Mass Conversions of Dalits to Buddhism

[Guest guest]

DALITS BREAK SANGH WALL FOR BUDDHA

 

FROM KAY BENEDICT

 

New Delhi, Nov. 4:

Ten thousand Dalits today crammed Ambedkar Bhavan in the capital and

embraced Buddhism, scaling obstacles laid by suspected supporters of

the Sangh parivar and a section of the government.

The bold bid to challenge the caste system in Hinduism also saw the

rise of a new Dalit leader, Ram Raj, who has set sights on the

preserves of Kanshi Ram, Mayavati and Ramvilas Paswan.

 

The mass conversion did not come close to the originally projected

million-man-mark. But the administration's overdrive to seal roads to

the capital and a "mysterious" misinformation campaign to turn the

Dalits back betrayed the nervousness among opponents of the

conversion.

 

Ram Raj dropped the `Ram' in his name and rechristened himself Udit

Raj. So did another leader, Neth Ram, who became Neth Raj.

 

Udit Raj, a deputy director with the income-tax department and chief

of a confederation of scheduled castes and tribes that boasts a

membership of 40 lakh, said three lakh people could not reach Delhi

as they were stopped at the border by police.

 

He said rumours of violence, misleading information and cancellation

of permission by the police to hold the ceremony at the Ramlila

grounds led to the thin attendance. An activist showed a "mysterious

banner" announcing cancellation of the ceremony, several of which

were plastered along the route to the venue.

 

Udit Raj was the first to convert to Buddhism amid chanting of

mantras in the ancient language of Pali by monks before a brass

Buddha statue and photograph of B.R. Ambedkar, who had pulled off a

mass-conversion coup nearly half a century ago.

 

Udit Raj's family members followed next. Udit Raj and several others

who took part in the conversion tonsured, too. "The name change and

tonsuring are not compulsory," said Prakash Kumar from Bihar, who

changed his name to Buddha Prakash.

 

Udit Raj had earlier said he would convert one million Dalits to

express their rage against social stratification. However, after

objections from the Sangh parivar and the government became

pronounced, he scaled down the target to one lakh.

 

The venue was changed to Ambedkar Bhavan at the last minute as the

police cancelled permission for the ceremony at the Ramlila grounds.

The assembled thousands were told to raise their hand in affirmation

and take five vows as hundreds of riot police stood outside. The five

don'ts: Harming any living being, telling lies, committing adultery,

drinking and worshipping idols.

 

Udit Raj said the police withdrew permission to use the Ramlila

Grounds "at the behest of the RSS and VHP".

 

A few Christian leaders also addressed the Dalits.