A Pathway Into Fuller Participation

Some of the students in a 100-day Communicative English camp with guest, Sam Koshy.

In Kerala, India, a woman from the US is helping to seek a pathway for a group of people previously known as Untoucables, and more recently as Dalits, to fuller participation within Indian society. Dayamudra Dennehy is a teacher, who works at the CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO within the ESL department, which is the largest department within the college. Back in 2012, she was ordained as a Buddhist yogi and that's when she assumed the first name of Dayamudra.

In some senses, it may be that the Buddhist faith led her to an affinity with India. But whatever led her in that direction, she was the founder of JHAI BHIM INTERNATIONAL. The organization's name comes from Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, who was among the drafters of the Indian Constitution back in the 1940's and who also envisioned a caste-free India.



The primary work of Jhai Bhim International rests upon the academic skills of Dayamudra. She has taught and espouses the concept of Communicative English. Communicative English is the type of skill which is based on the real, everyday usage of English. It allows speakers to communicate quickly with native speakers of English. Since English is widely used, almost a global language, it allows those who speak it to participate in world affairs. And that was to be the mechanism for the Dalit people to become involved quickly in mainstream society.

Once each year, Dayamudra and other English instructors journey to Kerala and hold Communicative English Workshops, which last for one month. The workshops are leading to more and more members of the Dalit community to speak fluent English. All age groups can engage in English learning, although there is particular interest in targeting youth. Eventually the organization that Dayamudra founded is planning to create the Lokuttara Communicative English Institute, which would make this language instruction a permanent part of the community.

Jhai Bhim International accepts monetary donations and maintains strict integrity with its work. If you think you have some skill or talent that could be utilized by this organization, you can send an email explaining what that is and how it would benefit the organization.

Dayamudra (left) with Arun Boudh, while working on leadership academy plans.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/dayamudra-dennehy-lokuttara-communicative-english-institute-kerala-india/, and the above links.

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