We recently received the following information from Scott Stroud (University of Texas at Austin) on behalf of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP). This prize is an exciting way to recognize the some of the many philosophical connections between the United States and India. As the information below reminds us, Ambedkar studied at Columbia University in New York City with American philosopher John Dewey. You can see the full press release here. Information about the 2027 SAAP conference and how to enter consideration for the prize is here.
Here is the information from Professor Stroud:
An academic prize in the name of Ambedkar has been created by a western philosophy association (the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy). This is the first award to bear Ambedkar’s name by a broad-focus U.S. scholarly association.
SAAP is the first general American scholarly organization in the U.S., and most likely the west, that has named a prize or award after Ambedkar. It’s a scholarly organization focused on thinkers like John Dewey, Jane Addams, Richard Rorty, and others in the American tradition of philosophy. The fact that this society is not primarily focused on South Asia or caste makes this an interesting development, since it shows a respect for Ambedkar as a global thinker. As Ambedkar desired in his important speeches to non-Indian Buddhists at international conferences in the 1950s (eg, “Buddha or Karl Marx”), his thought is becoming more and more part of general intellectual discourse and exploration.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SAAP Establishes Prize Named in Honor of Bhimrao Ambedkar
APRIL 12, 2026 – The Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP) announces the establishment of the Bhimrao Ambedkar Prize in Global Pragmatism. This prize rewards high-quality scholarly research that explores interactions between American philosophy and thinkers in India, China, greater Asia and the Pacific region, Africa, and other understudied regions. This is the first prize established by an American scholarly organization named in honor of Bhimrao Ambedkar.
Bhimrao Ambedkar (1891-1956) was a renowned political figure, philosopher, and civil rights leader in India. Ambedkar was also a devoted student of John Dewey, a well-known American intellectual, during his education at Columbia University in 1913-1916. Upon returning to India, Ambedkar would lead a lifelong movement against caste discrimination, take an important role in the drafting of India’s democratic constitution in the 1940s, and orchestrate a mass conversion movement to Buddhism in the 1950s. He also developed his own theory of democracy, thereby adding to the global evolution of pragmatist thought beyond its American context.
This prize aims to reward high-quality scholarship presented at SAAP’s annual conference that explores the interaction of American thinkers with understudied traditions and movements around the globe. The prize will also encourage research on what other cultures and traditions can contribute to the refinement of American philosophy.
“This award is significant,” says SAAP’s president, Tess Varner, “because it recognizes the vitality of the American philosophical tradition as it expands through global engagement and influence.”
“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was not only a jurist and social reformer but also a profound philosopher whose ideas reshaped modern Indian thought,” says Manoj Shambharkar, executive member of Ambedkar International Mission, “We appreciate SAAP’s commitment to fostering scholarly excellence and expanding the horizons of philosophical research across the globe.”
Scott Stroud, a member of SAAP’s Board of Directors, says “this award will encourage more research into pragmatism’s engagement with other cultures—and into what American philosophers can learn from thinkers in China, India, Africa, and beyond.”
All scholarly papers dealing with pragmatism and American philosophy in its global context submitted to the annual SAAP conference are eligible for the prize. The prize will be awarded at the yearly SAAP conference held in each spring. Funding for this award was provided by the Stroud family in memory of Herman Stroud.
The Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy (SAAP) is a scholarly organization dedicated to the promotion of research and teaching in the diverse areas of American philosophy. The society’s annual conference and its official journal, The Pluralist, feature work on important figures in the American tradition such as John Dewey, William James, Charles Peirce, Jane Addams, W.E.B Du Bois, and Richard Rorty, and support research and collaboration among scholars on important contemporary topics in ethics and political philosophy. SAAP was formed in 1973 and currently includes over 400 members from around the globe. For more information on SAAP, please visit: https://american-philosophy.org/.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Scott R. Stroud, Member, SAAP Board of Directors (sstroud@austin.utexas.edu)
Tess Varner, President, SAAP (tvarner@cord.edu)
SAAP Website News Item: https://american-philosophy.org/news-events-2/