Roma is a discriminated community all over Europe with a population of around 10million. There are striking similarities between the Dalits of India and Roma of Europe. Both face social boycotts to denial of basic human rights. In the middle of Europe and in a quite small country compared to India, Roma of Hungary envisioned and started on the path that is considered odd for the Roma community in Hungary. They started a Roma school after Babasaheb Ambedkar’s name. Ambedkar school’s mission is to transform the social and economic situation of the Roma community and make them ready for future challenges through the teachings of Buddhism and visionary Dr B. R. Ambedkar, 

Director and founder of Jai Bhim Network – Derdak Tibor

In 2006, Jai Bhim Network in Hungary came into the picture. It was established by Derdák Tibor (former member of Hungarian parliament) and Roma leader, Orsós János. By incident, while travelling to Paris, Tibor had a chance to read about Babasaheb Ambedkar and Dalits of India, book by Christophe Jaffrelot, and he could immediately link the situation of Roma in Hungary with the condition of Dalits. Tibor and Janos converted to Buddhism and started Dr Ambedkar High School in one of the poorest regions of Hungary, hence came Dr Ambedkar in Hungary!

One can find Educate, Agitate, Organize. the slogan on the wall of the hall and in the classrooms at Dr Ambedkar High School.

Babasaheb Ambedkar’s pictures on the walls of Dr Ambedkar High School, Hungary

As described by the founding members of the Jai Bhim Network, the main goal of the Jai Bhim Network is to start school to provide a safe and encouraging environment to students where they can strive for higher goals, challenge stereotypes around Roma community, and get students ready for the future challenges. Jai Bhim Network’s other goal is to send as many students possible to higher education and to different universities.

Read also – Ambedkarite Organisation Series – Maitreya Bauddha Vihar, An Ideal Of Community Service

According to 2017 report by European Commission on Hungary’s public educational system education system in Hungary is getting more and more segregated. The vast majority of Roma children still attend segregated schools, which leads to a high dropout rate among the Roma, at 59.9 percent, compared with 8.9 percent for non-Roma. By visiting ghettos where most of the Roma community lives in Miskolc, the school tries to develop an understanding of the Roma community and make them feel welcomed in the school. School provides economic support to ensure students do not miss the classes. A fixed stipend in terms of travel money from home to school as well as food is provided to students.

Originally the first school was started at Sajókaza, a village around 30 km northeast of Miskolc in 2007. Noticing the huge appeal among the Roma community for the school, management of Dr Ambedkar School in the next couple of years started schools at various locations in Hungary such as Ózd, Alsózsolca, Hegymegy, Szendrőlád. By the end of 2009, apart from a community centre in Sajókaza, Jai Bhim Network was running 5 schools at different locations with around 200 students and staff of 20 people. Recently, Jai Bhim Network built a dormitory for students as well, where students can live for free while studying at the Dr Ambedkar School.

Debunking the dominant culture that reinforces myths and stereotypes about the Roma community helps students develop self-worth and self-respect. School teachers through their various activities such as talking about Roma history, Roma heroes and contribution of Roma towards building and shaping the history of Hungary help students understand that they are no less than anyone else. The school takes students to various programs organized where the importance of Roma history, as well as culture, is the focus.

Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Statue in Hungary at Dr Ambedkar High School

Dr Ambedkar School is well known among Hungarian and it is playing an important role in spreading Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideology in central Europe. The first statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Central Europe was established by Jai Bhim Network at Dr Ambedkar High School in Sajokaza, Miskolc (Hungary).

Read also – Ambedkarite Thinkers Series – Bharat Wankhade, Founder of Mudita Multipurpose Society

With the rising influence of the schools over the Roma community also came the political challenges from the ultra-right-wing political party Jobbik, whose member of parliament even raised the issue in parliament reporting in a way that Dr Ambedkar Schools are misleading Roma community. How can educating discriminated community be misleading them is beyond imagining. But then we can see similar things happening all over India as well, where right-wing Hindutva governments suppressing Dalits.

From organizing Dalit History celebration to observing Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Jayanti to Dhamma Chakka Pravartan Diwas every year, Jai Bhim Network and Dr Ambedkar High Schools have played an important role in bringing Babasaheb Ambedkar outside India.

In the last few years, Jai Bhim Network translated and published a book on Buddhism and produced Angry Buddha documentary as well. At present, the founder of Jai Bhim Network, Tibor is working on translating Babasaheb Ambedkar’s book, ‘The Buddha and His Dhamma’ into Hungarian.

If you would like to support the activities of Jai Bhim Network and support students of Dr Ambedkar High School, please visit https://www.manumissio.org/lets-be-friends/

Author – Pardeep Attri
Image – High school graduation picture from Dr Ambedkar High School, Hungary