Neo-Buddhists have progressed more than Hindu Dalits
- - SR Darapuri, National President, All India
People's Front
Dr. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar first hinted at religious conversion
during the Mahad Talab Satyagraha in 1927 when he said, “We want equal rights
in society. We will achieve as far as possible by remaining in Hindu society or
if necessary, by kicking this useless Hindu identity.” In the beginning, Dr.
Ambedkar tried his best to reform Hindu society. He wanted to remove
untouchability while remaining in Hindu religion. His Mahad Satyagraha and Nasik
Kalaram Temple Satyagraha (1930) are clear examples of his persistent efforts
to reform Hinduism.
In the end, Babasaheb realized with pain that it was impossible to
change the behaviour of the upper caste Hindus. So, he decided to give up
Hinduism. The turning point came in October 1935 when Dr. Ambedkar made a
shocking announcement: "I was born a Hindu untouchable, it was not in my
power, but I will not die as a Hindu."
In 1936, Dr. Ambedkar put forward the option of choosing one religion
among three religions, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism, which had clearly
different advantages. He believed that adoption of Islam and Christianity among
these three religions would lead to denationalization of the Depressed Classes
and disorganization of the freedom struggle while adoption of Sikhism would not
pose any threat to the country. In fact, in May 1936, Dr. Ambedkar sent his
elder son Yashwant and 13 others to the Golden Temple, Amritsar to study
Sikhism. But when he got the report that Jat Sikhs also commit atrocities and
practice untouchability on Dalit Sikhs like Hindus, he left the idea of
adopting Sikhism.
Dr. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar on May 31, 1936 in Dadar (Bombay) “Why
change religion? “speaking on the subject, said in his detailed speech,” I want
to say in clear words that man is not for religion but religion is for man. If
you want to attain humanity, then change your religion. If you want equality
and respect, then change your religion. Change your religion if you want to
earn your livelihood with freedom. If you want to make your family and
community happy, then change your religion.”
On August 28, 1937, Babasaheb while addressing a group of untouchables
asked his disciples to give up celebrating Hindu festivals. He said that
religious conversion will happen, but there is a need to think and understand a
lot in this matter. “The new religion will be adopted only after a lot of
investigation.”
Finally, Babasaheb embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956 at Deeksha
Bhoomi, Nagpur with five lakh followers and said, "Today I have a new
birth."
When Babasaheb talked about the conversion of the untouchables, it was
opposed not only by the upper castes but also by the untouchable leaders. The
upper caste leaders said that Dr. Ambedkar was misleading the untouchables.
This is not going to benefit them. On the contrary, some also argued that Dr.
Ambedkar was depriving them of the profit of Rs.400 by skinning and selling
hides of dead animals. On this Dr.
Ambedkar said that I give five hundred rupees for the dead animal. Upper castes
should come forward and earn profit by lifting the dead animal and take five
hundred rupees from me. But no upper caste man came forward.
Some untouchable leaders were opposing the change of religion by saying
that we should not leave the religion of our forefathers and fight for our rights
by remaining as Hindus. They also said that this would not make any difference
in the social and economic status of the untouchables.
Let us now see to what extent the objectives and possibilities of
religious conversion mentioned by Babasaheb have been fulfilled. First, it
would be appropriate to see what the pace of conversion to Buddhism is.
According to the Census Report of 2011, the population of Buddhists in India is
about 84.42 lakhs, which is about 0.7 percent of the total population. In this,
13% are traditional Buddhists and 87% are Neo-Buddhists converted from Hindu
Dalits. Maharashtra has the maximum number of 65 lakh Buddhists. In the period
from 2001 to 2011, the population of Buddhists has increased by 6.1% but the
total population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.7%, which is a matter of serious
concern.
Now, if the qualitative change in Neo-Buddhists is compared with that of
Hindu Dalits, then it is proved that Neo-Buddhists have moved ahead of Hindu
Dalits in all fields, which confirms the fulfillment of the objectives of
Babasaheb's religious conversion. If Neo-Buddhists are compared with Hindu
Dalits based on data obtained from 2011 Census, then Neo-Buddhists are found to
be far ahead of Hindu Dalits in the following areas: -
1. Sex Ratio: -Among the Neo-Buddhists population 41.11% are females and 50.80% are males. The sex ratio of females and males among Neo-Buddhists is 965 per
thousand while among Hindu Dalits this ratio is 945 only. This proves that the
condition of women among Neo-Buddhists is much better than that of Hindu
Dalits. The high sex ratio of women among Neo-Buddhists is in line with the
equality status of women in Buddhism while the sex ratio of women among Hindu
Dalits is in line with the low status of women in Hinduism. This sex ratio of
females among Neo-Buddhists is higher than the national ratio of 943, Hindus
(939), Muslims( 951), Sikhs (903) and Jains( 954).
2. Sex Ratio of Children (up
to 0-6 years): - According to the above population census, the sex ratio of
girls and boys in the age group of 0-6 years among Neo Buddhists is 933 while
among Hindu Dalits this ratio is also 933. Here also the sex ratio of boys and
girls is according to their place in the religion. The sex ratio among Neo-Buddhists
is higher than the national rate of 918, 913 among Hindus, 826 among Sikhs and
889 among Jains.
3. Literacy Rate: - The Literacy
Rate among Neo-Buddhists is 81.30% while among Hindu Dalits this rate is only
66.10% only. The literacy rate of Neo-Buddhists is higher than the national
rate of 72.98%, 73.27% of Hindus, 68.54% of Muslims and 75.4% of Sikhs. This
clearly proves that on account of giving more importance to knowledge and
education in Buddhism. Neo-Buddhists have made a lot of progress in the field
of education, which is much more than that of Hindu Dalits.
4. Literacy Rate of women:
- The literacy rate of women among Neo-Buddhists is 74.04%, while this rate is
56.50% only among Hindu Dalits. The female literacy rate among Neo-Buddhists is
higher than the national female literacy rate of 65.46%, 64.63% of Hindu
females, and 68.50% of Muslims. This proves that more attention is paid to the
education of women among Neo-Buddhists.
5. Work Participation Rate
(Regular Employment): - The work participation rate among Neo-Buddhists is
43.1% while among Hindu Dalits this rate is 40.87%. The work participation rate
of Neo-Buddhists is higher than the national participation rate of 39.8%, 41.0%
for Hindus, 32.6% for Muslims, 41.9% for Christians, and 36.3% for Sikhs. This
proves that Neo-Buddhists are ahead of everyone in the category of having
regular jobs as compared to all other classes, which has been possible only
because of their high literacy rate. For this very reason, they are
economically more prosperous than Hindu Dalits.
It is clear from the above comparative study that the sex ratio, literacy
rate, female education rate and work participation rate among Neo-Buddhists is not only higher than Hindu Dalits but also that of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and
Jains at the national level. The main reason for this is change of religion.
They have become more progressive by becoming free from mental slavery.
Apart from this, it has been found in studies done by different
researchers that the families and sub-castes of Dalits who have adopted Dr.
Ambedkar and Buddhism have progressed more than Hindu Dalits. They have left
the old dirty professions and adopted new clean professions. They are more
inclined towards education. They are free from fatalism and stand on their own
feet. They have become more self-respecting by freeing themselves from low caste
inferiority complex. They have also become free from economic exploitation in
the name of religion and have improved their economic condition. The condition
of their women and children is much better than that of Hindu Dalits.
From the above brief discussion, it is proved that Buddhism is really
the right path for the welfare and liberation of Dalits. Neo-Buddhists have
made a lot of progress in comparison to Hindu Dalits in a short span of time. They
have attained a new identity of Neo-Buddhists. They have become more
self-respecting and progressive than before. Their view of the world and
religion has become more rational and scientific. Hence Hindu Dalits should
take inspiration from the changes that have come through the change of religion
among the Neo-Buddhists and the progress made by them. They should free
themselves from the mental slavery of Hinduism and move forward like Neo-Buddhists.
They can get equality and freedom by coming out of the hell of caste by getting
a new identity. Along with this, Neo Buddhists should also become good
Buddhists and present a good example in front of Hindu Dalits so that Babasaheb's
dream of making India Buddhist can be realized as soon as possible.
