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A Nation’s Unfinished Story Peace has long been the nation's desire, with decades full of sacrifice at its cost. Although India has spent years developing and transforming itself to become what it is today politically, financially, and economically, it suffers from an "Achilles heel"- persistent social inequality. Many young people assume that freedom from the British and the division of India and Pakistan were ultimately enough... but was it? Accordingly, these young individuals see the news or have at least been exposed to it. Do they realize that the conflicts described in the news are real, or do they just go by their day, ignoring them? Overall, individuals do care, but they may not always have the resources or the means to help. Reading this, individuals may assume that we are discussing something that is only politically driven, but no, it is more of a socio-political issue. The communities within India still follow forms of discrimination against tribal, Dalit, and Adivasi individuals and other marginalized groups or communities. These people have been socially oppressed by the privileged community and are seen as inferior to society. Some problems they face include limited access to healthcare, educational disparities, and segregation, where they are not allowed to join or take part in the same activities as people in a higher caste; they must do the activity in a separate setting. Individuals in tribes face threats to their cultural identity with stereotypes and prevalently face issues with displacement because of mining and industrial developments taking over their land and forests. As significant issues like this continue to grow on the land, it is imperative that we teach our youth and even encourage them to help others in similar situations. They must learn not to discriminate against these people, as they both share the same blood, land, and body. Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 1 The Responsibility we share The Foundation for Universal Responsibility (FUR) was founded by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, in November 1990. The organization empowers individuals of all faiths, customs, and nationalities to join us in shaping a more peaceful and sustainable world. It also aim to reduce cross- border stereotypes and open the doors to an equal, educated society. In today's program, we collaborated with the DISOM Foundation, which has similar motives of guiding underserved people in South Asia to become leaders in their society. To represent this foundation, Mr. Biren Bhuta, who is a part of DISOM’s board, came here to foster the discussion. "A just society is that society in which ascending sense of reverence and a descending sense of contempt is dissolved into the creation of a compassionate society." — Dr. B.R. Ambedkar "Compassion and love are not luxuries. As the source of both internal and external peace, they are essential for human survival." --His Holiness, Dalai Lama Foundation for Universal Responsibility Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, who led this discussion, interviewed many advocates who have played a vital role in shaping their communities. Through this interactive dialogue, she encouraged these individuals to describe the ways they broke many barriers set upon them with stereotypes and discrimination. With each personal journey described, Dr Meenakshi provided an open environment for everyone to collaborate, which set the stage for learning different ways to lead and reach the community with equality. The reader could learn more about these people in the next few pages.
Mr. Pankaj Garge is from Harda, Madhya Pradesh, and belongs to the Balahi Scheduled Caste community, traditionally known as Bunkar (weavers). He was classified as untouchable, which has caused him to face many forms of discrimination from his own community. Being unheard and oppressed in his community, he has led a life of activism to promote equality and aspires to become an activist lawyer who works towards removing untouchability by 2047. During this program's discussion, he described one moment in his life where he felt disrespected at a temple because people of a higher caste were treated with dignity, and he was discriminated against because of his status as a Dalit. He reflected on the rage he felt when there was unequal treatment. With these instances, he noted how he embraced Buddhism after learning the concepts of equality written in it and shared the joy of how he learned more concepts of self-respect. Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 2 I n t e r v i e w s Mr. Bungdon Thumpuntha is from Chandel, Manipur, and he educates and advocates for equality. He has faced many identity issues as he belongs to the Anal tribe. The Anal tribe has a blend of Tibetan and Burmese influences, and they are well recognized for their sustainable indigenous forest practices. Throughout the years, his tribe has faced severe prejudice against their culture, customs, and distinct facial features. During the discussion, he described how his tribe was burned down in 1993, before he was born. Because of traumatic events like this, he has advocated for the students from his tribe who face stereotypes, and he has played an active role in educating individuals to bridge them to equality. An example could be his active involvement in the socio-political Kuki- Meitei conflict to stop discriminatory actions. As a local leader, he wants to bridge the gap in equality in Manipur and teach more people about peacebuilding. Breaking The Silence From untouchability to Legal advocacy Preserving Identity Protecting culture through education
Mr.Munir is from Sangali, Maharashtra, and he was a part of the Shikalagar Nomadic tribe, which he described as being labeled as the "criminal tribe." During the discussion, he recalled moments where people treated him with contempt, where in some situations they would walk away from him shortly after finding out about his identity. In some moments of a conversation, people would also stand there and rudely ignore him during group discussions, which caused him to feel a great sense of inferiority. All these moments have inspired him to start an organization, Agrani, where he leads awareness campaigns like the 3,500 km Samvaad Yatra. He has used the overall backlash to fight for the rights of Nomadic and Denotified tribes around the country. With that said, his goal is to use his organization to empower a new generation of equal and ethical leaders by 2040. Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 3 I n t e r v i e w s Mr. Sandeep Kumar is from Son Bhadra, Uttar Pradesh, and he struggled to assimilate with the community as he came from the lowest end of his society. Despite the constant disappointment and harsh treatment that he faced throughout his life, he was able to fight back by attending Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which is known as one of the most prestigious universities in India. With that said, during this discussion, he shared how he came from a first-generation family to be provided with education, where he described how his sister was also able to complete her education alongside him. He also described his work with the Grassroots groups to help Gram Panchayats with irrigation and water issues, as well as helping them with their land rights. With his work, he aspires to become a legislator who breaks the divisions of the lower and higher castes, and he also aims to get more Dalits and Adivasis to attend universities. Leading Beyond Labels Changing perceptions through leadership. Education Beyond Barriers Breaking cycles through opportunity and service.
Mr. Mijing Narzary is from Chirang, Assam, and he is a part of the Bodo community, which is a culturally significant community in Assam that is also a part of an armed movement for a separate state for their identity and protection. Throughout his life, he was discriminated against for the way he looked and was treated inferiorly. Despite this, he was able to become an award-winning actor, boxer, and trainer. The discussion with Mijing was very emotional; he recalled a very traumatic moment in his life where he and a group of people went into a forest in accordance with their armed movement activities, and they were attacked brutally, and he was the only person to come out of the forest alive. This was a discussion where silence spoke louder than words. With that said, he did not give up on life after the incident; with strength and courage, he developed a way to bridge people to peace by promoting indigenous games in his community. One of his goals in life is to create a center where sports and creative arts help suppress discrimination and injustice. Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 4 I n t e r v i e w s Ms. Girija is from Kasargod, Kerala, and she has boldly advocated for equal rights for the Dalit community in the past 15 years. In her early life faced strong discrimination regarding her caste, which sparked a fire in her to reject oppressive policies boldly. By overcoming many challenges, she pursued her education in various ways, and to date, she has a degree in Political Science, MSW, and LLB. As a professional advocate, she created an organization named Sign, which works with Dalits and Adivasis for political equality. She also has a strong sense of women's empowerment that she shared during the discussion, along with the fact that her organization also helps women sex workers recover and to reintegrate into society. With that said, she has a goal of getting at least 100 Dalit women to mingle with modern politics and society by getting them to contest in the elections by 2030. Healing Through Hope Turning tragedy into unity through sports and culture. Leading With Purpose Empowering women and advancing political equality
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 5 How could we help Mr. Tenzin Legmon introduced the participants to the organization's 4 principal commitments set by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. These 4 principles include promoting human values, fostering interfaith harmony, encouraging non-violence, and supporting education and culture. Through his presentation, he showcased the Tibetan background of this organization, which aims to promote peace, leadership, and unity.
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 6 Our Past Projects WISCOMP is an organization devoted to empowering women all over South Asia to help them become leaders through specialized programs; it also facilitates cross-border dialogues to challenge the inherited prejudices and indifference in South Asia, especially among youth leaders. Ms. Shilpi Shabdita, a member of the FUR and the WISCOMP organization, described the Hum Kadam Program to the participants. During this project, students from Kashmir and Delhi had a series of dialogues with each other regarding their views and perspectives on their daily lives. No More Strangers A journey to break stereotypes This program aimed to eliminate stereotypes between both groups. Shilpi emphasized how strangers from both sides did not mingle well at first, but after some discussion, they were able to see both perspectives, which led them to become friendlier with each other. This discussion helped the people, who only imagined these individuals from areas of conflict as a stereotype, realize that those people were also like them with dreams, dignity, and a voice. Ms. Shilpi also described a bigger stereotype problem between individuals from Pakistan and India. WISCOMP dedicated its time to a conflict transformation project to create a safe space for dialogue and training so the people who were once divided by stereotypes and borders could come as one to empower the society around them. During this discussion, people from both areas gathered for an informal discussion using creative methods to introduce themselves, share their unique stories, and sort out their differences. These programs described by Ms. Shilpi are part of the progressive action that WISCOMP has taken over the past 25 years to advance peacebuilding, dialogue, and women's leadership.
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 7 Another Perspective "Nyay do ya mrutyu" A tragic battle for human security From the WISCOMP and FUR organization, Ms. Shriya Raina presented a heartfelt story about the protest by the Gond and Kol communities, called the Chita Andolan. Ms. Shriya described how both the Gond and Kol communities were tribal and lived in forests around central India. The Gond community’s significance is that it is considered one of the largest tribal groups in South Asia. Unfortunately, the Ken-Betwa Link Project took place on their indigenous lands, which will lead to the submergence of 22 ancestral villages and the displacement of around 7000 tribal families. A total of around 9000 hectares of sacred land are planned to be submerged during this project. This project not only challenged the environment but also the human security that was promised. With this project, the identity, culture, food, water, and basic human rights were submerged along with the land. The same immorality was shown during the Chita Andolan protest following this; women from the tribal communities brought back the same wood that was cut down during the project, and they lay on it, signifying that it was their deathbed. This tragedy strongly challenged the government for their actions and showed the resilience of women in conflict. With that said, this presentation prompted the individuals to reflect upon environmental justice and women's advocacy around the nation.
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 8 COLLABORATION Inner Transformations Mr. Rajiv Mehrotra's teachings for the Youth As the Hon. Trustee Secretary of the Foundation of Universal Responsibility for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, Mr. Mehrotra conducted a spiritual session to teach the young participants new ways to lead. As a starter, he recalled touching moments with His Holiness that opened his eyes to peace and enlightenment. With his recollection, he elaborated that enlightenment is not just spiritual but also very mutual. With each story he described, he taught the participants lessons of compassion, humility, and responsibility to all beings with no discrimination. The participants were also deeply involved with these stories as they highlighted moments where they learned crucial lessons that kept them steady along their journey. With a tense day of sharing stories and lessons, Mr. Mehrotra conducted a yoga session with the participants to lift the mood. To start, the participants were all asked to close their eyes at first; a breathing exercise followed this, where they had to breathe in to fill up 90% of the space in their lungs, followed by a short pause. Then, after the pause, they were told to fill up the remaining 10% space in their lungs and hold that air for about 5-10 seconds. After this, they were asked to breathe out all the air in their lungs; this process was done about 10 times. Continuing with this yoga, the participants were told to breathe steadily and imagine an image of their mothers giving them care. Concluding this process, the participants were told to open their eyes at their own pace. As the participants opened their eyes, there was a new setting of peace and enlightenment in the room.After this dialogue. Mr. Mehrotra led an open-ended discussion where the participants could collaborate on the methods of leadership that they have used to create unity to their community. These conversations sparked new ideas and helped the young leaders reimagine ways that they could include in their journey towards equality.
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 9 Conclusion As this session concluded, the participants were able to collect new ways to advocate for peace, equality, and justice. Each story the participants shared shows the resilience the individuals kept even when the tables were not turned in their favor. The Foundation for Universal Responsibility also contributed various ways and ideas for the participants to use during their next advocacy along with certifcates to these young leaders. As an intern, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to interview and document for such a prestigious organization. I am especially thankful to my grandfather, Mr. Nemani Soma Sekhar Rao, who introduced me to this organization and opportunity. When I first came into the office, I was very inspired by the architecture and artwork around me, and it was also the main inspiration for all the artwork in this report. From the moment I began my internship, I was welcomed by the warm and supportive team at FUR, along with Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, who guided me throughout the interactive dialogue. To be in a room with young people who are leaders in their communities and have organizations that help marginalized people felt very new and inspiring for me. For me, I have only read about such people during my school years, and witnessing social change firsthand is a memorable moment. Many people have taught me valuable lessons here since the moment I came into this office. Ms. Shilpi, Ms. Shriya, Mr. Legmon, and Mr. Phurbu have worked very closely with me during the time I took to write this report article. As Hindi is not my first language, they were able to guide me throughout the presentations and the stories shared during the meeting. I also got to know more about them as people during my time here. Mr. Legmon has a hidden talent for singing and excels in digital art; Ms. Shriya is a very warm person who has a big interest in advocacy and feminism; Ms. Shilpi is a very good analyzer and can make anything shine brighter with her guidance; Mr. Phurbu is also very talented in digital artwork and designs and has a kind spirit to share with everyone. With their expertise, they were able to guide me through the writing process of this Article. To get to know so much about these people in such little time was a big highlight for me; to connect with this organization and to write for it as well is a big honor. I leave this internship with a better knowledge of advocacy for equality as well as a
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 10 Inner TransformationResilience. Strength. Passion. These three words linger in my mind from the moment I entered the room until I went home. These words resurfaced each time I opened this report, with each interview, and even in the presentations. With each recollection, I noticed the still but changing spirit of the words. They come in many forms and have different backgrounds, but serve the same purpose. They are more than just a word in the dictionary; they move everyone like a verb, an action. What’s so amazing about these words is that you can't see these words in action without a performance. Accordingly, each interview represented a unique performance of resilience, strength, and passion. Even with a language barrier, I could feel the presence of everybody’s different attitudes and opinions on each challenge they have faced. Their insights showed me that you are not born with such qualities and that you have to become somebody to pursue them. For example, Ms. Girija, who was born and raised in an underserved community in Kerala, was able to fight and endure the hatred and discrimination from her community because of her strength and passion. She is a wonderful representation of these three words because she was able to empower women in her community and others who have been abused by the system because of these three qualities. Her speech led me to wonder if freedom is what it seems. As she was speaking, she described Gandhi and other freedom fighters as people who fought for the unity of the country from the British. However, she also described how even if he was able to bring a country together, the problem of social inequality persisted. With that said, she describes how her community saw Ambedkar and other social advocates more as heroes than Gandhi due to the oppression that they faced in the country. Her story moved me to see freedom from the perspective of a person in conditions similar to what she has faced, and her interview especially inspired me to write more about others who have faced similar issues to let the community be more aware of the people around them.
Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula 07.2026 Page 11 References Interviews The interview profiles presented in this publication are based on discussions conducted during the Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme, organized by the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FUR), July 2026. Organizational Presentations Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FUR). Introduction to the Foundation for Universal Responsibility. Presentation by Mr. Legmon, Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme, July 2026. Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP). Hum Kadam Project. Presentation by Ms. Shilpi, Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme, July 2026. Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP). South Asia Conflict Transformation Programme. Presentation by Ms. Shilpi, Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme, July 2026. Presentation on the Ken–Betwa (Chita Andulan) Movement. Presentation by Ms. Shriya, Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme, July 2026. Research & Background Reading "The Ken–Betwa Protests in Madhya Pradesh: Hunger in the Heart of the Nation." Feminism in India, 20 July 2026. "Ambedkar: Unshackling India's Soul." LiveLaw. "Mahatma Gandhi." Simple English Wikipedia. Image Credits Photograph of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar adapted from LiveLaw. Photograph of Mahatma Gandhi sourced from Simple English Wikipedia. Organizational logos and programme photographs courtesy of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FUR) and collaborating organizations, where applicable. About This Publication This publication was researched, written, and designed by Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula as part of an internship with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FUR). The interview profiles are original summaries based on notes taken during the Youth Leadership & Universal Responsibility Programme. Background information has been synthesized from organizational presentations, programme materials, and publicly available research cited in the references. The design of this publication was inspired by the architecture and artwork of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility, reflecting the themes of peace, dialogue, and universal responsibility experienced throughout the internship. This publication was created for educational and documentation purposes and reflects the author's understanding of the programme discussions.© 2026 Anjali Sri Ayyalasomayajula. Prepared as part of an internship with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Without Gandhi, there is no Freedom... Without Ambedkar, there is no equality...” -Girija