Ambedkar's Legacy Inspires Roma School in Hungary, Fostering Hope Amidst Oppression
"Ambedkar is a gypsy icon in Hungary," declares Tibor Derdak, speaking from Miskolc, a city located approximately two hours from Budapest. Two decades ago, Derdak co-founded a school named after B.R. Ambedkar, a figure who never set foot in Hungary, yet whose influence now permeates this unlikely European setting. Today, a statue of Ambedkar stands proudly near the Dr Ambedkar School building, symbolizing a profound cross-cultural connection.
A Fairytale of Resilience and Empowerment
"Ambedkar's life story is a fairytale for the Roma community," explains Derdak, referring to the long-oppressed ethnic group that the school primarily serves. The narrative of a man denied school admission, who later studied abroad, became a barrister, fought caste oppression, and helped shape India's constitutional framework, has deeply resonated in this distant landscape. This inspiration began in 2005 when Derdak, a sociologist and former Hungarian MP, and Janos Orsos, a Roma activist, traveled to Dhamma retreats in Maharashtra with the Triratna Buddhist Organisation.
What they encountered was transformative. "Similar complexion, similar stories of being othered," Derdak recalls. "Yet, we saw people from oppressed communities reach important positions in society. We thought we can." This realization was not merely ideological; it was rooted in historical ties, as the Roma emigrated from north India nearly 1,000 years ago. In Maharashtra, the shock of recognition was visceral, and the inspiration became practical.
Building a Pilgrimage Site for Roma Activists
Upon returning to Hungary, Derdak embarked on translating Ambedkar's texts into Hungarian, including works like Prakriti's from Chandalika and the entire Pune Pact. "We wanted to reproduce the impact he had on his people," he states. The school that emerged from these efforts has evolved into a pilgrimage site for Roma activists across Europe. Each morning, 125 students enter beneath a brass plaque inscribed in both Hungarian and Hindi, with an inscription that concludes, "He is a Buddhist saint"—a line that would have likely startled Ambedkar himself.
Artist Akshay Mahajan, who visited in 2013, remembers students eagerly learning numbers in Hindi and delighting in shared words, such as chhora for boy and chhori for girl. "Were it not for the Roma, Europe might never have had the guitar," Mahajan notes, highlighting the cultural contributions of the community. Inside the school, students prepare for national exams while studying Ambedkar's speeches alongside Roma history, drawing striking parallels between two narratives of oppression.
Confronting Segregation and Untouchability
Roma children in Hungary have historically faced severe segregation, often placed in underfunded schools or routed into special institutions, with reports indicating that 90% of such students are from the Roma community. Derdak recalls separate utensils for Roma children as recently as a decade ago, describing it as "untouchability, just with different words." In Miskolc, where 15% of the population is Roma, public spaces rarely acknowledge their existence, underscoring the school's critical role in fostering visibility and pride.
The 16-year regime of Viktor Orban posed significant challenges, testing the school's resilience. It once operated as a Buddhist church high school for legal protection, but the government's move to deregister churches deemed insufficiently established led to years of financial precarity. Despite these hurdles, the school's impact is evident in its graduates.
Measuring Progress Through Empowerment
Kuru Janos arrived at the school at age 16 with only a Class 6 education, later attended university in Budapest, and returned as a local leader. Other alumni have become social workers or staff members at the school. Derdak often quotes Ambedkar: "I measure the progress of a community by what women have achieved." In villages where the school has worked, girls now view education as attainable, and early motherhood rates are declining, signaling tangible social progress.
One poignant detail Derdak mentions is the Roma flag—blue and green with a red wheel—adopted at the first World Roma Congress near London in 1971, partly funded by the Indian government. The wheel, a dharma chakra proposed by an Indian diplomat, symbolically links the Roma to the Indian subcontinent they left centuries ago. "They didn't know the word," Derdak says, "but they chose the wheel."
A Turning Wheel of Change
As recent election results emerge and Orban is ousted, Derdak rejoices, declaring, "The dictatorship has fallen." The wheel, as ever, has turned, reflecting a renewed hope for justice and equality. Through education, cultural reconnection, and the enduring legacy of Ambedkar, the Dr Ambedkar School continues to inspire a community striving for dignity and progress in the face of adversity.
