The Ashoka Vijaya Dashami controversy

CategorySocial

Last Updated13/10/2022

Every year Dussehra is also celebrated as Ashoka Vijaya Dashami to commemorate Buddhist Conversion day.
On October 14, 1956, B. R. Ambedkar & his followers had embraced Buddhism in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Modern history has admired Ambedkar as a revolutionary social reformer.
His writings on social questions offer deep intellectual and critical inquiry about the problems of an exploitative Hindu caste order.
Wanted to end the inhuman practice of untouchability.
Opted for Buddhism for its rational and progressive values that challenge some of the fundamental beliefs of Hinduism.
Tenets of the vows
Pledges to refuse to worship the Hindu pantheon or to follow Hindu religious dogmas (vows no. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 21 ).
Challenges the authority of the Brahmin priest (vows no. 4, 6, 8 and 19).
The rest promise to follow Buddhist principles.

On October 13, 1935, Ambedkar, as president of the ‘Yeola Conversion Conference’ near Nasik, announced his decision to renounce Hinduism.
Asked the assembled members from the depressed castes to abandon struggles such as the temple-entry agitations.
Advised them to leave Hinduism entirely and embrace another religion.
Decided to embrace Buddhism after a detailed contemplation on various religions to understand their suitability to liberate socially marginalised communities.
Called his version of Buddhism Navayana (followers are called neo-Buddhists).
Every year in October, people assemble at Nagpur’s Deekshabhoomi to pay homage to Ambedkar and to celebrate the historic day.

The Buddhist population is a mere 0.70%, of which 87% are neo-Buddhists.
Rest are traditional Buddhists and are scattered mainly in north-eastern States like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura, etc.
Decline in the growth rate of Buddhists in India in recent years.