Jai Bhim Network

Diksha Bhumi

2008.10.13. Categorized: Uncategorized

Jai Bhim!

Today is the celebration of Dr. Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism. There are huge celebrations in Nagpur, the place (Bhumi) where the conversion (Diksha) took place.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar came from a community then-labelled “Untouchable”. He converted to Buddhism to free himself of caste prejudice and to create social change within the new Indian democracy.

Many Indian Buddhists today, coming from Dalit (“ex-Untouchable”) backgrounds, still suffer from caste prejudice and discrimination. Our belief, as Buddhists, is that one’s actions in this life make a difference, and that one’s social status and access to education, employment, and personal growth opportunities should not be determined by speculation on past lives. We believe that there is no place for caste prejudice and discrimination in a democratic society.

In his lifetime Dr. Ambedkar drafted the Indian constitution in the 1940’s and advocated for an Independent India, free of the oppression of caste. Ambedkar is loved, admired and celebrated across India, particularly among the “ex-Untouchable” community, which now identifies as Dalit. People greet one another with folded hands and the words “Jai Bhim”.

“Jai Bhim”: “Long live the legacy and inspiration of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar”.

Source (Jai Bhim International)

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	Our Inspiration (1st Part) Jai Bhim is a cheerful greeting. Ten million Indians greet each other in this manner. They're the Dalits who are a proud community. They inherited an extremely difficult life. Their parents and grandparents and untold generations before them were outcasts in society. Even today they still encounter prejudice and experience helplessness. For more than a millenium their ancestors lived as outcasts. People had a horror of touching them. Others even avoided being in their proximity as their shadow was considered polluting. If they went to school they were seated separately, If they were able to obtain work they did the dirtiest and lowest paid jobs.


	Our Inspiration (2nd Part) With their greeting of Jai Bhim they remind each other of their own successful revolution in 1956 for their human rights. Their cause is sacred. It inspires us here in Hungary, as we also face segregation and prejudice today. We would like to know discrimination is a thing of the past. The dalit's story is like a fairy tale.


	Our Inspiration (3rd Part) Once upon a time, a hundred years ago, there lived a seventeen year old untouchable boy in a big family, His name was Bhim. He was the youngest child among 14 siblings. He surpassed all of them because of his brilliant mind. A wealthy maharaj acknowledged his poverty and bestowed a scholarship on him. Bhim was aware that Indian schools were being discriminatory and practiced segregation. Therefore, he tried his fortune in London and New York where he achieved university degrees. He received the title Dr. Ambedkar when he returned home to serve his people as a barrister.


	Our Inspiration (4th Part) Nevertheless, he was considered as an untouchable in accordance with the holy books of the Hindu religion. Therefore, he convened with his friends and publicly burned Manu's Laws, the Hindu holy script which bids the Hindu to hold the Untouchable in disdain. He became a human right fighter and his authority was constantly growing throughout the whole country. When India gained independence in 1947 he was nominated as law minister. He was entrusted with drafting the Constitution for the country. He wrote in it that discrimination is forbidden.


	Our Inspiration (5th Part) In his old age the Dalit people addressed him with veneration as Dr. Babasaheb. He and his laws, however respected they were, he still stared frustratedly at the discrimination existing all over the country. He decided then to show the people a spiritual alternative. As our judgment is determined by our faith, he took an oath: "I was born a Hindu Untouchable. It was beyond my power to prevent that but I declare that it is within my power to refuse to live under ignoble and humiliating conditions. I solemnly assure you that I will not die a Hindu". He abjured hindu religion that had brought so much suffering and humiliation to the Untouchable people (today's Dalits).


	Our Inspiration (6th Part) He studied thoroughly all the faiths of the world. He was seeking a religion which fitted together with reason, with modern science, and which declared liberty, fraternity and equality amongst people. He decided to follow the path of the Indian prince who lived 2500 years ago: he would be a follower of the Buddha. This was a decision of profound importance for the Dalits because the Buddha is venerated thoughout the world, and India is entitled to take pride in her great son. Dr. Ambedkar showed his astuteness: all of us can choose the way to be respected, we can change our fate for the better. Hundreds of thousands followed Ambedkar to the magnificent ceremony in Nagpur in October 1956. This was the rebirth of Buddhism in India. Babasaheb died six weeks later.


	Our Inspiration (7th Part) Those who at that time embraced a new world view with him, they are today grandfathers and grandmothers. Their grandchildren are as numerous as the whole population of Hungary. They follow Ambedkar's example: they face even the biggest difficulties in all things - to study and to exercise their human rights.