Author Archives: DSNUK
DSNUK Trustee Adv Sushant Singh Speaks at House of Lords
7th May 2025
On 26th April 2025, DSNUK Trustee Adv. Sushant Singh Spoke at House of Lords on “Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Relevance in the Modern Times” on the occasion of the 134th birth anniversary (Ambedkar Jayanthi commemoration & Panel Discussion on Caste-Based Discrimination.
On the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti, a vibrant event was organised at the House of Lords. It brought together lawmakers, activists, and community leaders to reflect on the enduring relevance and importance of Dr B R Ambedkar in the modern era.
Adv. Sushant Singh, Dalit Human Rights Lawyer and trustee of Dalit Solidarity Network UK (DSNUK), was invited as a speaker. The panel was co-chaired by Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Member of the House of Lords and Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dalits and Adivasis, alongside other notable figures from FABO, Caste Watch UK, and partner organisations.
In his address, Adv. Singh powerfully emphasised the global relevance of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision in resisting caste oppression, systemic inequality, and institutional discrimination. He thanked all caste-based and anti-caste organisations in the UK for their tireless efforts to carry the movement forward, honouring the legacy of Ambedkar with consistency and courage.
He paid tribute to Dalit youth in India whose tragic deaths highlighted the brutality of caste discrimination — including Rohith Vemula, Muthukrishnan, Anitha, and Payal Tadvi — and reminded the audience of their sacrifices.
Adv. Singh also spoke of the Ambedkarite movements in the USA, commending their efforts to bring caste discrimination into the mainstream policy and academic discourse — leading to historic institutional recognitions in universities such as Harvard, UC Davis, and Brandeis.
He called for:
- Legal recognition of caste-based discrimination in the UK,
- Implementation of anti-caste policies in universities and workplaces,
- Mental health safeguards for caste-oppressed individuals,
- Inclusion of Ambedkarite thought in educational curricula, and
- Strengthening global networks of Ambedkarite activism.
DSNUK proudly recognises and celebrates Adv. Sushant Singh’s contribution and leadership on such an important global platform. His voice reflects the determination of a new generation of Ambedkarites committed to a just, equitable, and caste-free world.
DSN UK Congratulates Critical Dance Studies Scholar Professor Royona Mitra!
7th May 2025
The new monograph Unmaking Contact: Choreographing South Asian Touch was published last month by Oxford University Press. The cover design is by “Rukminee Guha Thakurta, Letterpress Studio. Critical dance studies scholar Royona Mitra (Brunel University of London) says that it has taken ten years to birth this project and its publication coincided with the unexpected departure of her beloved mother who has played an integral role in many ways to this work, as Royona says, ‘in ways she will now never know’. Royona also notes that this publication aligns with “a devastating time in UK universities as we contend with precarities, redundancies, and become the fulcrum of political culture wars…” we wish that the joy of this publication brings abundant blessings to her, the student communities who will interact with her work and engage with the concerns that are close to her heart, especially in relation to “Cast out Caste” efforts from universities. .
We congratulate the dance artists – Akila, Diya Naidu, Nahid Siddiqui, and LaWhore Vagistan – whose words and works are integral to this project. We look forward to an online book launch in early autumn in the new academic year.
Voicing out for options to restore reduced UK aid budget: DSN UK networks with BOND as a member
17th April 2025
DSN UK through BOND joined hands with refugee groups to call on the government to end the use of expensive contracts for housing asylum seekers in favour of more appropriate and cost-effective housing options and ensure that the freed-up funding is restored to the now reduced UK aid budget
With a strong support from 107 organisations that signed on, Bond’s Media Adviser secured coverage in The Times, BBC Breakfast and BBC News, LBC Radio (@08:06:00), LBC News, Times Radio, and Politico, and we have tweeted and shared via LinkedIn.
Human Rights Day 2024
10th December 2024
As the world celebrates the Human Rights Day today with the theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now, the DSN UK echoes it from the bottom of its heart aspiring that its Vision – ‘A world without caste discrimination’ becomes a reality. We believe that Dalit Rights are Human Rights and Changing Attitudes Fostering Empowerment with Dignity – CAFÉ D. Unless Dalits experience the dignity of being total human beings, they are far from realising this year’s theme. We invite you to be part of CAFÉ – D. Join us as we strive to build such a world where all communities work together to enable this year’s HRD become a reality in spite of what it is today as reflected in the article below:
Newsletter: Quarterly Magazine Ambedkar Vision, Jul-Sep 2024
Date: 21st Oct, 2024
Let us see the reality, feel for unity to restore Human Dignity.
Dr Elizabeth Joy
Director – DSN UK
10th December 2024
Dalit Solidarity Network UK (DSN-UK) announces appointment of its director Dr Elizabeth Joy from September 2024
9th October 2024
Bala Gnanapragasam the Chair of DSN UK said,
“I am delighted to welcome Dr Elizabeth Joy as the Director at the DSN-UK to further DSN UK’s vision of ‘a world without caste discrimination’.
She brings a wealth of experience and skills, including two decades of proven leadership, including as General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India and Executive Secretary for Mission Education at the Council for World Mission. As a Director/Trustee of Churches Together in England, she led initiatives against modern slavery. She also holds a PhD from King’s College London, where she previously taught social ethics and applied ethics.
She is an activist and a visionary, who has lived and worked with multi-cultural and multi-faith communities. She has worked extensively for the cause of Dalit Rights as Human Rights. She works towards building inclusive and transformed communities that overcome discriminations based on caste, age, gender, ethnicity and race. “
We are recruiting!
14th May 2024
We are recruiting for a new Director and Office Administrator.
The Dalit Solidarity Network is a small human rights organisation working to eliminate caste-based discrimination in the UK and South Asia.
Director:
We are now seeking a part-time Director for 3 days/week to: develop and deliver of DSN-UK’s overall strategy and objectives; provide strategic leadership to influence the policy and practice of key stakeholders to further DSN’s vision of a ‘world without caste discrimination’; and to lead overall management of DSN-UK, including management of DSN-UK staff, its finances and other resources.
London-based but hybrid-working arrangements (from home and on site) will be considered. Deadline for applications: 13 June 2024.
Please apply at: The Guardian or CharityJob
Office Administrator:
We are now seeking a part-time Office Administrator for 2 days/week, initially for one year with a possibility of renewal.
London-based but hybrid-working arrangements (from home and on site) will be considered. Deadline for applications: 13 June 2024.
Please apply at: CharityJob