Thread by @AskAmbedkar

Those who criticize conversion of #Hindus_to_Buddhism at a mass scale in India should read what Dr. #Ambedkar, the author of Dhamma Pravartan, has to say about it. His reply to Mr. G.T. Madkholkar, Editor of the #RSS mouthpiece, local daily ‘Tarun Bharat’ on 15 October 1956. 1/n

‘You #Hindus, you inflicted damage on yourselves by allowing #Islam and #Christianity to enter into this land; not only that you let it spread, so much that eventually this country had to be divided.' 2/n

'On the other hand, the most noble and rational religion that #Buddha established in this very land was driven away. I could bring back our own religion to its homeland; and I am proud of that!' 3/n

'You #Hindus had blamed me that by declaring conversion I had brought infamy on your religion, on your culture and on the country, itself. But now you will realize that my conversion is purely Indian and some day it will become a reason for cultural glory of #India.' 4/n

‘Twenty years back when I declared of my intention to leave your #Hindu religion, you abused me like anything. Some threatened me with death. But nobody of substance tried to convince me; none agreed to concede equal status to the #untouchables.' 5/n

'But now, after twenty years, you would have realized that I am no less Indian than any of you; rather I surpass you all. Because the gift of this noble philosophy that #Buddha from this very land bestowed on the world was discarded foolishly by you #Hindus.' 6/n

'I am happy that I recovered that noble gift for India. I am proud of what I have done here!'
That was the reply of Dr. Babasaheb #Ambedkar to #RSS in its hinterland immediately after his conversion to #Buddhism. 7/n

The mission was accomplished! Buddha’s gift was back to India and is flourishing. Nations of East Asia which flourished under #Buddha’s philosophy are looking at India for cultural inspiration. 8/n

Thanks to #Ambedkar’s revival of #Buddhism, our tourism has flourished because of our Buddhist heritage. India is immersed in the cultural glory because of Buddha’s footprints engraved so meticulously by Ashoka the Great in all corners of this land; 9/n

and by #Ambedkar having restored that glory through his historical conversion to #Buddhism on #Ashok_Vijaya_Dashmi in 1956 at #Nagppur, the land of ancient Nagas. 10/n

Read more about Ambedkar's saga of Dhamma revolution and its impact on nation building in the book
"Making of the Dome of Dignity: Deekshabhoomi " amazon.in/dp/B07Q311PGM

Dr. #Ambedkar had a formal press conference on 13 October 1956 on the eve of his conversion to Buddhism next day.
One reporter asked him ‘why have you chosen #Buddhism for conversion?’ 1/n

Babasaheb Dr. #Ambedkar replied ‘Buddha’s Dhamma is a cosmic religion, universal religion based on natural truth. #Buddha is most liberal. He never said to follow him forever.' 2/n

'He rather gave liberty to test his philosophy in the present context and discard whatever contradictory. Caste-Hindus, especially Brahmins, exploited us in the name of religion for several centuries. Now the time has come for people to smell the rat.' 3/n

'All those who will smell dirty philosophy of #Hinduism will embrace #Buddhism. The whole of India will get converted to Buddhism. #Akhand_Bharat ha Bouddhamay honar! [Whole of India shall be Buddhist.]' 4/n

'First, we have to bring revolution in the thoughts of people. #Revolution in their deeds will happen automatically!’
Dr. #Ambedkar's vision is coming to fruition as people have started smelling the rat and are discarding their religion en masse.
#DhammaChakraPravartan
5/n

#Buddha was almost lost to India for over 1200 years now. There were few glimmers of faith but those were banished to difficult terrains in North-East and Himalayas. It was extinct so far as mainland of India was concerned. 6/n

What was extinct was not only #Buddhism, but human equality, brotherhood and justice too. #Ambedkar had ensured that these core principles of Buddha’s philosophy are enshrined in the new #Constitution of the nation. 7/n

But he was fully aware that social conscience can only guarantee the effectiveness of any law. Prevailing social life was contrary to the provisions of the new #Constitution.
Dr. #Ambedkar revived #Buddha's Dhamma to create a compatible society to make India strong. 8/n

The mass conversions to #Buddhism that we see in India is a healthy sign for the nation. The society is getting tuned in to the cosmic laws of human equality as per the dictates of the #Constitution given by our Founding Fathers and Mothers!
@AdvRajendraPal congrats to you. n/n