Introducing Dr.B.R.Ambedkar's Navayana
MASS WITHDRAWAL Most of us know Dr.B.R.Ambedkar as architect of Indian Constitution, or saviour of Dalits; I'm sure some of the readers also knew of his conversion to Buddhism as the last resort to relieve oneself from the oppression of casteist Hinduism. Today was that historic day! The conversion to Navayana Buddhism by 800,000 people, on 14 October 1956 at Deeksha Bhoomi, Nagpur, was historic because it was the largest voluntary religious conversion the world has ever witnessed. Little do we know that, in the process of this conversion, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar prescribed 22 vows to his followers! These vows are very crucial as it answers two major questions: "How Hinduism plays the oppressor role on its followers?" and "How Buddhism is chosen as an alternative?" Monument in Deekshaboomi, Nagpur, where the conversion took place First things first, let us look into the vows taken. It is reproduced in this article in the same orde...