Vol. 17, Part III · pages 556–560

527THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD Accommodations for all these people were made in the schools of Nagpur. The programme was arranged on the open ground near Vaccine Institute, South Ambazari Road, Nagpur. The ground was covered by bamboo sheets. About 3000 electric bulbs were arranged all over the ground. The separate arrangement for women was made.” 1 “Shri Revaram Kawade and Shri W. M. Godbole took of a brochure giving the details of conversion Ceremony. Saturday 13-10-1956 Evening 5—8 p.m. Paritran 8—10 p.m. Lecture of Shri D. Valisinha. General Secretary, Mahabodhi Society. Magic lantern show on Life of Buddha and well-known Buddhist places in India. Sunday 14-10-1956 (Ashoka Vijayadashami ) 8—11 a.m. Conversion Ceremony of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Mrs. Maisaheb Ambedkar and other people by Hon. Chandramani Mahasthavir. 11—11.25 a.m. Presentation of Buddha idol sculpture to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar by Mahabodhi Society, Calcutta. 6—7 p.m. Lecture by Shri D. Valisinha, General Secretary, Mahabodhi Society. 8—11 p.m. ‘Yugyyatra’ a Marathi play by Milind College, Aurangabad. Monday 15-10-1956 8—11 a.m. Public address by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar . 8—10 p.m. Magic lantern show. 1. : Navyug. dated 21st October, 1956.

528 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 14th October 1956 : On 14th October, people got up early in the morning and started towards Deeksha Bhoomi, in the processions, shouting slogans. 2 to 2.5 lakh people thronged and the half of the pandal was full by 7 a. m. The arrangement of this Ceremony was entrusted to ‘Samata Sainik Dal’ of Nagpur and Mumbai. There were only 10 to 11 police posted for this Ceremony. A special arrangement was made for the media. There were about 30 press reporters from India and abroad. The people intended to get converted were so enormous in numbers that all the entry cards got exhausted and eventually the organisers were forced to declare the ceremony open to all. The Conversion Ceremony : Dr. B. R. Ambedkar arrived at the place alongwith Mahasthavir Bhikkhu Chandramani at 9.30 a.m. By that time about 5-6 lakh people were assembled at the place. The other Bhikkhus present in the ceremony were.— (1) Thero Pannatis, Sanchi Vihar, Bhopal, (2) Ven. Bhikkhu H. Siddhatissa, Ey Ceylon, (3) Ven. M. Soughratna, Sarnath, Banaras, (4) Bhikkhu G. Pradnyanand, Buddha Vihar, Lucknow, (5) Ner Shramner, Dhammodaya Vihar, West Bengal and (6) Rev. Paramsandhi. The ceremony began with the welcome song by Miss Indutai Warale. On this occasion, the rich tributes were paid to Ramji Maloji Subhedar, the father of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Then Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Maisaheb stood with folded hands in front of the idol of Lord Buddha. Mahasthavir Chandramani recited Trisharan and Panchsheela to them in Pali as follows : Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa

529THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD Meaning : (Honour to Him, the Holy One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One !) Buddham saranam gacchami Dhammam saranam gacchami Sangham saranam gacchami Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami Meaning : (I follow the Buddha I follow the Dhamma I follow the Sangha Second Time I follow the Buddha Second Time I follow the Dhamma Second Time I follow the Sangha Third Time I follow the Buddha Third Time I follow the Dhamma Third Time I follow the Sangha) Pancha-sila : 1. Panatipata veramani-sikkhapadam samadiyami. 2. Adinnadana veramani-sikkhapadam samadiyami. 3. Kamesu micchacara veramani-sikkhapadam samadiyami. 4. Musavada veramani-sikkhapadam samadiyami. 5. Surameraya-majja-pamadatthana veramani- sik-khapadam samadiyami.

530 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Meaning : (1. I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from killing living beings. 2. I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from taking things not given. 3. I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct. 4. I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from false speech. 5. I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs.) In this way Mahasthavir Chadramani initiated Dr. Babasaheb and Maisaheb Ambedkar to Buddhism. Thereafter Dr. B. R. Ambedkar garlanded the idol of Buddha and bowed thrice before it. The conversion ceremony for the masses started at 10 a. m. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar proclaimed that, those who are willing to renounce Hindu religion and embrace Buddhism should stand with folded hands and recite Trisharan and Panchsheela after him. In response to this proclamation, the whole gathering stood up and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar initiated them to Buddhism. As a part of this Ceremony Dr. B. R. Ambedkar got recited the 22 Oaths from the people, which are as follows : “1. I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, nor shall I worship them. 2. I shall have no faith in Rama and Krishna, nor shall I worship them. 3. I shall have no faith in ‘Gouri’, ‘Ganpathi’ and other Gods and Goddesses of Hindu religion, nor shall I worship them. 4. I do not believe in the theory of incarnation of Gods.

531THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD 5. I do not and shall not believe that the Lord Buddha was the incarnation of Vishnu. I believe this to be, mischievous and false propaganda. 6. I shall not perform ‘Shraaddha’ nor, shall I give ‘pinddan’.* 7. I shall not act in any manner contrary to the principles and teachings of the Buddha. 8. I shall not perform any ceremony through Brahmins. 9. I believe in the equality of mankind. 10. I shall endeavour to establish equality. 11. I shall follow the Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha. 12. I shall follow the ‘Ten Paramitas’ enunciated by the Buddha. 13. I shall be compassionate to all living beings and nurture them with care. 14. I shall not steal. 15. I shall not lie. 16. I shall not commit carnal sins. 17. I shall not consume liquor. 18. I shall strive to lead my life in conformity with the three principles of Buddhism i. e. Pradnya (wisdom), Sheel (character) and Karuna (compassion). 19. I hereby embrace Buddhism by renouncing my old Hindu religion which is detrimental to the prosperity to the humankind and descriminate human beings and treat them low. 20. I firmly believe that the Buddha Dhamma is the Saddhamma. * Rituals performed in Hindu Religion after the death of a person.