Revival of Buddhism in India
Presentation by Mangesh Dahiwale
Jambudvipa Trust, India
Buddhism in India
Buddhism reached all over
Buddhist sites in India outnumber sites of any religion
The caste system: the practice of untouchability
The population of the Dalits
They make up upwards of 25% of India’s population, over 250 million people
Every 18 minutes:• A crime is committed against a Dalit Every day:• 3 Dalit women are raped • 2 Dalits are murdered & 2 Dalits Houses are burnt in
India • 11 Dalits are beaten Every week:• 13 Dalits are murdered • 5 Dalits home or possessions are burnt • 6 Dalits are kidnapped or abducted
Caste based Atrocities: Visible Manifestations at its worst
Crimes against SCs/STs according to Government of India: The Holocaste
26,127 crimes were committed against Dalits (SC/ST) including 1172 rape against Dalit women and 669 cases of murder reported (India's National Crime Records Bureau, 2005)
Forced apart
Dalits are forced to live separately from caste Hindus. In cities like Kanpur (left), the Dalits are made to live in crowded slums on the fringes of the city. Caste Hindus refuse to enter these slums and the majority of Dalit living areas do not come under the jurisdiction of city police.
Living outcastes
Legal/political Social and Economic Ideological/philosophical
Mechanisms to fight caste: Dr. Ambedkar’s method
Legal/Political
Constitutional Rights (Chief architect of Indian constitution in India is Dr. Ambedkar)
The Hindu Code Bill Prevention of Atrocities Act Reducing “Democracy Deficit” by promoting social and
economic democracy
Social and Economic
Affirmative ActionReservation in EducationPolitical reservationReservation in Services(However, most of the seats reserved for SCs/STs are not
filled) Special safeguards Freedom to discard religionHowever, some state government are trying to take
away this freedom
Ideological/philosophical
Fighting wrong notions which are supported by religion– New ideas, such as social democracy, have not yet been
thoroughly disseminated, absorbed and utilized Challenging authority of scriptures and culture that
supports and sustains caste ideas Promoting secularisation and democratisation of
society as mandated in the constitution Buddhism as a method to transform self and world
Peaceful social revolution“Positively, my social philosophy may be said to be enshrined in three words: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Let no one, however, say that I have borrowed my philosophy from the French Revolution. I have not. My philosophy has roots in religion and not in political science. I have derived them from the teachings of my master, the Buddha.”
(October 3,1954, Dr. Ambedkar)
Liberation from the hell of caste in October 1956
In 1956
Celebrating 50 years of Buddhism in 2006
Resurgence of Buddhism is taking place all over India and many followers of Dr. Ambedkar are becoming Buddhists
Significance of conversion to Buddhism
• Untouchables• Indians• Buddhism itself• World
Strategies
Training Teachers of Dhamma1)Indians2)Experienced Teachers from all over the world
The revival of Buddhism in India is the key to the revival of Buddhism worldwide
What we have been doing so far..
1) Training people in Buddhist practices of Sila, Samadhi and Prajna
2)Build Sangha/communities of people taking interest in the Dhamma
3)Preach and propagate the Dhamma through classes and meditation retreats
4)Help those who are suffering, in normal times and exigencies
Training people from all over India
Nagarjuna Training Institute is dedicated to this work, and we are planning to form a bigger centre for training which can train 500 people every year
So far more than 350 students are trained
Creating awareness about the situation
Through conferences and SeminarsVisiting brothers and sisters in other countries to
get support for Buddhist movement in India
INEB 2005
International conference on Ambedkar and Buddhism in 2006
Thank You