Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

The Man Who Gave Millions a New Faith

Overview

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) — Mahar-born economist (Columbia PhD, London Bar), Constitution Drafting Committee chairman, India's first Law Minister — concluded that untouchability would not die within Hinduism, and spent his last years answering where his people should go. His answer, after decades of study: the Buddha.

Key Facts

• "I was born a Hindu; I will not die a Hindu" — Yeola declaration, 1935; twenty years of deliberation followed
• 14 October 1956 (Ashok Vijaya Dashami): at Nagpur, Ambedkar and his wife took Three Jewels + Five Precepts from Burmese monk Mahasthavir Chandramani — then Ambedkar administered them plus 22 vows to some 400,000–600,000 followers: abjuring Hindu deities and rituals, affirming liberty-equality-fraternity through Dhamma
• Died 6 December 1956, six weeks later — the conversion outlived him: 15–20 million by 1959, by some counts
• Navayana ("new vehicle"): his Buddhism — rationalist, ethical, socially engaged; The Buddha and His Dhamma (published posthumously) its scripture

The 22 Vows (Essence)

Reject Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh and Rama-Krishna as gods; reject avatars and shraddha-pinda; never let a Brahmin perform rites; believe all humans equal; follow the Noble Eightfold Path; practise compassion to all living beings. They are recited at every Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.

Visiting

• Dikshabhoomi, Nagpur — the stupa; October 14 the great gathering
• Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai — cremation memorial; December 6 draws lakhs