Inroduction

As per KSOU sub rule XIX and case 23(3) of KSOU Act 1992, with the signature of the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka and Pro-chancellor with the purpose of carrying out various academic activities at Baba saheb B.R.Ambedkar’s thoughts at the KSOU. Dr.Ambedkar Chair was inaugurated on 21-10-2005 at KSOU the Hon’ble member of Planning Committee Dr.Balachandra Mangakar formally inaugurated it.

Since 2005 to 2019 the chair is functioning in a separate office spreading the principles and ideas of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar to the people and students in association with various educational institutions. It is also running some Diploma courses.

Following are the objectives of B.R.Ambedkar Study Centre.

• Opening Reading Room (Library containing the books and articles written by Dr.Ambedkar and on Dr.B.R.Ambedkar for the use of teachers, students and the public.

• Conducting seminars, Special Lectures and Workshops about Dr.B.R.Ambedkar at KSOU headquarters, Regional Centres and Study Centres.

• Sponsoring Research Projects about Dr.B.R.Ambedkar and publishing Research works.

• Studying about the influence of Social and Political theories in their thoughts of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar.

• Conducting lectures on Dr.B.R.Ambedkar principles and ideologies and Buddha, Basava, Gandhi, Lohiya and other socialist thinkers philosophiers and ideologies.

• Creating opportunities for the research work related to the rural SC/ST and OBC’s Socio-economic situations.

• Conducting Diploma and Certificate Course related to Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

• Achieving Co-ordinating with non-government organizations which are involved in the similar kind of activities by conducting such and other programmes, the centre has the objectives of making the thoughts of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar reach the students and the general public.

The Vision of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Studies & Research Centre

Karnataka State Open University which has a motto of Higher Education to Everyone and Everywhere has established ‘The Ambedkar Chair’ with the signature of the Hon. Governor and Pro-Chancellor to conduct various Academic Activities on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s thoughts at the KSOU. It was on 21-10-2005 that the Chair was established with the formal inauguration by the planning Hon. Committee member Dr. Balachandra Mungerkar.

Columbia university, one of the most prestigious universities in America has certified after conducting a survey that Dr. B R Ambedkar is a great humanist of 20th century, a great intellectual and a pioneer of social change. Recently, CNN and IBN TV channels have conducted surveys and revealed that after Gandhi, Dr. B R Ambedkar is the greatest Indian. To study the life, writings, speeches and thoughts of such a great man KSOU has started Dr. B R Ambedkar study and research centre.

Since 2005, the centre has a separate office of its own and has been conducting programs and academic courses in association with different educational institutions in its way to reach out the principles and ideologies of Dr. B R Ambedkar to the people and students.

On 09-02-2010 the Ambedkar Chair was renamed as Ambedkar studies and research centre with the approval of the Board of Mangement of KSOU and the centre was converted into a separate study centre.

The Centre had the study of Ambedkar as the focal objective and it has been running PG diploma courses in Ambedkar studies since 2010 till 2021. Students have been studying in PGCAS Course in the current year 2021-22.

The Mission of Dr. B R Ambedkar Studies and Research Centre

• Organizing Special Lectures, Workshops, national and international Conferences.

• Opening of a library containing the books, articles, and writings of Dr. B R.Ambedkar.

• Organizing seminars, special lectures and workshops related to Dr.B.R. Ambedkar at the headquarters of KSOU.

• Sponsoring the projects related to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar and publishing the research works related to Dr. B R Ambedkar.

• Studying the influence of social and political ideologies in the thoughts of Dr. B R Ambedkar.

• Organizing lectures on the principles and ideologies of Dr B R Ambedkar, Buddha, Basava, Gandhi, Lohia and other social thinkers.

• Creating opportunities for the research works related to the people belonging to Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes and backward communities living in rural areas.

• Conducting Diploma and certificate programs about Dr. B R Ambedkar.

• Achieving co-ordination with other NGOs which are active in similar activities.

• In the forthcoming academic year of 2022-23 commencement of two-year course (M.A in Ambedkar studies) is under progress.

• Establishment of Dr. B R Ambedkar statue in the university.

• Extension of Dr. B R Ambedkar's thoughts and taking up research on Dr. B R Ambedkar's thoughts.