50,000 Hindus in India convert to Buddhism Monday, May 28, 2007
MUMBAI: Several thousand low-caste Indians converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony in Mumbai on Sunday. Almost 50,000 young men, many dressed in white, believed the conversion would give them dignity in a society where they are known as dalit or untouchables.
Organisers said the ceremony was conducted to fulfill the dream of Indian leader BR Ambedkar, himself a dalit and freedom fighter. Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste. He had planned to hold a mass conversion ceremony in 1956, but died a few days before the function. ap
Good to see that they have converted to Buddhism than Islam. PD FYI India has been an Buddhist country once. As Buddhism is a peaceful religion and tolerates other religions, i see no problem in converting and escaping from social rigidness of Hindus (Not Hindu Religion).
These three religions-islam, christianity and hinduism (all theistic though hinduism has/discusses agnosticism as well) are very controversial in one way or the other. Nowadays i myself feel attracted to 'theravada buddhism'. It is only buddhism that i have rarely heard of any controversy. It is the most rational and very appealing faith as of now.
good for them:). I always think of Buddhism is an edited version of Hinduism. CasteSystem-less
I agree with you.
In fact Swami Vivekananda--enlightened Yogi and great disciple of Swami Rankrishna Paramhansa said once that ---"Buddhism is a rebel child of Sanatan Dharma".
One will find numerous similiarities between Budhism and Hinduism.
On a sepreate note-- this place called Chaityabhoomi in Dadar--Mumbai, where this gathering happens every year, I have been there in past, it looks more like a political gathering nowadays with Dalit and Lower caste agenda politicians and Republican party of India and other Ambedkar bandwagons.
I guess, these day this caste politics and dalit card has been over-played by politicians, look at reservation thing for example.
