On 24 March 1956, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (14 April 1891 - 6 December 1956) sounded his followers that he was going to convert to the religion of Buddha which he thought was “excellent amongst all the religions” but advised them to embrace only if their “will and conscience” allowed. He did announced : “After my conversion to Buddhism, I will not be able to lead you either, I will be able to remain in the (Scheduled Caste) Federation.” He wanted someone else to assume the leadership in his place; “otherwise our Federation will collapse like a tent on a single pole.” He was firm not to contest election on SCF ticket but would contest “on my own strength” and “I don’t care whether I win or lose.”
As the most literate political leader of his times, Dr. Ambedkar is most celebrated for two of his outstanding endeavours and achievements like his battle for the annihilation of caste and the framing of Indian Constitution. Of course, his extra ordinary contribution was his insistence on a spiritualization of human life. In October 1956, Ambedkar and half a million of his followers, converted to Buddhism. Less than two months later, only days after he had completed his definitive study of Buddhism “The Buddha and His Dhamma”, Ambedkar passed away. His sudden demise, at the relatively young age of 65. Ambedkar was seriously exploring various alternative ways of renouncing his Hindu faith for many decades before his formal conversion. It was at the Yeola Conversion Conference in October 1935 in Nasik that he first made a public declaration of this intent: “Unfortunately, I was born a Hindu Untouchable. It was beyond my power to prevent that. But it is within my power to refuse to live within these humiliating conditions. Though I was born a Hindu, I solemnly assure you that I will not die as a Hindu.”
Dr. Ambedkar’s lifelong mission was presented in his speech on 31 May 1936 at Mumbai while addressing the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference: “A person whose mind is not free, though he is not in chains, is a slave. One whose mind is not free, though he is not in jail, is a prisoner. One whose mind is not free, though he is alive, is dead. Freedom of mind is the proof of one's existence. What is the proof, then, to judge that the flame of mental freedom is not extinguished from a person? To whom can we say that his mind is free? I call him free who with consciousness awake, realises his rights, responsibilities, and duties; he who is not a slave of circumstances, and is always bent upon changing them in his favour, I call him free. One who is not a slave of usage, customs, and traditions, or of the teachings because they are brought down from the ancestors; one whose flame of reason is not extinguished--I call him a free man.” For him the spirituality was more important to political power. Unfortunately, after his death every political party in India has been busy trying to encase his name to woo the Dalit vote-bank.
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Dr.Ambedkar in his Deeksha robe
