Intel® Teach Program Designing Effective Projects

Harbingers of Change -Example: Story Planning Guide

Directions: You will be writing a story about a modern-day leader in the style of stories written about Great Leaders of the Past. Use the following as a guide to start planning your story.

General questions about the contemporary hero’s life and achievement(s):

Contemporary Story (based on stories from Great Leaders Question of the Past)

Leader Mr.Varun Prasad Dr. B.R.Ambedkar

Leader’s Stood up against a social evil- child labour, in his Stood up against a social evil- untouchability and Qualities area. Took up a strong stance to ensure the Right to also for the cause of Dalits who suffered severe Education for children in his community. socio-economic discrimination.

Family Wife, children Wife, children

Location Patna, Bihar Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Characters Ratan- a child labour Students from untouchables( Dalits) community

Abhijit Sen, Head Master of a local Government School peon school

Mr. Janta Mishra, Local MLA Madahev Ambedkar, Teacher

Challenge He had to decide whether he should raise voice He had to take up the cause of the Dalits, the against child labour- a rampant evil in his area, which untouchables, whose voices were unheard in the would antagonise many against him and would lead so called educated society. to threats.

Obstacles He was himself a Dalit. In school, the teachers He had no political support behind him rather the scarcely paid any attention to the untouchable local MLA was unwilling to help him as he feared that children from the Dalit community. Only the it would annoy his voters. Nor did he have any school peon could bring drinking water for them. support from the general populace when he began In his absence they went without water. It was alone. He also knew that there were certain criminal his merit that impressed his Brahmin teacher who rackets involved in this. changed his surname Ambavadekar to his own – Ambedkar.

Overcoming Ambedkar was the first Dalit in his community to Challenges He took the risk of getting insulted, or even graduate. He went on to do higher studies and assaulted, when he protested against child labour. established himself as a leading scholar and When he wrote an article to rally support he was political persona of the day. threatened by many. Undeterred by the threats, he He published journals, led movements, formed appealed to the good sense of the general populace, organisations and gave several memorable and also acquired support from the police, the media speeches to highlight the plight of the Dalits. and some government authorities. The parents of the While preparing the Government of India Act children also came to the forefront. 1919, Ambedkar argued for creating separate electorates and reservations for Dalits.

Results The story of the Dalits, hitherto unheard of in the Child labour was completely eradicated from his area. mainstream politics of India, was brought to light. Many people became aware about the rights of His movements established the right for the Dalits children and started sending them to school. Ratan to use community water tanks. As the Father of went back to his mother and started his schooling in the Indian constitution, he ensured the formation his village. of rights against all forms of discrimination.

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