Rohith Vemula’s family mirrors a trend: Dalits are rushing to embrace Buddhism

University of Hyderabad PhD scholar Rohith committed suicide in January, allegedly after being targeted by the university, which suspended him from the hostel and stopped his scholarship as ‘punishment’ for allegedly clashing with leaders of the BJP’s student wing, the ABVP. His death triggered a firestorm of protests on campus which spread across the country, and still continue.

In a statement issued in Mumbai after their conversion, Rohith’s brother Raja Vemula said that Rohith “was extremely keen that our family should follow the path of Buddha”. Rohith had come to their home in Guntur in November 2015 wearing the white clothes of a follower of The Buddha, and had spoken “a lot about why Ambedkar had chosen to convert to Buddhism in 1956”, Raja said in the statement.

Rohith’s mother Radhika and Raja were given deeksha by Buddhist monks at a ceremony at Mumbai’s Ambedkar Bhawan on April 14.

[related-post]

Government data show the numbers of Scheduled Caste Buddhists have grown at a rate of 38% from 41.59 lakh in 2001 to 57.56 lakh in 2011. During the same period, the total Scheduled Caste population of the country grew by 21.3% from 16.6 crore to 20.14 crore.

However, the share of Buddhists in the overall Dalit population still remains very small — only 2.83%.

The numbers of Scheduled Caste individuals who profess the Hindu faith had a comparatively slow rate of growth — increasing by 19.6% from 15.8 crore to 18.9 crore over the period 2001 to 2011.

Sikh SCs grew 27% from 46.85 lakh in 2001 to 59.52 lakh in 2011.

Over 90% of the Buddhist SC population is concentrated in Maharashtra, which has 52.04 lakh Buddhists. In Maharashtra, their numbers have grown by close to 60% from 32.51 lakh in 2001.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had first spoken about conversion in 1927 during the Mahad conference where he demanded equal rights. In 1935, he publicly announced his plans of giving up Hinduism at the Yeola Conference.

“I solemnly assure you that I will not die a Hindu,” Dr Ambedkar had said in his speech at Mahad. In 1956, a few weeks before his death, Dr Ambedkar converted to Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur.

“By discarding my ancient religion which stood for inequality and oppression, today I am reborn,” Ambedkar had said during his conversion.

Hundreds of thousands of Dalits — mostly Mahars — converted to Buddhism along with Ambedkar. Buddhism was not only meant to serve as an escape from the tyranny of Hinduism, but also as a religion that would provide a new identity and a sense of dignity to the community. A large chunk of those who converted with Ambedkar belonged to Maharashtra.

Soon after his conversion, Ambedkar formed the Bharatiya Bouddha Mahasabha (BBM) to manage the integrity of the neo-Buddhist community, and to take the work of conversion further. He spoke about working towards making India a Buddhist country.

Despite the small numbers of Dalit Buddhists, their rapid growth indicates increased assertion among Dalit youth and an enthusiasm to identify themselves as Buddhist.

“There is an increasing understanding about Buddhism amongst SC youth in the country. The reporting of the ideas of Dr Ambedkar and the numerous discussions that are taking place have sensitised youth, who are today proud to identify themselves as Buddhist,” said Rahul Sapkal, a Buddhist Dalit social activist.

WATCH INDIAN EXPRESS VIDEOS HERE