Chetna Association of Canada is a community-based society registered under the Societies Act of BC. It was established in 1999 with a  primary objective of raising awareness about the caste-based issues globally. Chetna regularly promotes the benefits of creating casteless, respectful and inclusive communities through dialogues, discussions, presentations and seminars.

The members of Chetna take inspiration from Baba Saheb Dr. B R Ambedkar, the champion of human rights in India. Chetna currently has a strong partnership with Dr. Hari Sharma foundation, Institute for the Humanities at Simon Fraser University (SFU), and various departments of University of British Columbia (UBC). The partnership has planned and delivered Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lectures since 2016.

Chetna also has a strong partnership with Indo-Canadian Times Newspaper and boasts Dr. Ambedkar Chetna Awards annually. Categories for these awards include:

 S. Tara Singh Hayer Journalism Award 

 Dr. Ambedkar Arts & Literature Award 

 Dr. Ambedkar Lifetime Achievement Award 

 Dr. Ambedkar Social Justice Award 

What are inclusive communities?

An inclusive community values all its members and helps them to meet their basic needs so that they can live with dignity, engage actively, and contribute to their community. Read more................

Chetna Association of Canada in association with Consulate General of India celebrated the 128th birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Dr. B R Ambedkar at the Consulate General of India Vancouver on April 15, 2019.

For more information and photos of the event, click here....

 The wonderful world of Yoga 

Ajay Bisaria (High Commissioner of India to Canada)

On 21 June, the world will once again take a deep breath and stretch to celebrate the International Day of Yoga. This year’s celebration holds greater meaning; an inward journey may be the best antidote to the external checks placed on us by a confounding virus. A planetary lockdown with social distancing norms means that we wouldn’t experience the collective energy of a yoga congregation. But this year’s defining theme of Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family, will ensure respect for public health measures, while encouraging yoga with family bonding, in the security of our homes.

To read more, click here....

Recipient of S. Tara Singh Hayer Award of Journalism: Navjot Dhillon

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Art and Literature Award: Mohan Karimpuri

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Life Time Achievement Award: Dr. Sanja Boskovic

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Social Justice Award: Dr. Suraj Yengde

Recipient of S. Tara Singh Hayer Award of Journalism: Parmod Puri

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Art and Literature Award: Bhagwant Rasulpuri

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Life Time Achievement Award: Jay Manhas

Recipient of Dr. Ambedkar Social Justice Award: Santosh Das UK

The Ambedkar Room, was unveiled by Mr Ali Malek QC, Master Treasurer, The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn on 30 June 2021 to mark the centenary of Dr Ambedkar’s return to Gray’s Inn in 1921.

Click here to read more....

April is the Dalit history month. Learn more....

On behalf of the Chetna Association of Canada, it is my pleasure to extend greetings on the 74th Constitution Day of India.

Seventy-three years ago on this day, the Constitution was adopted in India.  It was implemented on January 26, 1950.

The task of creating a framework that sustains democracy through unity, integrity, justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity for a nation with many cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity, was not an easy task.  My thanks to the drafting committee and its chairperson, Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar, for producing a document that kept the interests of a  “common man” at the core of their heart when resolutions were being discussed and debated.  In this spirt, I see and honor Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar as the Pioneer in Social engineering!

Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar’s passion for emancipation (political, social, and economic) comes out clearly when one reads Articles 14 through 18 on equality.

In terms of gender equality and other measures of social engineering, these and other articles have been tested and challenged many times since the Constitution was implemented.  

It is reassuring to learn that the spirit of democracy that lives through the Constitution has survived these challenges. 

The Constitution has proven to be flexible, workable, and amendable to address emerging challenges and leverage newer opportunities (to read more click here......) 

Manjit Bains Chair Women Empowerment committte (Chetna) talked on Shere-Punjab radio about the contribution of Baba Saheb Dr. B R Ambedkar to women's upliftment. Click to listen the talk....