Institute for Comparative Literature and Society
Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia Climate School; SIPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Climate, and Engagement; South Asia Institute
A recording of this event is available here: Climate Justice Series: Environmental Justice Movements From Mahad to Today
In March 1927, the town of Mahad in western India made history when Columbia University alum and a founding father of modern India, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891–1956) led his followers to drink water from a tank previously reserved for the so-called “upper” castes. Almost 100 years later, clean water is at the heart of the climate crisis and access to it remains a metaphor for the struggles of marginalized communities everywhere, including in the United States.
On March 22, please join us for “Environmental Justice Movements From Mahad to Today,” an event that will explore how transnational solidarities may support large-scale interventions to advance social and climate justice globally. The speakers will present an anti-caste conception of environmental justice through the past and present of Mahad as well as examine current blindspots to structural inequality in climate movements. Importantly, they will also share examples of ongoing state-level interventions that hold promise for transformation.
This event is co-sponsored by the India Program at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia SIPA, the Ambedkar Initiative at the Institute for Comparative Literature & Society, the SIPA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Climate & Engagement (DEICE) Committee, Columbia Climate School, and South Asia Institute.
Two experts, writer and Ph.D. candidate Thomas Crowle, and scholar of environmental policy and politics Dr. Prakash Kashwan, will be in a conversation moderated by Dr. Anupama Rao, director, Columbia University’s Institute for Comparative Literature and Society and the convenor of the Ambedkar Initiative. In opening remarks, Deepali Srivastava, editor of CGEP’s Energy Explained and convenor of this series, will present key takeaways from the previous three webinars.
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This webinar will be hosted via Zoom. Advance registration is required. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with access details. The event will be recorded and the video recording will be added to our website following the event.
This event is open to press, and registration is required to attend. For media inquiries or requests for interviews, please contact CGEP Communications (cgepmedia@columbia.edu).
For more information about the event, please contact energypolicyevents@columbia.edu.
Please email disability@columbia.edu to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
