"We are not the ones who wait for the quiet waters, and we have learnt how to ride its power without being consumed by it. While we do not choose these challenges, they are thrust upon us, and we choose how to engage them, overpower them, and win over them. The poor and the downtrodden have power in history and power for history. We need a different breed of leadership, which would move from saying 'this must change' to 'this is the world we will build.' That shift - from protest to imagination - would shape our future for the better. We stand together here as people who refuse to sink, who dare to continue surfing with the strong resolve to transform every challenge into an opportunity for a more dedicated leadership and a greater humanity." Most Rev T. Sagayaraj The title, 'Surfing the Waves of Challenges, ' is an emphatic affirmation of the constant struggle of the Dalits, either as individuals or as a community, for creating a casteless society. A special and distinct dimension of this seminar is its specific focus on people who have surfed the waves of challenges with courage and have left an indelible mark on society. The courageous history of Dalit movements in India chronicles such a relentless fight against caste discrimination and emphatically acknowledges the women and men who led the revolt. The fire that was lit by these noble and notable men and women of great courage and vision continues to inspire women and men to struggle against all forms of untouchability in different parts of India. The life and struggle of Dr. Ambedkar inspired a great galaxy of Dalits to create history in their respective domains. The century-old rigid caste system and other barriers did not deter them in any way; rather, they surfed through the waves courageously, confidently, and collectively. Dr Thomas Amirtham SJ
