LUCKNOW: Several Members of the Backward Castes (BCs) and a sizeable section of the Dalit community will embrace Buddhism here on Oct.14, to be observed as Diksha Diwas by the Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar Mahasabha Members of the LAS and IPS fra~ temity will also participate in the Dharmantaran Samaroh (conversion function).
Addressing a Press conference here last week, Mahasabha president Chedilal Saathi and DIG (Technical Services) S. R. Darapuri said the BCs and Dalits would be initiated into Buddhism and done the sacred saffron robes.
Saathi said that the BCs, including the Yadavs, Kurmis, Mauryas as well as the Scheduled Castes, were no longer willing to bear the atrocities of the higher castes,
They had also realized that their continuation as Hindus did no auger well for their well-being since it entailed disclosure of the Caste links at every stage and the resultant oppression. The discrimination affected education as well 8S social, economic and political status, he added. Darapuri did not rule out the possibility of a backlash from the Upper castes and their representative organizations such as the RSS, and VHP. Uttar Pradesh had a spate of con. versions in the 1990s when 20,000 Dalits embraced Buddhismin Agra.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1994
