1. Dalit Buddhist Movement or Neo Buddhist Movement
Role of B.R. Ambedkar

2. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

3. Early and Higher Education
His father, like his grandfather before, served in the British Army, and because of that he had access to an education.
The boy was brilliant. He graduated from Bombay University, and then won a scholarship to Columbia, where he earned his first doctorate. From there he went on to earn a law degree and a second doctorate at the London School of Economics before turning his attention to what would become his life work.
In 1924 he established the Bahishkrit Hitkaraini Sabha, the Outcastes Welfare Association.
Three years later he led a mass march at the Chowder Tank in Colaba, outside Bombay, demanding that untouchables have the right to draw water.

4. M.K. Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, better known as B. R. Ambedkar, and to the many whom he served throughout his life, as Babasheb, one of the singular figures of the Indian revolution was born on this day in 1891.
As civil rights leaders Dr Ambedkar and Mohandas Gandhi worked in an uneasy alliance.
While Ambedkar was committed to independence, he had little trust of the dominant culture, and continued to press hard on behalf of the dalit communities.
When Gandhi and others introduced the term “harijans,” meaning “people of God,” for the untouchables, rather than their own preferred term “dalit,” Ambedkar opposed having the term foisted upon them as one more example of being marginalized.
He did quip that if his people were the children of God, then the upper casts would all be the children of monsters.

5. Conversion to Buddhism
For decades, feeling there was no place for him or the Dalit community within Hinduism, he had been on a spiritual quest.
He explored the Sikh faith in depth, but eventually settled on Buddhism as the best way for himself and his people.
He embarked on serious study and out of that wrote several books outlining what he thought was the great contribution of Buddhism both to modernity, and for oppressed peoples.
In 1956 Dr Ambedkar formally converted to Buddhism at a public ceremony, and immediately after his formal conversion, he led half a million Dalits present at that ceremony in their conversions.

6. Twenty-two vows
The movement was based in twenty-two vows, giving the emergent tradition its distinctive flavor.
I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara nor shall I worship them. I shall have no faith in Rama and Krishna who are believed to be incarnation of God nor shall I worship them. I shall have no faith in Gauri, Ganapati and other gods and goddesses of Hindus nor shall I worship them. I do not believe in the incarnation of God. I do not and shall not believe that Lord Buddha was the incarnation of Vishnu. I believe this to be sheer madness and false propaganda. I shall not perform Shraddha nor shall I give pind-dan. I shall not act in a manner violating the principles and teachings of the Buddha. I shall not allow any ceremonies to be performed by Brahmins. I shall believe in the equality of man. I shall endeavor to establish equality. I shall follow the noble eightfold path of the Buddha. I shall follow the ten paramitas prescribed by the Buddha. I shall have compassion and loving-kindness for all living beings and protect them. I shall not steal. I shall not tell lies. I shall not commit carnal sins. I shall not take intoxicants like liquor, drugs etc. (The previous four proscriptive vows [#14-17] are from the Five Precepts.) I shall endeavor to follow the noble eightfold path and practice compassion and loving-kindness in every day life. I renounce Hinduism, which is harmful for humanity and impedes the advancement and development of humanity because it is based on inequality, and adopt Buddhism as my religion. I firmly believe the Dhamma of the Buddha is the only true religion. I believe that I am having a re-birth. I solemnly declare and affirm that I shall hereafter lead my life according to the principles and teachings of the Buddha and his Dhamma.

7. B.R. Ambedkar’s Buddhism
Most Dalit Indian Buddhists espouse an eclectic version of Buddhism, primarily based on Theravada, but with additional influences from Mahayana and Vajrayana.
On many subjects, they give Buddhism a distinctive interpretation. Of particular note is their emphasis on Shakyamuni Buddha as a political and social reformer, rather than simply a spiritual leader.
They note that the Buddha required his monastic followers to ignore caste distinctions, and that he criticized the social inequality that existed in his own time.
According to Ambedkar, a person’s unfortunate conditions are not only the result of karma or ignorance and craving, but do also result from ‘social exploitation and material poverty – the cruelty of others.

8. Cont…
Ambedkar’s Buddhism seemingly differs from that of those who accepted by faith, who ‘go for refuge’ and accept the canon. This much is clear from its basis: it does not accept in totality the scriptures of the Theravada, the Mahayana, or the Vajrayana.
Today the movement exists across India, although concentrated in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and counts the majority of Indian Buddhists, probably about five million people.
So, today, Dr Ambhedkar’s birthday, a moment we might pause and consider him, his movement, and maybe how some variation of these reformed Buddhism might prove a healing balm for a troubled world.