Vol. 17, Part III · pages 561–565

532 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 21. I believe, I am entering the new life. 22. Hereafter I pledge to conduct myself in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha. “Later on Shri Vali Sinha, General Secretary All India Mahabodhi Society, presented the idol of the Buddha to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The prominent people who embraced Buddhism were— Bar. B. D. alias Rajabhau Khobragade, Secretary General Scheduled Castes Federation ; B. K. alias Dadasaheb Gaikwad, President Bombay State, S. C. F. ; R. D. Bhandare, President SCF Bombay Region; Shantabai Dani, C. N. Mohite, G. T. Parmar, President Gujrath Branch, S. C. F. ; K. K. Parmar, D. G. Jadhav, Sarojini Jadhav, V. R. Ranpise, Pune; M. M. Sasalekar, Haridas Awale, Sadanand Fulzele, Ahote, V. S. Pagare, S. A. Upshyam, B. S. More, B. H. Varale, Dhondiram Pagare, Yashwantrao Ambedkar (Son of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar), Mukundrao Ambedkar, B. C. Kamble etc. On this occasion the High Caste Hindus like Justice Bhavani Shankar Niyogi, Shri V. M. Kulkarni, Secretary Bouddha Samiti. Shri M. B. Chitins, Principal, Milind College, Aurangabad, Shri B. S. Kabir also got converted to Buddhism. After the conclusion of the Conversion Ceremony various messages which came in appreciation as compliment to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar were read. The few selected messages from—U. B. Sway, Prime Minister, Burma as well as Yu-Nu former Prime Minister of Burma, H. W. Amarsuriya of Colombo, Dr. Arvind Barua from Culcutta, Mahathero Yu-Pannalok from Rangoon etc. This programme was concluded at 11 a. m. In the evening of 14th October, a play ‘Yug Yatra’ was staged by the student’s Milind College, Aurangabad. 1 1 : Prabuddha Bharat—Ambedkar Buddha Deeksha Special number dated 27th October 1956.

533THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on the occasion of the Conversion delivered his speech in Marathi on 15th October 1956. He said, My all Buddhist fellows and invitees present: Perhaps it is difficult for the thinkers to understand the significance of the place of conversion (Deeksha) ceremony which was performed yesterday and today morning. In their and in my opinion as well the ceremony which was held yesterday should have been held today and today’s yesterday. It is essential to know, why we have shouldered this responsibility, what was its necessity and what will be the result of it. By understanding this, the foundation of our mission will become strong. This process of understanding should have occured earlier. But few things remain so uncertain that, those happen automatically. About this ceremony the things to be happend, happened. But in spite of exchange of days, nothing is harmed. Many people asked a question, why had you chosen Nagpur the place for this ceremony ? Why this ceremony was not performed at some other place ? A few people say that since the large platoon of R. S. S. (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) is in Nagpur and just to embarass them this ceremony is being held in this city. This is not true at all. For this reason this ceremony is not being held at Nagpur. Our mission is so stupendous that every minute of life is inadequate. I do not have time to ill-omen others by scratching my nose. The reason for choosing this place is different. Those who have studied the Buddhist history will come to know that the people who propagated Buddhism in India were the Nag people. Nag people were the fierce enemy of the Aryans. Many Fierceful battles took place between the Aryans and the NonAryans. Many examples are available in the Puranas about where the Aryans burnt the Nagas. The sage Agasti could save only one Naga. We are the descendents of him. The Naga people who tolerated the oppression needed some great man to uplift them and they found that great man in Lord Gautam Buddha. The Nagas propagated the teachings of Lord Buddha throughout India. Such are we Nagas. The major habitation of the Naga people was in and around Nagpur. Therefore this city

534 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES is called ‘Nag-pur’ means the city of Nagas. There is a Nagarjun Hill about 27 miles from this place. The river flowing nearby is Nag river. Obviously this river got this name because of the people living here. The river which flows through the habitation of the Naga people is the Nag river. This is the main reason to select this place-Nagpur. There is no question of irritating anybody nor the intention. The reason of the R. S. S. even did not touch my mind. Nobody should interpret in that way. Opposition, could perhaps be for other reasons. I have already explained that this place has not been choosen for antagonism. I have been criticised by many people and newspapers for the initiation of this mission. The criticisms of some is harsh. In their opinion I am misleading my poor Untouchables. They are misguiding some of our people by telling that those who are Untouchables today will remain Untouchables and the rights they have got, they will lose it. They advise illiterate people among us to follow the traditional path. This might be influencing some of the young and elder among us. If, by that the doubts have been arisen in the minds of people, it is our duty to clear those doubts and the clearing of those doubts will strength then the foundation of our movement. In the past we had a movement for not to eat meat. The touchables thought it as if a thunderbolt of lightening for them. Isn’t this a strange practice that they should drink the milk of living buffalo and we should carry its carcass on our shoulder after its death. We ask them why don’t you allow us to carry your dead mother ? They should give us their dead mother as they give us their dead buffalo. Some one some time wrote in the ‘Kesari’ through correspondence that in certain villages 50 cattle died every year, Rs. 500 could be earned from their hides, horns, hoovers, meat, bones and tails; and leaving aside the matter of meat of dead animals, these people would be deprived of that profit, such propaganda was made through ‘Kesari’. Really speaking what was the necessity of replying to such propaganda. Our people felt that what our Saheb (leader) is doing if he is not replying such propaganda ? Once I had been to Sangamner for meeting. The arrangement for the dinner was made. That time a reporter from ‘Kesari’ sent me a chit and asked, “You are advising your people not to carry dead animals. How poor they are ! Their women do not

535THE BUDDHA...............THE WORLD have sari and blouse to wear, they do not have food, they do not have fields, when their conditions are so miserable, you tell them to give up an income of Rs. 500 per year from hides, hooves, meat, is it not a loss of your people ?” I asked, “where shall I reply you ? Shall I reply here in corridor or in meeting ? It is better to answer before the people.” I asked the person, “Is it the only thing or you want to ask anymore ?” He said, “This much to say and answer this only”. I asked that person, “How many children you have and how many people you are ?” He said, “I have five children and my brother has five to seven children”. I said, “It means your family is large. Hence, you and your relatives should carry all the dead animals of that village and earn an income of Rs. 500. You must take this benefit. In addition to this I make an arrangement to give you Rs. 500 annually. What will happen to my people, whether they will get food, clothes or not, I will see it myself. Then, why are you giving up this benefit ? Why don’t you do this ? If we do it, it is beneficial, and if you do it, isn’t beneficial to you ? Carry the dead animals.” A Brahmin-boy came to me yesterday and said, “you have been given reserved seats in the Parliament and the Assemblies, why are you giving them up ?” I said, “You become Mahar and fill up those seats in the Parliament and the Assemblies. The vacancies in the services are filled up. So many Brahmins and others apply for the posts. Why don’t you Brahmin people fill up these reserved seats by becoming Mahar as you do in services ?” My question to them is why do you weep for our loss ? In reality self-respect is dearer to human being and not material gain. A woman with virtues and character knows how much beneficial is immoral behaviour. In our Bombay there is a locality of prostitutes. Those women wake up at 8 O’clock and place an order for the breakfast in nearby hotel, (Dr. Ambedkar imitated this in changed voice) “O Suleman, get a plate of mince (Kheema) and bread.” Suleman brings alongwith tea. cake etc. But, my Downtrodden sisters do not get even simple Chutni-Bhakar (mixture of chilli and salt and bread), but they live with dignity and character.

536 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES We are fighting for honour and self-respect. We are getting ready to take the human being towards the perfection, for that we are ready for any sacrifice. These newspaper people (indicating them) got on my nerves for the past forty years. How severely they have maligned me till date ! I ask them to ponder over at least now, leave this childishness and be prudent. Even after conversion to the Buddhism, I am confident, I will get the political rights. (Shouts in the name of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar with thunderous claps). I cannot tell what will happen after my death. For this movement we have to struggle more. What will happen on having embraced the Buddhism if at all there are difficulties, how could those be avoided. For that, what arguments and efforts are to be made, I have thoroughly thought over this. My bag* is with full of solutions. What are those I know fully well. These rights I have obtained for my people. One who obtained these rights, will surely regain them. It I who have obtained these rights and facilities, and I am confident that I will again obtain them. Therefore, now at least you should continue to have faith in me. That there is no truth in the adverse propaganda. I am surprised at one thing. Everywhere there is debate on large scale. But no one has asked me a question as to why I embraced the Buddhism. Why I embraced only this religion and not any other. This is the basic and important question in the any movement of a conversion. While converting it should be put to the test :Which religion and why it should be embraced. Through a resolution at Yeole in 1935, we started the movement of renouncing the Hindu religion. Long back I had vowed, “Though I am born as a Hindu I will not die as a Hindu” and I proved it yesterday. I am overjoyed, I am exalted. I feel I have been liberated from the hell. I do not want blind followers. Those who wish to embrace Buddhism, they should accept it with comprehension. Their conscious should accept that religion. * Eye witnesses to the conversion ceremony say that Dr. Ambedkar did not use the word ‘bag’ instead he used the words ‘in the pocket of my coat.’ Evenafter the conversion for some years people used to quote this expression.—Editors.