Law School Hosts Scholars from India
Students Learn About Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the Architect of the Indian Constitution Who Studied at Columbia
New York, November 16, 2015—A group of 29 students from India who are pursuing post-graduate and doctoral degrees visited campus last month as guests of Adam Kolker, dean and executive director of Columbia Law School’s International and Comparative Law Programs, and Sudhir Krishnaswamy, the Law School’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Visiting Professor of Indian Constitutional Law.
The group learned more about Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, one of the most influential political leaders and social reformers of modern India, and the architect of the Indian Constitution. They were especially interested in his time at and ties to Columbia, from which he earned a master’s degree in 1915, and a Ph.D. in 1927.
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Students from the Oct. 20 visit. Front row, left to right: Roman Sutradha, Keshlata, Raghavendra Hajgolkar, Ancy Bay, Anima Mali, Dr. Vinita Rawat, Semmalar Thandavarayan; Second row: Rehnamol Raveendran, Chandni Bhambhani, Dr. Nagesuiara Rao Dara, Adam Kolker, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Chetna Bhadange, K. Kranthi Kumar, Errolla Srilatha Yerra; Third row: Nagasubbarao Gope Hyderabad, Pandab Hansda, Dr. Brijesh Kumar, Asheesh Kumar, Dr. Shivdatta Wavalkar, Ms. Babita; Fourth row: Lekhika Meshram, Dr. E. Ramesh Kumar, Private Secretary to Minister Social Justice & Empowerment, India, Mr. Lalsanglur, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, India, Dr. Bondyalu Banothu, Sabale Santosh Dnyandev; Back row: Deshraj Meena, M. Nagaraj, Sandeep Kumar, Susanta Kumar Mallick. |
Krishnaswamy talked to the students—who were selected and sponsored by the Government of India—about what Dr. Ambedkar may have learned from the African American political struggles occurring during the period when he was in the U.S., and how his deep knowledge of the U.S. constitution gained as a Columbia scholar shaped his future work in India.
The students engaged Krishnaswamy, a world renowned constitutional law scholar, in an extended question-and-answer session covering historical and contemporary issues in Indian constitutional law and dalit politics.
Towards the end of the visit, the group presented an engraving of the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Building in New Delhi to Kolker (pictured center, red scarf, blue tie) and Krishnaswamy (pictured center, to left of Kolker) as a gift to the Law School. A week earlier, another group of students from India visited and participated in a similar program.
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Students from the Oct. 13 visit. Front row, left to right: Aindri Anuraq, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, India, Kekhrongu-u Dazo, Sonia Mala, Malti Singh, Dr. Dasharath Kumar, Kush Kalsa, Dr. K. Ramesh, and Dr. Sunita Siwach, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, India; Second row: Thupakala Audilakshmi, Kitoholi V. Zhimo, Hemangi Kadlak, Adam Kolker, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Sandeep Gupta, Rahul Debbarma; Third row: Purnima Oraon, Savita Gautam, K.P. Ashwini, Dr. Wijeesh Ronit Saimon, Dr. Gajula Raju, Fatima Ali, Dr. Dilip Kumar Jauhau; Fourth row: Monjib Mochahari, Anu Sonia, Arti Kumari, Dr. Mahendra Pratap Rana, Ajit Kumar. |