300,000 Dalits convert to
Buddhism
TIMES
NEWS NETWORK, Nov 10, 2006
NEW DELHI, India -- Around 300,000 Dalits are
estimated to have converted to Buddhism as part of 50th year
celebrations of Ambedkar's deeksha, in what has again underscored a
fact that Indian Buddhism has a distinct Dalit hue to it.
Reports from organisations involved in deeksha programmes around
the country have come up with figures which point to a resurgent
conversion activity.
Twenty lakh people are estimated to have congregated at Nagpur,
Deekshabhoomi which is at the forefront of Dhammakranti, while
another six lakh people attended the second biggest ceremony at
Chandrapur on October 15-16.
Maharashtra, owing to Ambedkar's linkages, as also the original
Dalit movement, was ahead of all other states in these conversions.
Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, MP, UP and Chhattisgarh, too, conducted
conversions on a largescale.
According to Y Chinna Rao, who teaches at the Centre for Dalit and
Minorities Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia and has compiled a
report on the nationwide activities, "The conversion ceremonies
were the largest ever to be seen till now after independence. It
could give a massive boost to similar activities in future."
The programmes, which started in the run-up to Dussehra through
Ambedkar's birth anniversary in October, saw massive activity in
Andhra Pradesh.
