Low caste Indians set to convert (to Buddhism)

[DigitaLVampirE]

Thousands of tribal and Dalit Hindus in India are to embrace the Buddhist faith at a huge gathering in Mumbai.

The ceremony, which may be presided over by Tibet's exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, is billed as the largest religious conversion in modern India.

The converts hope to escape the rigid caste system in which their status is the lowest.

Right-wing Hindus have often opposed conversion, pushing some Indian states to restrict legal changes of faith.

The organisers say the number of people to convert in Sunday's ceremony could go up to 100,000, easily the biggest mass conversion in India's recent history.



Conversion controversies

The Dalits, once known as Untouchables, hope the conversion will give them dignity and equal rights.

Commentators say that despite the reservation of jobs for the Dalit and tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.

They say that Dalits still face widespread prejudice and discrimination.

Conversion is a controversial subject in India, especially if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.

Two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of trying to bring a group of local people into the Catholic faith.

But converting to Buddhism does not evoke much adverse reaction, as most hardline Hindu leaders believe Buddhism is an extension of Hinduism.

Even so, several Indian states, especially the ones governed by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, have made laws severely restricting conversion.

By Zubair Ahmed
BBC News, Mumbai

[DigitaLVampirE]

MUMBAI, India (AP) - About 2,000 low-caste Hindu Indians bowed before orange-robed monks and recited prayers as they converted to Buddhism in a mass ceremony Sunday that they said would bring them dignity in a society that considers them ``untouchables.''

``I feel like I have been reborn,'' Mahi, a farmer who uses only one name, said at the ceremony in Mumbai. ``This is my rebirth.''

Organizers said the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of B.R. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, who fought British colonial rule and injustice in Indian society. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution that outlawed discrimination based on caste, renounced Hinduism for Buddhism in 1956 because he believed it treated people equally. He died that same year.

Buddhists form a small minority in mostly Hindu India.

``There has been injustice done to us for so many years. This (conversion) is our fight for justice,'' said Mahi.

Similar ceremonies are held across India several times a year, but organizers said this was one of the biggest. In addition to the converts, several thousand others came to witness the ceremony.

Most of the converts were men who traveled from remote corners of Maharashtra state where discrimination against dalits is common.

Mahi described life in villages where dalit children could not enter schools and dalits were forced off local buses.

``If we change our religion, things should improve, we will get respect,'' he said. ``This is our beginning.''

Traditional Hindu society in India sets limits on economic and educational progress among those born in low-caste families. Dalits say they are routinely barred from entering temples and schools despite the caste system being outlawed.

``There has been so much discrimination and nothing is done to stop it,'' said Jayandra Kamble, a trader from Mumbai who converted to Buddhism on Sunday. ``I now belong to a religion that truly believes in peace and harmony.''

By AIJAZ ANSARI
Associated Press Writer
Sunday May 27

Thousands of low-caste Indians convert

Thousands of low-caste Indians convert to Buddhism in mass Mumbai ceremony

[Scottish_Republican]

This has been going on a few decades now. Quite a few are converting to Christianity too.

Ambedkar thought that some of the Dalits may have been the remnants of a converted Buddhist population from ancient times.

[DigitaLVampirE]

Well, if they found what they were looking for in a religion, all the better for them. As a former practising Brahmin, i can feel for the Dalits. Good for them.

[Scottish_Republican]

You're (ex-)Hindu? Interesting. I think the west makes a mistake by lumping various different things together though. The more I look at "Hinduism", the more I realise some is complete bollocks, but other parts are actually very insightful. To greater extremes than Islam or Christianity.

[DigitaLVampirE]

Originally Posted by Scottish_Republican

You're (ex-)Hindu? Interesting. I think the west makes a mistake by lumping various different things together though. The more I look at "Hinduism", the more I realise some is complete bollocks, but other parts are actually very insightful. To greater extremes than Islam or Christianity.

The West (or more correctly, Western authors) have indeed made some erronous "insights" on Eastern religions. For example, there are many schools of philosophy within Brahminism, but almost all Western authors lump Brahmins together. My family for example come from the Arya Samaj school of thought.