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He had Bachelors in Science, Bachelors in Education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science. He worked 12 years in IT industry in India before moving to United States in 1999.

At 26, his life transformed from an aimless wayward individual to a purpose driven thinker when he first read the life and works of Dr B R Ambedkar (reverentially called by his followers as Babasaheb, or father), the chief architect of modern Indian constitution, reviver of Buddhism from its deathbed from India, and one of the greatest defenders of human rights that the world had ever produced but sadly do not know about. With his modern outlook and philosophy of equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice for all, Dr Ambedkar has been Ben’s guide, philosopher, and transformational force. This great man’s inspirational life is the force behind whatever Ben speaks, thinks, and does. Ben doesn’t worship Dr Ambedkar as an individual (as many of his followers do in India contrary to Dr Ambedkar’s teachings against hero worship); he tries his best to follow his philosophy sincerely.

His hobbies are reading history, sociology, biographies, and autobiographies of statespersons who made a difference in the world through their purposeful lives, watching documentaries, and travelling. His interest in knowing the oppressive nature of human kind (that was responsible for Indian Caste System) lead him to read widely on American Slavery and Civil Rights movement, South African Apartheid, Jewish Holocaust, and other similar systems in the world. He is a constant seeker of knowledge wherever it is available.

He founded “Ambedkar Scholarships” in 2003, the precursor to “Friends for Education International” or FFEI. Friends for Education International is almost his second full time job.

He currently works as a Database Administrator and lives in the suburbs of Los Angeles with his wife Sunanda and two sons Paul and Andrew. He can be reached at 818.248.5889 or benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com . More can be read about him at To Learn With Dignity , Change Makers Inc , or Il touché juste .

ENJAMIN P KAILA, President
Benjamin Paul Kaila (also known as Paul, Paulbabu, or Ben among his friends and relatives), born on October 16, 1962, is a son of Dalit (or untouchable) elementary school teachers from a small village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Since childhood he had to face all forms of discrimination and humiliations exclusively reserved for Dalits for centuries.

Being a Christian, he was not eligible to avail constitutionally sanctioned but awfully implemented Affirmative Action (called Reservations) available to Dalits in India.

Rayadas Manthena, Secretary
Rayadas (Roy) Manthena, a child of uneducated parents, got educated in India. He has a bachelor’s degree in computers and an MBA from New Hampshire, USA. He has been living in the United States for about 12 years and is currently working as a Senior Manager, Global Database Services at Tele Atlas. He has been working very closely with local NGOs, Volunteers, and non-resident Indian groups to help people in the areas of Education, Social Justice, Women Rights, Child-Welfare and Rural Development in India.

His passions are volunteering for community programs such as feeding the poor, help the needy, counsel high school and college youth etc.

He is ready to dedicate 30 hours of his time per month for “Friends for Education International.”

He is currently living at 100 Butternut Road, White River Junction, VT 05001 and can be reached at 603.219.3462 (Mobile) or rayadasm@yahoo.com .

James Kommu, 41, has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a postgraduate diploma in Computer Sciences from India. He has been living in US since 1999 and has a passion to help the disadvantaged in India. He has been involved in many social welfare activities in India for the benefit of the poor and the dispossessed. He is also an owner of a software company, Global Infotech Technologies, in the US.

He is ready to contribute about 20 hours a month for “Friends for Education International.” He is also determined to harvest a significant amount of money from a wide circle of friends as a member of several nonresident Indian communities in and around New York.

He lives currently at 1188 Tulip Avenue, Franklin Square , NY 11010 and can be reached via 646.243.4498 or kommu_j@yahoo.com.