedkar Museum London and the Ambedkar Room at Gray's Inn. She co-edited Ambedkar in London (Hurst, 2022). Delivering her keynote virtually via Zoom.
Dr. David Geary
Dr. David Geary
Associate Professor of Anthropology
University of British Columbia Okanagan
March 15⏱ 2:00 PMModerator
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Dr. David Geary
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Dr. David Geary's research focuses on the reinvention of Buddhism in modern/contemporary India and how the politics of national heritage and tourism development intersect with wider transnational communities of religious practice in Asia. His monograph, The Rebirth of Bodh Gaya: Buddhism and the Making of a World Heritage Site (University of Washington Press, Global South Asia Series), grew from his PhD dissertation at UBC. His ongoing research foregrounds critical perspectives on social memory, urban design, and the political work of heritage within inter-communal religious spaces.
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Ms. Anita Lal
Ms. Anita Lal
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Poetic Justice Foundation
March 15⏱ 9:00 AMPanelist
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Ms. Anita Lal
Poetic Justice Foundation
Anita Lal is a fourth-generation settler, born and raised on the traditional territories of Lhtako Dene peoples, currently living on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish people. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Poetic Justice Foundation, her approach is inclusive, intersectional, and critical, drawing attention to casteism, racism, and discrimination. She is Director of Operations and DEI at Moving Forward Family Services and serves on Boards for Arts BC, Women Transforming Cities, Human Research Ethics Board, South Asian Studies Institute at UFV, Vaapsi Recovery Home, Royal Academy of...
Sharn
Dr. Sharnjit Kaur Sandhra
Historian, Educator & Founder, Belonging Matters Consulting
UFV & UBC / Canadian Heritage
March 15⏱ 11:30 AMModerator
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Dr. Sharnjit Kaur Sandhra
UFV & UBC / Canadian Heritage
Dr. Sharnjit (Sharn) Kaur Sandhra is a historian, educator, storyteller, and founder of Belonging Matters Consulting. She became the first Punjabi and Sikh to complete her PhD from the Department of History at UBC in 2022, with a dissertation titled 'Museums as Spaces of Belonging: Racialized Power in the Margins.' With more than two decades of experience in museum curation, community heritage work, and mentoring youth, she has been featured in the Knowledge Network series 'B.C.: An Untold History,' is co-author of 'Challenging Racist BC: 150 Years and Counting,' and has been featured on local...
Ms. Kavya Jidugu
Ms. Kavya Jidudgu
PhD Candidate, Faculty of Education
Queen's University
March 15⏱ 11:30 AMPanelist
March 16⏱ 10:30 AMPanelist
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Ms. Kavya Jidudgu
Queen's University
Kavya Jidugu is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at Queen's University, Canada, studying education-migration policies and Dalit experiences in Canadian higher education. She is a doctoral fellow in Gender Studies at Queen's, working on a community-based mixed-methods dataset on caste in Canada. Her research interests include internationalization of higher education, community-based and Dalit feminist research methodologies, lived experiences, colour semiotics, and language ideologies. She holds an MSc in Sociology from IIT Gandhinagar and a BA/BEd from the Regional Institute of Educ...
Dr. Asma Sayed
Dr. Asma Sayed
VP, Equity & Inclusive Communities; Canada Research Chair, South Asian Literary & Cultural Studies
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
March 16⏱ 7:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Asma Sayed
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Dr. Asma Sayed is the Canada Research Chair in South Asian Literary and Cultural Studies in the Department of English at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and, as of November 2023, also Vice President, Equity and Inclusive Communities. Previously she served as Associate Vice President, Anti-racism, leading KPU's Office of Anti-Racism. She is an Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2020), received the KPU JEDI Award (2023), and was former President of the Canadian Association for Postcolonial Studies. She has published 6 books.
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Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh
Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh
Lawyer, Author & Former Premier of BC; Former Federal Minister of Health
Independent
March 15⏱ 10:45 AMPanelist
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Mr. Ujjal Dosanjh
Independent
Born in a village of India's rural Punjab in 1946, Ujjal migrated to Britain in 1964 and immigrated to Canada in 1968. A lifelong activist for social and economic justice, he campaigned for better legal rights for farm and domestic workers, practiced law and jumped into electoral politics becoming a BC MLA, Attorney General and Premier, and subsequently a member of parliament and Minister of Health for Canada. He wrote his autobiography Journey After Midnight (2016), which made BC's bestseller list. His debut novel, The Past Is Never Dead, published by Speaking Tiger, delves into the life of a...
Mr. Om Prakash
Mr. Om Parkash VK Gehatraj
Economist, Author & Dalit Rights Activist
Independent
March 15⏱ 10:45 AMPanelist
March 15⏱ 4:00 PMModerator
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Mr. Om Parkash VK Gehatraj
Independent
Mr. Om Prakash VK Gahatraj is an economist, social justice advocate, and long-time campaigner for Dalit rights. Holding a Master of Arts in Economics and Bachelor in Law from Tribhuvan University and a Post-Graduate in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Madras, he has combined professional expertise with an unwavering commitment to equity and social change. He has contributed significantly to policy-making through roles in various government committees in Nepal, advocating for Dalit representation in education, employment, and politics.
Dr. Jeremy Rinker
Dr. Jeremy Rinker
Associate Professor, Department of Peace & Conflict Studies
University of North Carolina Greensboro
March 15⏱ 12:15 PM & 2:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Jeremy Rinker
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Jeremy A. Rinker is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro's Department of Peace and Conflict Studies. His research explores complex intersections between peacebuilding, collective historical trauma, and systems of oppression, with a primary focus on South Asia and anti-caste activism. He graduated with a PhD from George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (2009). He is the Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Harmony and edits the Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis. His books include Identity, Rights, and Awarene...
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Dr. Gaurav Pathania
Dr. Gaurav Pathania
Assistant Professor of Sociology & Peacebuilding
Eastern Mennonite University
March 15⏱ 10:15 AM & 4:30 PMModerator
March 16⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 7:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Gaurav Pathania
Eastern Mennonite University
Dr. Gaurav Pathania is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Peacebuilding in the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Virginia. He is a sociologist of higher education and has taught 'Introduction to Sociology' and 'Global Social Movements' at Georgetown University's Department of Sociology. He is the author of The University as a Site of Resistance (OUP, 2018) and portrayed Dr. Ambedkar in Ava DuVernay's film ORIGIN. He is a National Poetry Award winner (India, 2016).
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Dr. Rajesh Sampath
Dr. Rajesh Sampath
Associate Professor, Philosophy of Justice, Rights & Social Change
Brandeis University – Heller School
March 15⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 10:30 AMPanelist
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Dr. Rajesh Sampath
Brandeis University – Heller School
Dr. Rajesh Sampath is Associate Professor of the Philosophy of Justice, Rights, and Social Change at Brandeis University's Heller School. His research includes philosophical theories of modernization and social-historical change as it affects modalities of social exclusion and inclusion, comparisons of Western philosophy with philosophical traditions in the Global South and East, and twentieth century Anglo-American and continental European moral and political philosophy. He is Lead Investigator of the Program on Social Exclusion at Brandeis and a DAAD Research Scientist Fellow, with over 70 a...
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Mr. Sumit Chauhan
Mr. Sumit Chauhan
TBD
—
March 15⏱ 4:30 PMPanelist
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Mr. Sumit Chauhan
Independent
Bio coming soon.
Dr. Gitanjali Surendran
Dr. Gitanjali Surendran
Professor of History
Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, India
March 15⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Gitanjali Surendran
Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, India
Gitanjali Surendran is a professor of history at Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, India, where she has taught since 2013. She holds a PhD from Harvard University's History Department and master's degrees from Harvard, Oxford and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. She is the author of Democracy's Dhamma: Buddhism in the Making of Modern India, c1890–1956, published by Cambridge University Press.
Dr. Vimal Pandey
Dr. Vimal Pandey
Assistant Professor; Visiting Scholar
University of Delhi / Simon Fraser University
March 15⏱ 5:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Vimal Pandey
University of Delhi / Simon Fraser University
Dr. Vimal Pandey is an Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi, specializing in international relations and security studies. He earned his doctorate from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University and previously served with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) at Sapru House. His research focuses on India–Africa relations, African security, and India's national security policy, exploring the intersections of global terrorism, conflict resolution, and the role of ethics and peace in Indian tradition. His research has appeared in Insight on Africa, World Aff...
Dr. Priti Narayan
Dr. Priti Narayan
Assistant Professor of Geography; Executive Member, CISAR
University of British Columbia
March 16⏱ 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM & 10:30 AMModerator
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Dr. Priti Narayan
University of British Columbia
Dr. Priti Narayan's research centres on urban processes and politics in India, particularly questions of urban dispossession and belonging, informality of land and labour, and the politics of knowledge production. Her work is informed by collective struggles for tenure security in Chennai. She collaborates on economic and social protections for unorganized workers and urban development in Tamil Nadu, and her writing has appeared in The Times of India, The Hindu, OpenDemocracy, and Kafila. Prior to UBC, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Princeton Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism a...
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Dr. Anne Murphy
Dr. Anne Murphy
Associate Professor, History; Chair, Punjabi Language, Literature & Sikh Studies; Principal Investigator, Caste in Canada Project
University of British Columbia
March 15⏱ 12:15 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 2:00 PM & 3:30 PMModerator
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Dr. Anne Murphy
University of British Columbia
Anne Murphy is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Chair of Punjabi Language, Literature and Sikh Studies at UBC. She is a cultural and intellectual historian whose work focuses on the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. She currently holds a British Academy Visiting Fellowship at Royal Holloway University of London (2025). Murphy founded the UBC Interdisciplinary Histories Research Cluster and led two major oral history projects: 'Punjabi in BC' and the 'Caste in Canada' project with co-PI Dr. Suraj Yengde and the Chetna Association of Canada.
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Dr. Drona Rasali
Dr. Drona Rasali
Adjunct Professor, School of Population & Public Health; Director, Emotional Well Being Institute-Canada
University of British Columbia
March 15⏱ 9:30 AMPanelist
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Dr. Drona Rasali
University of British Columbia
Dr. Drona Rasali was Provincial Chronic Disease Epidemiologist at the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health (2005–2012) and adjunct professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina (2009–2019). He received the designation of Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology (FACE) in 2014. He served as a doctor of veterinary medicine and senior scientist in the Government of Nepal from 1980 to 1999. He earned his PhD from the University of Manitoba in quantitative genetics, genetic diseases, epidemiology and bioinformatics, his veterinary medicine degree in India, ...
Dr. Karun K. Karki
Dr. Karun Karki
Associate Professor, School of Social Work
University of British Columbia
March 15⏱ 8:00 AM & 2:45 PMModerator
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Dr. Karun Karki
University of British Columbia
Dr. Karun K. Karki is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. His scholarly inquiries are grounded in critical theories including anti-racism, anti-casteism, anti-colonialism, intersectionality, and anti-oppressive social justice praxis. Drawing on postcolonial theory and posthumanism, he examines biopolitical and necropolitical spaces within nation-states and the persistent processes of exclusion. He explores socio-economic factors influencing health and belonging among racialized diaspora and minoritized communities, including immigrants, re...
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HM
Mr. Harjinder Mal
Community Leader, Activist & Philanthropist
Chetna Association of Canada
March 16⏱ 1:30 PMPanelist
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Mr. Harjinder Mal
Chetna Association of Canada
Bio coming soon.
CM
Mrs. Chanchal Mal
Advisor, Chetna; Activist & Philanthropist
Chetna Association of Canada
March 15⏱ 5:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 1:30 PMPanelist
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Mrs. Chanchal Mal
Chetna Association of Canada
Bio coming soon.
MM
Mr. Major Mal
President
Ambedkar International Society of Calgary
March 15⏱ 9:30 AMModerator
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Mr. Major Mal
Ambedkar International Society of Calgary
Bio coming soon.
RA
Dr. Rajratan Ambedkar
Scholar & Leader
Independent
March 15⏱ 5:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 1:30 PMPanelist
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Dr. Rajratan Ambedkar
Independent
Bio coming soon.
MK
Mr. Manish Kumar
Community Advocate, Organizer & Researcher
Chetna Association of Canada / UBC Okanagan
March 15⏱ 11:30 AM & 2:00 PMPanelist
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Mr. Manish Kumar
Chetna Association of Canada / UBC Okanagan
Bio coming soon.
MS
Manmit Singh
PhD Candidate, Gender, Race, Sexuality & Social Justice; Coordinator
University of British Columbia / Poetic Justice Foundation
March 15⏱ 11:30 AMPanelist
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Manmit Singh
University of British Columbia / Poetic Justice Foundation
Manmit Singh is a PhD Candidate in the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice program at the University of British Columbia. As a Sikh, their investments are in their Guru Sahib's directive to be a sant sipahi (saint-soldier or sage-warrior), and they have been organizing in anti-caste spaces as part of their commitment to spiritual and political liberation. They are a coordinator with Poetic Justice Foundation.
WB
Dr. William Brown
Professor / Academic
University of British Columbia
March 16⏱ 7:00 PMModerator
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Dr. William Brown
University of British Columbia
Dr. William Brown is an Associate Professor of Film in the Department of Theatre & Film at the University of British Columbia (D.Phil., University of Oxford). He joined UBC in January 2022, previously teaching at the University of Roehampton, University of St Andrews, and NYU Abu Dhabi. He is both a scholar and a maker of films, with work spanning fiction, documentary, and the video essay. His research focuses on film-philosophy, digital media, posthumanism, and critical race theory. He is the author of several books on digital cinema and has been a regular speaker at The Cinematheque and the Vancouver International Film Festival.
SB
Dr. Satwinder Bains
Associate Professor; Advisor, Chetna; Former Director, South Asian Studies Institute
University of the Fraser Valley
March 15⏱ 10:45 AMModerator
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Dr. Satwinder Bains
University of the Fraser Valley
Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains is the Director of the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley and an Associate Professor in the School of Culture, Media and Society. Her research interests include migration, settlement, and integration; race, racism, and ethnicity; identity politics; Sikh feminist ideology; and Punjabi Canadian cultural historiography. She has served as Commissioner on the Agricultural Land Commission, Director of the Fraser Basin Council, Bencher of the Law Society of BC, and Chair of the Knowledge Network. Dr. Bains was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2024 for her positive impact on Canadian communities.
BD
Sen. Baltej S. Dhillon
Senator; Retired RCMP Officer; Community Leader
Senate of Canada
March 15⏱ 10:15 AMPanelist
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Sen. Baltej S. Dhillon
Senate of Canada
Senator Dhillon is a retired career police officer, a community leader, and a lifelong advocate for diversity and inclusion. Emigrating from Malaysia in 1983, Senator Dhillon made history in 1991 as the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer to wear a turban, advocating for the right to practice his faith while serving Canada. He went on to have a successful 30 year career with the RCMP as an accomplished major crime investigator, police interrogator, polygraph examiner, intelligence officer, and emergency planner. ...
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GB
Mr. Gopal Bishwakarma
Community Organizer & Dalit Rights Advocate
Independent
March 15⏱ 4:00 PMPanelist
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Mr. Gopal Bishwakarma
Independent
Bio coming soon.
SB
Mrs. Saraswati Bishwakarma
Community Organizer & Dalit Rights Advocate
Independent
March 15⏱ 4:00 PMPanelist
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Mrs. Saraswati Bishwakarma
Independent
Bio coming soon.
SG
Mr. Shan Bahadur Gahatraj
Community Leader
Independent
March 15⏱ 4:00 PMPanelist
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Mr. Shan Bahadur Gahatraj
Independent
Mr. Om Prakash VK Gahatraj, is an economist, social justice advocate, and long-time campaigner for Dalit rights. Holding advanced degrees from Tribhuvan University with Master of Arts in Economics, Bachelor in Law and the University of Madras with Post-graduate in Library and Information Sciences, he has combined professional expertise with unwavering commitment to equity and social change. He has contributed significantly to policy-making through his roles in various government committees in Nepal, advocating for Dalit representation in education, employment, and politics.
SS
Dr. Sasha Sabharwal
Scholar
To Be Confirmed
March 15⏱ 12:15 PMPanelist
March 15⏱ 2:45 PMModerator
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Dr. Sasha Sabharwal
To Be Confirmed
Dr. Sasha Sabherwal (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology and Global Asian Studies at Northeastern University. She is an interdisciplinary scholar of the South Asian diaspora with research interests in critical ethnic studies, the racialization of religion, transnational gender and sexuality studies, and the intersections of caste and race. She holds a PhD from Yale University in American Studies with a certificate in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her research examines caste and gender hierarchies in the Sikh diaspora of the Pacific Northwest, with a book manuscript titled Circuits of Faith: Caste, Gender, and Racialized Religion in the Sikh Diaspora of the Transnational Pacific Northwest.
NR
Dr. Nicole Ranganathan
Assistant Professor, Middle East/South Asia Studies
University of California, Davis
March 15⏱ 12:15 PMModerator
March 16⏱ 10:30 AMPanelist
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Dr. Nicole Ranganathan
University of California, Davis
Nicole Ranganathan is an Assistant Professor in Middle East/South Asia Studies at the University of California, Davis, specializing in the history of the Punjabi diaspora. She has authored articles and book chapters on gender, caste, and music in the Punjabi diaspora and the history of Sikhs in Fiji. Her PBS documentary, “Jutti Kasoori,” traced the history of women in California’s Punjabi community. She is the founding curator of the UC Davis Pioneering Punjabis Digital Archive. Her forthcoming book is Women and the Sikh Diaspora: Music and Mobility Across the Seven Seas.
MB
Mr. Manoj Bhangu
Change-Champion & Entrepreneur
Independent
March 16⏱ 11:15 AM & 1:30 PMPanelist
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Mr. Manoj Bhangu
Independent
Bio coming soon.
RM
Ms. Ritu Mahil
Labour Lawyer & Community Activist
Independent
March 16⏱ 11:15 AMModerator
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Ms. Ritu Mahil
Independent
Ritu Mahil is an arbitrator, mediator, workplace investigator, and former labour lawyer with over 20 years of experience resolving complex labour and workplace disputes. She is a former Vice Chair of the BC Labour Relations Board and a former partner at Lawson Lundell LLP, where she led the Labour, Employment and Human Rights Group. She has been recognized by Employment and Social Development Canada as a Member of the Federal Roster of Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Investigators. She is called to the bar in British Columbia (2002) and Nunavut (2015), and serves as Ethics Commissioner for the Hospital Employees' Union.
JA
Ms. Janet Andrews
Secretary-Treasurer, New Westminster Labor District Council
New Westminster Labor District Council
March 16⏱ 11:15 AMPanelist
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Ms. Janet Andrews
New Westminster & District Labour Council
Janet Andrews is the full-time Secretary-Treasurer of the New Westminster & District Labour Council, representing over 70,000 union members in fourteen municipalities in Metro Vancouver. A member of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union Local 764 since 1998, Janet has been active in the labour movement as a steward, in bargaining and on union committees. She is currently serving on the Executive Council of the BC Federation of Labour, as Vice Chair of the Board of Pacific Blue Cross, and as Secretary-Treasurer of the Union Protein Project Society.
AS
Mr. Aman Saini
Community Organizer
Independent
March 15⏱ 5:00 PMModerator
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Mr. Aman Saini
Independent
Bio coming soon.
SG
Dr. Sujata Gaurkhede
Academic / Researcher
To Be Confirmed
TBD⏱ TBDPanelist
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Dr. Sujata Gaurkhede
To Be Confirmed
Bio coming soon.
HT
Mr. Harsh Trivedi
Community Advocate; Founder, Dr. Ambedkar Study Group Vancouver
Independent
March 16⏱ 1:30 PMPanelist
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Mr. Harsh Trivedi
Independent
Bio coming soon.
VF
Ms. Vanessa Fajemisin
Co-Director, BLAC Art Center (Surrey); Community Leader & Social Justice Advocate
Independent
March 16⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
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Ms. Vanessa Fajemisin
Independent
Vanessa Fajemisin is a co-director of the Black Arts Centre (BLAC) in Surrey, B.C., a Black youth-owned and operated artist-run centre and community space existing at the intersection of art, community, and culture. An alumna of the SFU Communication program, she is a student, writer, producer, curator, and consultant whose work focuses on the intersections of digital culture, art, Blackness, community, and sociological theories. She has co-curated exhibitions at Surrey Art Gallery and has been a panelist at The Cinematheque. BLAC is the only artist-run centre in Surrey, serving the city with the largest Black population in British Columbia.
VD
Dr. Varinder Dabri
Academic / Researcher
To Be Confirmed
March 15⏱ 9:00 AMPanelist
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Dr. Varinder Dabri
To Be Confirmed
Bio coming soon.
SM
Dr. Seema Mahi
Post-Doctoral Fellow, History Department
University of British Columbia
March 15⏱ 8:00 AM & 5:45 PMModerator
March 15⏱ 12:15 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 8:00 AM & 3:30 PMModerator
March 16⏱ 2:00 PMPanelist
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Dr. Seema Mahi
University of British Columbia
Dr. Seema Mahi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of History at the University of British Columbia, where she joined in November 2024. She holds a PhD from the University of Delhi (2024). Her fellowship is funded by an SSHRC Partnership Development Grant led by Professor Anne Murphy, focused on caste practices and experiences in Canada. Her research involves oral history interviews documenting anti-caste activism in Canada and Dalit studies. At UBC she teaches a course on Dalit studies drawn from her research specialty.
SB
Mr. Surjit Bains
Treasurer
Chetna Association of Canada
March 15⏱ 1:00 PM & 6:30 PMModerator
March 16⏱ 12:30 PM & 5:00 PMModerator
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Mr. Surjit Bains
Chetna Association of Canada
Bio coming soon.
JB
Mr. Jai Birdi
Executive Director
Chetna Association of Canada
March 16⏱ 1:30 PM & 2:00 PMModerator
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Mr. Jai Birdi
Chetna Association of Canada
Bio coming soon.
SS
Mr. Surinder Sandhu
Assistant Secretary
Chetna Association of Canada
March 15⏱ 4:00 PMPanelist
March 16⏱ 4:30 PMModerator
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Mr. Surinder Sandhu
Chetna Association of Canada
Bio coming soon.
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* Speaker details subject to confirmation. Refer to the official document for verified information. Photos to be added.

Community

Our Volunteers

ASE 2026 is made possible by dedicated community volunteers. Hover to pause.

✦Mr. Krishna Kumar  UBC
✦Ms. Arunima Saha
✦Mr. Vineeth Byagyanagar
✦Mr. Sam Birdi
✦Phinder Dulai
✦Ms. Riya Singh
✦Mr. Sarthak Gautam
✦Mrs. Reminder Dosanjh
✦Ms. Amrit Sangerha
✦Sam Saichaitanya
✦Harpal Malhi
✦Clovis Bernard
✦Scott Riesterer
✦Aaliyah Fernandes
✦Rohan Kaul
✦Upkar
✦Sa Ri
✦Mr. Krishna Kumar  UBC
✦Ms. Arunima Saha
✦Mr. Vineeth Byagyanagar
✦Mr. Sam Birdi
✦Phinder Dulai
✦Ms. Riya Singh
✦Mr. Sarthak Gautam
✦Mrs. Reminder Dosanjh
✦Ms. Amrit Sangerha
✦Sam Saichaitanya
✦Harpal Malhi
✦Clovis Bernard
✦Scott Riesterer
✦Aaliyah Fernandes
✦Rohan Kaul
✦Upkar
✦Sa Ri
Looking Ahead

What to Expect After the Symposium

Your story can shape what comes next.

Contribute to Research Studies

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Caste in Canada Survey

Take the Survey
Resources

Appendix

01
Report of the ASE 2023
Full documentation from the previous symposium — findings, discussions, and outcomes from UBC, SFU, UFV & UVic.
↗ 02
Terms of Reference for the Consortium
Governance framework for the Consortium for the Annihilation of Caste Discrimination in Canada and Beyond.
↗
Reflections

Quotes & Poems

"
I am particularly encouraged by the symposium's emphasis on addressing caste-based discrimination within the South Asian diaspora, enhancing safeguards and networks, and advancing evidence-based research and capacity building. The planned discussions, along with the screening and dialogue around Origin, promise to generate meaningful insights into the intersections of caste, race, and other structural inequities.
Dr. Moussa Magassa — Associate Vice-President, Mount Royal University
"
The theme is both significant and timely, and the effort to create space for dialogue, research, and community engagement around caste equity is commendable. Initiatives like this play a vital role in advancing awareness and meaningful change. The focus on caste-based discrimination, social justice, and economic equality — particularly within the diaspora context — makes the symposium both meaningful and necessary.
Manav — Additional District and Sessions Judge, Punjab, India
"
I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
"
So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
We did not choose this skin,
but we chose to rise —
Not as the broken they named us,
but as the unbowed,
the unbroken, the luminous.
— ASE 2026 Community Reflection