Ashutosh Sahoo
A vow to not die a Hindu
"I will not die a Hindu," Dr. Ambedkar declared in 1935, vowing to break free from a faith he saw as a source of humiliation and oppression for the Untouchables.
The inescapable cage of caste
Ambedkar argued Hinduism’s scriptures sanctioned a rigid social hierarchy. It trapped Dalits in a system of graded inequality, denying them mobility and dignity.
Daily life under oppression
For Dalits, caste wasn't just theory. They were barred from temples, public wells, and education, forced into menial jobs and violent retaliation for asserting their rights.
Can a system reform itself?
Ambedkar believed true reform within Hinduism was impossible. He argued that unlike American slavery which was legal, caste oppression was sanctioned by religious doctrine itself.
The illusion of equality
He powerfully argued that even education and wealth couldn't grant Dalits equal status. Within Hinduism, their very touch was considered polluting, a stain no achievement could wash away.
A two-decade search for dignity
For over 20 years, Dr. Ambedkar rigorously studied the world's religions. His quest was for a faith rooted not in hierarchy, but in equality, liberty, and human worth.
The day of liberation
On October 14, 1956, in Nagpur, Dr. Ambedkar and over 360,000 followers embraced Buddhism. It was one of the largest and most symbolic mass religious conversions in history.
Why Buddhism was the path
He chose Buddhism for its rational, moral, and egalitarian principles. It offered a new social and spiritual identity, free from the psychological chains of caste.
Conversion as an act of freedom
For Ambedkar, conversion was a radical act of self-liberation. It was a way for Dalits to reclaim their agency and dismantle the social and mental enslavement of centuries.
A legacy that echoes today
Ambedkar's vision remains deeply relevant in modern India. His path continues to inspire the fight against caste discrimination amid ongoing struggles for religious freedom and social equality.
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