Rahul Sonpimple In my Ph.D. fieldwork in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, I encountered two contrasting assertions regarding the role of Buddhism in the everyday lives of Dalits. The first assertion, claiming “Buddha is our god; Babasaheb gave us, we are not Hindus,” was prevalent among poor and illiterate Dalits in slums and villages. The …
The Era of Pseudo-Ambedkarism
Sankalp Gaikwad It has been approximately 2,563 years since the Buddha attained enlightenment and 66 years since Bodhisattva Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar set the Dhamma Chakra in motion. Yet, within our society, a distinct phenomenon has emerged—a species. This species manifests primarily during Brahmanical festivals and remains conspicuously absent during Islamic or Christian celebrations. It exhibits …
In solidarity with Rajendra Pal Gautam
Mahesh Wasnik, (on behalf of NRI Ambedkarite organisation) Strong condemnation of Delhi and central government NRI Ambedkarites from USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Nederland, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Belgium, Hungary, Australia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Malaysia condemn the manner in which Delhi’s Social Welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam …
Slowdown in the spread of the Dalit Buddhist movement
Mrinal Kumar The Dalit Buddhist movement began after 1890s under Iyothee Thass, Anagarika Dharmapala, Col. H. S. Olcott and Madam Blavatsky. They did not get much fame in Tamil Nadu but they did the work of sowing a seed again. After 50 years, Bodhisattva Dr. B. R. Ambedkar along with 5 lakh people mainly from …
Words Of The Ordained Women
Dr Amritpal Kaur ‘What becometh a woman best, and first of all? SILENCE. What second? SILENCE. What third? SILENCE. What fourth? SILENCE. Yea, if a man should aske me till Domes daie I would still crie Silence, Silence… ‘ – Thomas Wilson, The Arte of Rhetorique, 1560. Women have long been expected to govern their …
Why did Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar like Buddhism?
Vinay Damodar Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar preferred Buddhism because it gives three liberatory principles in combination which no other religion does. All other religions bother themselves with God and Soul and life after death. Buddhism teaches Prajna (understanding as against superstition and supernaturalism). It teaches Karuna (love). It teaches Samata (Equality). This is what man wants …
Religion and Dalits: Learning from Black Americans
Chanchal Kumar Before we come to the question of religion, we must first contend with the issue concerning our knowledge of history. History as a means to self-definition and a way to place ourselves in society and the larger world. Religion and history (by which we mean not just knowing our past but also …
Buddhist Sangha — an embodiment of gender neutrality
Dr Amritpal Kaur When an ideology for restructuring of human nature and society becomes a religious cult, it not only loses its spirit of rationality and political relevance but its professional representatives also degenerate into mere religious organizations. It then becomes impossible for such a psycho-social philosophy to maintain its effectiveness, particularly in the …
Analyzing a Brahmin historian’s views on the origins of untouchability
Shubhi Often the theory of varnasankara or mixed castes and untouchability are discussed together in Indian academia mainly to rationalize the link between low occupational status of lower castes and untouchability. There is no obvious link between the two; for Ambedkar argued beef eating by the Buddhist broken men had resulted in the imposition …