Buddha was great social liberator of mankind: Jaipal Reddy

Nagpur :

Union Minister for Urban Development, S Jaipal Reddy on Saturday said the Lord Buddha was the greatest social and intellectual liberator of the mankind.

Inaugurating the two day Second Buddhist International Conference here on 'Prospectives of Engaged Buddhism,' Reddy said since his childhood, he was excited about Buddha and his teachings and values.

Initiated by newly nominated Rajya Sabha member Bhalchandra Mungekar and organised by Dr Ambedkar Institute of Social and Economic Change, the conference was attended by more than 1200 delegates.

Thai Buddhist monk, Phra Ajhan Withoon Ajarsupoh inaugurated the conference while Maharashtra Dairy Development Minister Nitin Raut, former Union Minister and local MP Vilas Muttemwar and former MP Ramdas Athwale were chief guests.

Describing Buddha as most revered philosopher, Reddy equated him with Socrates, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammad.,

Reddy said Buddha was symbol of rationalism and humanism. In saturday's relevance, Buddhism might have gone from India but Buddha remains in the hearts.

The first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was greatly impressed by Buddha who influenced Asian Continent to a great extent, he said.

Buddha was the first intellectual democrat and great believer in moderation, Reddy said.

Reddy also said Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar who embraced Buddhism way back on October 14, 1956 was rightly picked up by Mahatma Gandhi to write the Constitution.

"Gandhiji knew that Ambedkar was the right choice for the coveted post," he said.

Mungekar in his presidential speech outlined the importance of the conference.

Raut in his speech said Buddhism is flourishing in most countries especially in South East and East Asia. In fact it is facing newer challenges in our own country.

"Some say Buddhism no more exists in India. The whole of Asia is Buddhist except India. Buddha has become a foreigner in our own country. The great religion was destroyed in India," he said.

"The destruction of Buddhism was far more cleverer act than the destruction of Jesus and Christianity by Jews because Jews killed Jesus but could not kill Christianity. In India, they did not kill Buddha, they are far more cleverer people.

They just did not kill Buddha but also killed Buddhism," he said.

Former Union Minister and local MP Vilas Muttemwar in his speech said Buddha was very much relevant in the country.

http://www.udayavani.com/news/1137L14-Buddha-was-great-social-liberator-of-mankind-Jaipal-Reddy.html

Mayawati issues full-page Buddha Purnima ads in 150 dailies

Lucknow, May 17, (IANS):

On the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh government has splashed in media Chief Minister Mayawati's achievements in developing Buddhist pilgrimage sites and propagating the message of Lord Buddha.

The Uttar Pradesh government has released a full-page advertisement, bearing the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party's characteristic blue hue, in 150 newspapers across the length and breadth of the country, detailing whatever Mayawati has done during her tenure to spread the message of Buddha. “Uttar Pradesh: the cradle of Buddhism, A glimpse of  initiatives taken by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Ms. Mayawati Ji, during the span of her regime so far to propagate the humanistic message of Tathagat Gautam Buddha and develop and beautify the ‘Buddhist circuit and other important Buddhist historical places in the state”, goes the headline with the advertisement, which is ostensibly meant to greet people on the occasion. The message makes it a point to convey how Buddha had spent a major part of his life in  Uttar Pradesh and the list of schemes, programmes named after him by the present chief minister. Yet another column lists out the new districts and tourist spots created by Mayawati to commemorate Lord Buddha. Buddha Purnima is one of the eight occasions when the Mayawati government released such advertisements in some 150 dailies across the country. Besides this, almost similar advertisements about her government’s achievements are also issued on the same scale on Mayawati’s own birthday on Jan 15, BSP founder and her mentor Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary on March 15, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14, Kanshi Ram’s death anniversary on Oct 9, Ambedkar’s death anniversary on Dec 6,  and on May 13 to mark the installation of Mayawati government on its own strength in 2007. This eight-day blitzkrieg has cost the state exchequer about Rs.64 crore over the past four years. Nearly the same amount had also been spent on publicity through giant-sized  hoardings, with long details of her achievements. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/162085/mayawati-issues-full-page-buddha.html

‘ಬೌದ್ಧ ತಾತ್ವಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಅರಿಯಲು ಯಾರ ಸಹಾಯವೂ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ’

ತುಮಕೂರು, ಮೇ 17: ಮನುಷ್ಯನ ಉನ್ನತಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ಸರಳ ಹಾಗೂ ನಿಸರ್ಗ ತರ್ಕವನ್ನು ಅನ್ವೇಷಿಸಿದ ಮೊದಲ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೆಂದರೆ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಬುದ್ಧ. ಬೌದ್ಧ ತಾತ್ವಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಅರಿಯಲು ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರ ಸಹಾಯವೂ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸಕ ನಟರಾಜ್ ಬೂದಾಳ್ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ನಗರದ ಉಪ್ಪಾರಹಳ್ಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಕೆ.ಬಿ.ಸಿದ್ದಯ್ಯರ ನಿವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಬುದ್ಧ ಪೂರ್ಣಿಮೆ ಅಂಗವಾಗಿ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದ ಕವಿಗೋಷ್ಠಿ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಬುದ್ಧನ ಕುರಿತು ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಬದುಕಿನ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯೇ ಬೌದ್ಧ ತಾತ್ವಿಕತೆಯ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣ. ಭಂತೆ ಮಿಲಿಂದ ಮತ್ತು ನಾಗಸೇನನ ನಡುವಿನ ಪ್ರಶ್ನಾವಳಿಯೇ ಇಡೀ ಮನುಜರ ಬದುಕನ್ನು ಅವಲಂಬಿಸಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೂ ಸರಳವಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬಹುದು. ಒಂದೇ ಮಾತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳುವುದಾದರೆ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟತೆಯನ್ನು ಅರಿತು ನಡೆದರೆ ಅದೇ ಭೌದ್ದ ತಾತ್ವಿಕತೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದರು.

ಭೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮ ಮತ್ತು ಅದರ ತತ್ವಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರ ಪರಂಪರೆಗಳ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದಿಕ್ಕು ತಪ್ಪಿಸುವ ಹಲವಾರು ಮಂದಿ ಇಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ನಡುವೆ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅನಾದಿ ಕಾಲದಿಂದಲೂ ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಲೇ ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಮೊದಲು ನಾವು ಭೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಸರಿಯಾಗಿ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಡಾ.ಬಿ.ಆರ್.ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ತಮ್ಮ 12 ವ್ಯಾಲೂಮ್‌ಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಜನರಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯುವಂತೆ ವಿವರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ವಿವೇಕವೇ ಭೌದ್ಧ ತಾತ್ವಿಕತೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರೂ ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಳವಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕೆಂದು ನಟರಾಜ್ ಬೂದಾಳ್ ನುಡಿದರು.

ಕವಿಗೋಷ್ಠಿ ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದ ಕವಯತ್ರಿ ಡಿ.ಬಿ.ರಜಿಯಾ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ಭಗವಾನ್ ಬುದ್ಧ ಸಮಾಜವನ್ನು ಅರಿಯಲು ನಮಗೆ ತೋರಿಸಿದ ವಿವೇಕ ಎಂಬ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಇಂದು ಮಂಕು ಕವಿದಿದೆ.ಇದರಿಂದ ಹೊರಬರುವ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ ಎಂದರು.
ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಯಾಗಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಅನ್ನಪೂರ್ಣ ವೆಂಕಟನಂಜಪ್ಪ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ಹಣ, ಅಧಿಕಾರವೆಂಬ ಪ್ರಬಲ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಇಂದು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಆಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಚಿಂತಕರು, ಪ್ರಗತಿಶೀಲರೆನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಗಳು ಇಂದು ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಇರುವವರ ಬೆಂಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಂತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಆತ್ಮಾವಲೋಕನ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳ ಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಧಿಕಾರದ ಆಸೆಗೆ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿರುವವರನ್ನೇ ಇಂದ್ರ, ಚಂದ್ರರೆಂದು ಬಸವಣ್ಣನಂತಹ ಕಾಂತ್ರಿಕಾರಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಲಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ನಾವು ಯಾವ ಹಂತ ತಲುಪಿದ್ದೇವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾಧನೆಯನ್ನು ತಡೆಯಲು ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಮುಂದಾಗಬೇಕಿದೆ ಎಂದರು.

ಸಂತ ಶಿಶುನಾಳ ಷರೀಫರ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿರುವ ನರಸಿಂಹಮೂರ್ತಿ ಷರೀಫರ ತತ್ವಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ರಂಜಿಸಿದರು. ಪ್ರೊ. ಸಿ.ಎಚ್.ಮರಿದೇವರು, ಡಾ.ರವಿಕುಮಾರ್ ನೀ.ಹ., ಜಿ.ಇಂದ್ರಕುಮಾರ್, ಉಗಮ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್, ಪದ್ಮಕೃಷ್ಣಮೂರ್ತಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹತ್ತಾರು ಮಂದಿ ಕವಿಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಕವಿತೆಗಳನ್ನು ವಾಚಿಸಿದರು.

ಬುದ್ಧ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿ: ಪ್ರೊ.ಶಿವಶಂಕರ್ಬುಧವಾರ

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ಬುದ್ಧ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿ: ಪ್ರೊ.ಶಿವಶಂಕರ್ಬುಧವಾರ - ಮೇ -18-2011

ಬುದ್ಧ ಜಯಂತಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ
ಮಂಗಳೂರು, ಮೇ 17: ಜಗತ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ವಾದ ಸಂದೇಶ ನೀಡಿದ ಬುದ್ಧನ ಆದರ್ಶಗಳು ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ. ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬುದ್ಧ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆ ಜಾಗೃತಗೊಳ್ಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ಮಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯದ ಕುಲಪತಿ ಪ್ರೊ.ಟಿ.ಸಿ. ಶಿವಶಂಕರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.

ಅವರು ಇಂದು ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಬೌದ್ಧ ಮಹಾಸಭಾ ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಇದರ ವತಿಯಿಂದ ನಗರದ ಎನ್‌ಜಿಓ ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಮ್ಮಿ ಕೊಂಡ ಬುದ್ಧ ಜಯಂತಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅತಿಥಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದರು.

ಈ ನಿಸರ್ಗದ ಸಂಪತ್ತು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಸೇರಿದೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಸಮಾನವಾಗಿ ಬಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳ ಬೇಕು ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಬುದ್ಧ 2500 ವರ್ಷಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಸಂದೇಶ ಇಂದಿಗೂ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಲವಾರು ಮಂದಿ ಐಷಾರಾಮಿಯಾಗಿ ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಬಹಳಷ್ಟು ಮಂದಿ ಬಡತನದ ಬೇಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇಂತಹ ಅಸಮಾನತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೋಗಲಾಡಿಸಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಬುದ್ಧನ ಆದರ್ಶವಾದ, ಸಮಾನತೆ ಸಮಾಜದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಹಂತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡು ಬರಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಶಿವಶಂಕರ ಮೂರ್ತಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.

ಸಭಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿದ ಮೈಸೂರಿನ ವೀರ್ಯಶೀಲ ಭಂತೇಜಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ಬೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮ ನಿಜವಾದ ಅರ್ಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಧರ್ಮವಲ್ಲ. ಒಂದು ಜೀವನ ಮಾರ್ಗ. ಮಾನವನ ಜೀವಿತ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಒದಗಿ ಬರುವ ನಾನಾ ವಿಧವಾದ ದು:ಖಗಳನ್ನು ದೂರ ಮಾಡಲು ಪಂಚಶೀಲ, ಅಷ್ಟಾಂಗ ಮಾರ್ಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗಿ ಸುಖ, ಶಾಂತಿ, ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುವ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನು ಇದು ಬೋಧಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಕಲ ಜೀವಿಗಳ ಸುಖ, ಶಾಂತಿ, ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯನ್ನು ಬೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮ ಬಯಸುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದರು.

ಸಮಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಬುದ್ಧ ವಂದನೆ, ದಮ್ಮೋಪದೇಶ, 207 ಕುಟುಂಬದ 775 ಜನರಿಗೆ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸ್ವಾಸ್ಥ ವಿಮಾ ಯೋಜನೆ ಪಾಲಿಸಿ, ಬಡ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ವಿತರಣೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆಯಿತು.

ವೇದಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಎಸ್.ಆರ್. ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣ, ಯುನೈಟೆಡ್ ಇನ್ಶೂರೆನ್ಸ್ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಉದಯ, ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯ ದರ್ಶಿ ಕಾಂತಪ್ಪ ಅಲಂಗಾರ್ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು. ದೇವಪ್ಪ ಬೋಧ್ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ನಿರೂಪಿಸಿ, ಶಶಿಧರ ಜೋಕಟ್ಟೆ ವಂದಿಸಿದರು

5000 Dalits to convert to Buddhism

RAJKOT: Leaving behind the caste system, untouchability and discrimination, large numbers of people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes (OBC) will embrace Buddhism on May 29 in Rajkot. 

The Buddha Dhamma Deeksha Angikar Federation-Gujarat is organizing this conversion program and the process for taking consent of the people who want to adopt Buddhism has been initiated in the Saurashtra region. 

"We expect that more than 5,000 people will take deeksha and convert to Buddhism, which was adopted by our great leader B R Ambedkar decades ago. The people who are adopting this religion are mainly from Saurashtra region like Rajkot, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar and Surendranagar. We have suffered a lot due to the caste hierarchy for centuries, but Ambedkar showed us a different path - in which there is no discrimination between human beings," said Parikshit Rathod, convenor of the federation. 

"We have already started the necessary process to file consent papers of those people who want to adopt the Buddhism and they will be verified by district administration and police as it is mandatory," said Rathod. On May 29, Bhante Dhammdoot Bhadant Sanghratna Manke (President Paiya Meksha Sangh-Japan) and other religious leaders will attend the programme at Chaudhary High School Ground in the city. 

The federation is organizing conversion programs across the state, inspiring people to adopt Buddhism. Some months ago, a similar programme was held at Porbandar where more than 100 people, mainly dalits had adopted Buddhism. 

Interestingly, the federation has been distributing pamphlets for this programme which praise chief minister Narendra Modi for promoting Buddhist culture and heritage in the state. Recently, the state government had charted out the plan to develop Buddhist sites. "CM Modi has promised a Buddhist temple in the state and it is a proud moment for all of us," the pamphlet said. When asked about it, Rathod said that the state government should be appreciated for good things, but we have also said that anti-conversion law passed by Gujarat state is wrong and we condemn it. 

The Buddha Dharma Deeksha Angikar Federation is organizing Buddha Dharma Adoption Program on May 29 in Rajkot

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/5K-dalits-to-convert-to-Buddhism/articleshow/8171802.cms

Several Dalits to embrace Buddhism tomorrow

Special Correspondent

It will mark 54th anniversary of a similar act by Ambedkar

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Several monks will grace the occasion

‘Following the tenets of Buddhism is essential'

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GULBARGA: A large number of Dalits will embrace Buddhism here on Thursday to mark the 54th anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar embracing Buddhism at Nagpur in Maharashtra along with his followers.

Veteran Dalit leader Shivaram Moga told presspersons here on Tuesday that the International Bouddha Yuva Sanghatane and the Buddhist Society of India would jointly organise the fifth mass ‘Buddha Dhamma Deeksha' programme at the MSK Mill Grounds here on Thursday.

Mr. Moga said that October 14 was an important date in the annals of India as it was on this day that Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism in protest against the oppressive caste system that prevailed in the country.

Buddhism gave a new life to those who embraced it at the behest of Ambedkar. “This was also the day on which Buddhism was revived in the country in which it was born,” he said.

Achievement

The Buddhist Society of India and the International Bouddha Yuva Sanghatane have been celebrating the anniversary of Ambedkar embracing Buddhism in Gulbarga for four years. “So far, thousands of Dalits and oppressed sections of society have embraced Buddhism,” he said.

Adopt philosophy

Admitting that mere embracing of Buddhism would not bring about any qualitative change in the life of Dalits, he said that it was essential to adopt the philosophy and follow its tenets. Led by Bhante Bodhidhamma, founder president of the International Bouddha Sanghatane, a team of Buddhist monks from across the country will help the Dalits in the conversion process.

Inauguration

The programme will be inaugurated by Union Labour and Employment Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge. Dalit leaders, including Mogali Ganesh, D.S. Veeraiah, Mavalli Shankar and Vittal Doddamani, will participate, Mr. Mogasaid.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/13/stories/2010101360540300.htm

Taking a leap of faith

by Anubha Sawhney Joshi, The Times of India, Oct 2, 2008

New Delhi, India -- He was born a Hindu. But despite belonging to an educated family, Bhavan Nath Paswan had to live a life of shame and ridicule. He was a chamar, lowest of the low according to the Hindu caste system. Paswan remembers the years of suffering.

<< Across India, lakhs of Dalits have found social salvation in the way of the Buddha

‘‘I suffered discrimination at all levels. From high school to college and beyond, it was a life without any dignity. Like the rest of my family, I resigned myself to the fact that the misdoings of my previous birth had made me a chamar in this life and there was nothing I could do to change that.’’

Paswan finally rejected the cruel fatalism of a caste system that allowed for no movement, and certainly not upwards, when he arrived at his job at the Indian postal department and was taunted by colleagues.

‘‘These days even chamars come to work well dressed,” Paswan’s colleagues teased. The dignified middle-aged man snapped. “It was about that time that I heard of conversion to Buddhism and I knew I had to follow that path to lead a life of dignity.’’

Paswan converted to Buddhism five years ago. At a ceremony in Delhi, he took the Buddhist name Gopi Raj. He was 41. In a leap of faith and a quest for personal freedom, he found a different path to the dignity he so desperately wanted.

Today, Paswan greets people with the words ‘namo buddhaye’ rather than ‘namaste’. In Buddhism, Paswan says he found the acceptance Hinduism had always denied him. ‘‘Just this afternoon, we were giving somebody a send-off at work. The gentleman was gifted a statue of Buddha and I was asked to present it to him. Buddhism has given me the respectability and acceptance that Hinduism denied me,” he says, on phone from Lucknow.

He is just one of an estimated 75 lakh Dalits who have abandoned Hinduism and converted to Buddhism since 1956, says Udit Raj, chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations. ‘‘Buddhist philosophy doesn’t condone rebirth. It abhors superstition and doesn’t believe in the stratification of society. It treats everybody equally,’’ adds Raj.

The new Buddhists revel in their spiritual freedom from man-made constraint. Raj says that most of the new converts ‘‘become self-starters, independent and competitive”.

He says their quest for a faith that respects personal freedom and individual choice means “they grow intellectually. Their wives and children enjoy higher status in the family and society. They have become enlightened and are saved from religious exploitation and bigotry.’’

Up and down the country, Dalits are increasingly seeking social salvation through a more egalitarian faith. In disparate parts of rural India, they are embracing Buddhism in droves. Many merely drop the surnames that mark them out forever as low-caste Hindus; others take on new ones, such as Gautam, Maurya, Shakya and even Ambedkar.

In another India — upper class and upwardly mobile — Buddhism is not a religion but a way of life. Lawyer Mandeep Singh says he found refuge in the Karma Kagyu school of Himalayan Buddhism because he liked the idea of being responsible for his own actions.

‘‘Here, there is no concept of destiny other than the one you make for yourself. And that little teaching has changed my life entirely. From being in victim-mode, I’m now in control. The practice has taught me how to see myself as the cause rather than the effect,’’ he says.

Naveena Reddy is director general of Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG), the Indian affiliate of a global association of grassroots organisations that seeks to promote peace and respect for all people drawing inspiration from the philosophy of a 13th century Japanese Buddhist Nichiren Daishonin.

Reddy says Buddhism in India tries “to apply Buddhist philosophy to create value in our daily life and in society.” BSG has 38,000 members, a small number for an organization that claims 12 million people in 190 countries. But Reddy says BSG teaches its members “to awaken the limitless potential that all life possesses”. Crucially, it teaches that one has “to change oneself to change the environment”.

There are many variations of Hindu-Buddhism. There are the ‘HiBu’, described by Mahabodhi Society patron B K Modi as “Hindu-Buddhists, or Indians who are born into Hinduism but make a choice to live life the Buddhist way”.

Modi says Buddhism is especially attractive because “there is no caste, there is no God or symbols of God either. The practice teaches you there are no angels or devils on the outside — it is just the good or bad within you.’’

But the Mahabodhi Society doesn’t encourage conversion, just the melding of faiths. Modi argues, ‘‘Why should you denounce one faith when you can easily embrace two?’’

For many, however, Buddhism is almost a fad. Blissfully unaware of all that goes into becoming a true follower of the Enlightened One, a young internet-user updates his online status on a popular networking website. “Zen forever,” it says.