And when the world appears to be drifting into amnesia, a few people speak out against it. The voices that cause pendulating and reverberating echoes. The same emotion I had when I went to see Dr. James Stephen Meka to interview him about his latest book, "Dr. Ambedkar's Ideology in the Digital Era".

Ambedkar!

When we hear the name, we instantly remember the Constitution. Many individuals admire the Constitution's preamble. The preamble is often discussed in WhatsApp groups and on social media, especially on Constitution Day (November 26) and Republic Day (January 26). The Constitution is the greatest gift we've gotten since gaining freedom. How many people are aware that there was a team in charge of this, that it had a leader, and that they all worked together to draft the Constitution? Adults in their thirties and forties may become enraged by this question since they are aware of it. But how many of today's children are aware of this?

Google is a valuable source of information. How many young people will be interested in researching and learning about Dr. Ambedkar or any other national leader? So, how can we incorporate Ambedkar's ideas into the lives of this generation?

First, why should Ambedkar's ideas be incorporated into the daily lives of Indian citizens? We should work to improve and pursue studies and research to better comprehend, assess, communicate, and apply Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's ideology.

This 20-chapter book shows the importance of introducing the real Ambedkar to the world. Ambedkar's values must be passed on to current and future generations. Each chapter is written in such a way that it achieves the book's major purpose in a systematic manner. By highlighting some significant aspects of Dr. Ambedkar's life history, such as how long and how the discrimination he faced persisted throughout his life, the tendency of rebellion against discrimination that arose in him, his choice of education as a weapon as a sign of that rebellion, and his choice of writing as a weapon and means of expression to express that rebellion, though subtly but sharply.

"This book completes the monumental task of synchronising Ambedkar's vision, the ambitions and ideas of a great leader with the transformative power of the digital age."

Why do we celebrate Independence and Republic Days every year? Why are we learning history? We understand our history by learning about events that have occurred in the past. History serves as a foundation for the future. We should remember Dr. Ambedkar not just as a mentor, but also as someone whose ideas and vision may be applied to our future. Few can develop ideas that are applicable to any time period. Dr. Ambedkar was one such.

Dr. Ambedkar's life serves as a model for all eras. Every pupil should know about the warrior who used knowledge as a weapon. He will always be recognized as India's first law minister. As Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, he produced one of the greatest constitutions in the world. As long as the Constitution is obeyed, he will live on in our civic lives. Ambedkar used his education to promote equality, fraternity, and freedom. He believes that society will grow only when women are empowered and that women should have the right to higher education and work.

Dr. Ambedkar wrote many books and columns about the fundamental human rights of all people and enshrined fundamental rights in our Constitution to benefit future generations. He played an important part in the formulation of India's constitution. The Constitution establishes an excellent framework for democratic government, basic rights, and social fairness. He campaigned for the inclusion of education as a fundamental right in the Constitution of India. His efforts contributed to providing education to millions of Indians.

Dr. Ambedkar championed women's rights. Worked towards their political and social empowerment. He was essential in introducing provisions for gender equality and women's rights into the Indian Constitution. He envisioned a new, democratic India free of socioeconomic inequity and injustices and helped shape a society that values equality and social justice. His writings on the caste system and its influence on people's social and economic standards are worth reading. The author recounts the terrible customs during Ambedkar's day. He looked above his own limitations to discover answers to those difficulties. Using the powerful weapon of education, initiatives were taken to remove the problem.

Dr. Ambedkar was an excellent writer, social crusader, and moral compass for the oppressed masses. He brought the untouchables together by forming organisations, political parties, and publishing newspapers and weekly magazines. His 1936 book "Annihilation of Caste" has grown in relevance in the digital era. He lived with a free mentality that was beyond the constraints of human intellect.

In this book, the author succeeds in his attempt to resolve the challenges he identifies. WhatsApp, social media, e-mails, YouTube, and other websites have become popular among the general population. His basic aim was that everyone should learn about Dr. Ambedkar through numerous avenues.

For example, the author suggests that we preserve substantial material on Dr. Ambedkar not only on social media, print media, technological gadgets, WhatsApp, and email, but also in our education programs, curriculum, and online courses. He has integrated several solutions into this book, such as introducing new courses and raising instructor awareness. Access to information and knowledge is essential in the digital era. The author talks about "Open Access" to give equal educational possibilities to everybody.

The author proposes a DTH channel for hearing-challenged pupils. It has created sign languages and study resources for students with hearing and visual impairments that are available digitally. Coursera, an online learning platform, estimates a 49% increase in student enrolment in India in 2021. This demonstrates the growing demand in the country for online higher education.

In one part, Dr. James Stephen discusses Ambedkar's vision and the contemporary digitalisation of education. He discussed the rise of digitalisation and the necessity for digital institutions to build a world-class education system. Digital University provides teaching in regional languages and ICT forms; also, the Government of India is developing multiple channels for a wide range of sources and ways of delivering education to diverse parts of the country. The author also discusses Swayam Portal, one of the most important efforts on the MHRD's DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) platform.

Dr. Ambedkar's worldview prioritized individual rights and liberties. In the digital era, data privacy and ownership are key challenges. Personal data, including sensitive information, is a valuable asset, and data breaches and abuse can jeopardize privacy and security. Effective data protection legislation and structures that empower individuals are required. The author believes that these policies should provide individuals control over their personal data and digital identities.

Digital activism (technology activism) refers to a wide range of activities, including online campaigns, social media movements, digital storytelling, and virtual rallies. These digital technologies allow activists to reach worldwide audiences and have a collective effect. In this context, Dr. Ambedkar's ideas of justice and equality can help drive the creation of ethical and impartial algorithms that promote justice and non-discrimination in the digital era. That is why the author believes that this medium should be used as much as possible to learn about and support Ambedkarite philosophy.

The digital gap refers to global inequalities in access to information and communication technologies, as well as digital resources. This divide is multidimensional, encompassing discrepancies in device accessibility, internet connectivity, digital literacy, and representation in the technology industry. The digital sector should not increase existing inequities but act as a vehicle for empowerment. Efforts to bridge the digital gap should include providing low-cost internet connection to underserved regions, developing digital literacy programs customized to the requirements of marginalized communities, and encouraging technological entrepreneurship among historically disadvantaged populations.

The author contends that digital inclusion should be consistent with Dr. Ambedkar's ideal of equal opportunity for everyone. My favourite term in this book is Social Endosmosis, where Dr. Ambedkar asserts that freedom of thought is actually the core philosophy of democracy.

Transferring Ambedkar's philosophy into the digital age would indeed increase literacy of Ambedkar's ideology among Indian and global citizens alike. This book advises that we should adjust our future mindsets and take action to instil Ambedkar's principles in future generations. That national leader, who had a very profound view of India's future, had a distinct philosophy. It has the potential to propel India to new heights of development. The author makes a decisive stance by dedicating the book to "true Ambedkarists".

To relate a person's life and beliefs to the present moment, a thorough study of that person is necessary, and to understand that those theories are relevant to any period, the connecting process must be strong. That is exactly what the author did in this book! History serves as a basis for the future. We should remember Dr. Ambedkar not only as a teacher, but also as someone whose ideas and vision may help shape our future. Few people can present timeless concepts. Dr. Ambedkar was one such individual.

Dr. Ambedkar's life serves as an example for all times. Ambedkarism is the result of a man's inescapable and ongoing endeavour to make his beliefs the foundation of social reform. We may argue that the evolution of his beliefs or ideology is the outcome of hundreds of confrontations. Young people nowadays who read his works will identify Dr. Ambedkar as a visionary leader. One of the book's primary goals, in his opinion, is to usher in the beginning of technological equitable social participation by taking steps toward a society without a digital divide.

The author's comments regarding education, technical empowerment, and technological democracy make us think in an era where technology revolution is referred to as the success of today. And the most serious issue we face in this day is a lack of information privacy or information theft (the use of our information by others without our knowledge).

The whole international community is now involved in digital activism. According to sociologists, technological activism has as many drawbacks as rewards. However, thanks to technological advancements, many tasks are now simple to complete. For example, we can discuss banking and internet services. When it comes to social media, the number of people who get their news from it has grown faster than the number of people who get it from newspapers. These channels have evolved into debate platforms.

They release information and announcements via their accounts, ranging from average folks to high authorities and politicians. The author elaborates on the prospects for social transformation through technology activism, which has become increasingly essential. Algorithmic prejudice is defined as systemic and unjust discrimination that arises when algorithms are developed or trained using data that reflects societal biases. To support Dr. Ambedkar's principles, efforts should be undertaken to identify and rectify biases in algorithmic decision-making.

Dr. Ambedkar discusses the ideology of social justice and equality which can be incorporated in today's technological age and how to include marginalised groups as common rights holders in this digital age. They give directions on how to point out the injustices and discriminations that are happening in the age of technology. Also discuss the need for digital education, thus the need for employment or equal opportunities. Dr. Ambedkar contributed to the establishment of an equal society. It was thought that it would be possible only because of education and empowerment. Taking this theory into account, they explain the role of technology in bringing about technological empowerment and social equality, and proclaim the benefits of lifelong learning. A good aspect of this book is the use of case studies (example studies) in many places.

Dr. Ambedkar's objectives and ideas serve as the foundation, and the author has been effective in sensitising citizens to the current realities. Dr. BR Ambedkar was a visionary social reformer and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. This book offers profound insights into these values. A method written about civic management or civic involvement encourages all citizens to think, to debate on how to eliminate disparities in digital business.

Some of the inaccessibility’s of underprivileged communities, and disparities in access are discussed, geographical aspects are explained, and ways to eliminate disparities in online learning channels are outlined. A chapter explores the impact of inequality on a country's economic development and the reasons for failure to achieve entrepreneurship goals. The chapters in this section discuss many online topics like blogging, information dissemination through videos, information transmission through social media etc.

The author has incorporated themes such as telemedicine, internet health care, and so on in his work. In one chapter, the author describes measures for overcoming technical gaps based on Dr. Ambedkar's beliefs. His observation is a stepping stone towards knowledge empowerment. That is why we are discussing open access to digital libraries. When discussing equitable education for everyone, it is stated that online education should be available to all. Everyone should work on closing the digital education divide. The book also discusses the importance of digital literacy initiatives, digital freedom of speech, and the democratisation of information acquisition.

During this process, the author discusses and highlights Dr. Ambedkar’s ideology on the issues we confront, problems and solutions, and historical movements as examples. The book provides brief information on the benefits of digital platforms, the need for international cooperation, flexibility opportunities, avenues, information security, information ecosystem (data eco system), the harms of information exploitation, information-based discrimination, ethical information use, surveillance strength, and so on. Everyone should study the author's chapter on privacy as a human right. The author’s method of presenting all of these arguments by relating them to Dr. Ambedkar's ideology and theories is excellent.

Similarly, the book discusses harassment, such as cyberbullying and online crimes, as well as complaint methods. The author explained the need to build safe internet platforms. He has published a few chapters discussing the advances in artificial intelligence technology, the problems and ethical dilemmas it presents, and relating them to Dr. Ambedkar's beliefs on governance and digital entrepreneurship for social welfare. His viewpoint is that technology should be available to underserved populations. It is astonishing to see how case studies have demonstrated that equality can be a possibility.

Anyone who reads this book would understand the need to disseminate Dr. Ambedkar's teachings using modern technologies. Everyone should be aware of Ambedkar! It should be noted that his vision will be a beacon of light not just for today's culture, but for all times! It is true that transferring Ambedkar's philosophy into the digital age would increase the literacy of Ambedkar's ideology among Indian and global citizens alike.

It is widely acknowledged that certain research and techniques are required to determine the amount of growth that India can maintain at a rapid rate. A national leader with a clear vision for India's future has a unique philosophy. Understanding that if the visionary's counsel is completely followed, India would be able to reach the pinnacle of growth while also harnessing that idea via technology.

This book, which suggests how modern technology might be used to accomplish Ambedkar's ambitious goals, can serve as a guide for many scholars, citizens, students, policymakers, and technology practitioners.

I thank Dr. James Stephen Meka for authoring this valuable book, from the core of my mind.

Pages: 291, Price: $20.83

Publisher : ‎ Independently published (October 22, 2023)