Low caste Indians seek to convert

The ceremony, at which ten of thousands are expected to embrace the Buddhist faith, is being billed as the largest religious conversion in modern India.
The converts hope to escape the rigid caste system in which their status is the lowest.
Right-wing Hindus have often opposed conversion, pushing some Indian states to restrict legal changes of faith.
The BBC's Zubair Ahmed, who is at the racecourse in Mumbai for the event, says 30,000 people are already present, although the organisers are not giving a figure for the total number they expect to convert.
Conversion controversies
The Dalits, once known as Untouchables, hope the conversion will give them dignity and equal rights.
"Once they convert themselves to another religion, the minimum they will get is treatment as human beings," Arun Khote of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights told the BBC.
Commentators say that despite the reservation of jobs for the Dalit and tribal communities, their social status and economic conditions have not greatly improved.
They say that Dalits still face widespread prejudice and discrimination.
Conversion is a controversial subject in India, especially if it involves Hindus converting to Christianity or Islam.
Two weeks ago two Catholic priests were publicly beaten after being accused of trying to bring a group of local people into the Catholic faith.
But converting to Buddhism does not evoke much adverse reaction, as many in India believe Buddhism is an extension of Hinduism.
Even so, several Indian states, especially the ones governed by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, have made laws severely restricting conversion

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• india
• hindus
• low
• caste
• kashmir
• dalit
• muslim
• sikh
• buddhism

[dmisra75]

Why do these forums degenerate into such uncivilised name calling? 'I am a hindu doctor and would say that if any indian has posted a jingoistic comment then i would condemn it as well.

the filthy comments by some attacking religion and country of others is deplorable.

pl grow up.

i wish only the very best for pakistan as it is in our best interests to have a stable, democratic and prosperous neighbour.

[dmisra75]

all of you need to grow up and embrace the universality of man. let go of your -isms and schisms, and realize that humans are humans whether hindu, sikh, from the abrahaminic traditions or whatever else. rise above the petty propaganda of your religions and nations and actually read and interpret your own holy books with the mental faculties that God bestowed upon you and you will realize that attacking anothers practice or idealogy only serves to highlight your own ignorance and intolerance

[saambha]

Hindu Vedas DO NOT sanction caste system in its present form. The present form of caste system in India is a twisted and decayed version of the original idea. The ancient caste system was just a classification based on abilities and inclination. Unfortunately, a lot of my fellow hindus themselves do not understand caste system and discriminate based on caste.

Please check out these sites to educate yourselves on the issue and spread the message.

sacredhinduism . com

hinduwisdom . info

[balumuthu]

If you cannot appreciate and love the kind looks of a cow anywhere in the world, it means you are a stone-hearted man to whom only his stomach is all-important, so that if beef tastes better than wheat food, that is all the reason to kill any animal for food, whether directly or through the butchery-grochery chain. Great philosophy of compassion!!! You talk of casteism, and all?

[rajeev86]

castisim dangerous disease in india than AIDS

[rajeev86]

90 % OF DALITS converts converted to budhisim

buddhism admire every way hindusium expect caste

[paulkrist44]

To ignore Christian expansion is to invite peril of world wars due to American expansionism to covet others' resources of markets and oils and the like. Low caste Hindus were sought to be elevated since long ago, for example by Gautama Buddha but he failed Now, Christian prpaganda misuses casteism as if it is unique to Hindus. Actually it is of tribal origin from African negroes, and it is true of ALL world, regardless of religion.

[paulkrist44]

Dalits deserve all special measures from laws to be made by government. But if poverty and disease are the ROOTCAUSES of people in those countries which led to Christian conversion, why the Christian world is so notorious for the LOWEST QUALITY OF LIFE, as reflected in highest crime rates of homicide, adultery, genocides in the name of wars for democracy (real reason: coveting of other nations' resources, which is un-Christian). And yet you talk of 'Christian spirit'.

[paulkrist44]

Please do so (Be a genuine Hindu, which means no need to convert).

[balumuthu]

Many Hindus believe that it is better that interested Dalits embrace Buddhism. They dont want them to embrace Christianity or Islam which have geopolitical aims propagated through preaching of fanaticism and even violence/ terrorism (by indoctrinating young minds). Buddhism abhors such extreme improprities in practical religion. Some Hindu rligious leaders, especially SOME (not all) Shankracharyas do not want Hinduism to be reformed so as to make special compassionate measures for Dalit uplift.