Low-caste Hindus adopt new faith
Thousands of people have been attending mass
ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to
Buddhism and Christianity. By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables -
can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face.
On the way to receive deeksha in Delhi
Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and Christianity.
The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India’s caste system.
By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables - can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face.
The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
He was the first prominent Dalit to urge low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism.
As the chief architect of India’s constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into the country’s law.
But four-fifths of India’s Dalits live in often isolated rural areas, and traditional prejudice has persisted in spite of official laws.
Similar mass conversions are taking place this month in many other parts of India.
Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult.
Three cheers for the honor, dignity and democracy of state religion.
Posted: Sun - October 15, 2006 at 09:42 AM