Are there still people in India who believe in Buddhism?

At the end of the 19th century, Buddhism, which had been dormant for about 700 years in India, experienced a revival movement. In 1891, Dharmapala of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) founded the Mahabodhi Society in India. Many Buddhist resorts restored their old views and rebuilt some temples. After India became independent in 1947, Buddhist activities experienced new developments. He established some research institutions in Nalanda, Pune, Benares and other places, and established departments of Buddhism or Pali language in many famous universities; he published a large number of books and periodicals. In 1956, the Indian government held a large-scale international commemoration event for the 2500th anniversary of Gautama Buddha's Nirvana. In October of the same year, Ambedkar, India's first justice minister and drafter of the constitution, organized a conversion movement to Buddhism in Nagpur with the participation of 500,000 "untouchables". Millions of "untouchables" successively converted from Hinduism to Buddhism. . In 1957, Indian Buddhists organized a Buddhist political party, the Communist Party of China. Later, some of them formed the Trapped Leopard Party because they were dissatisfied with the Communist Party and the party's political line. The party has some influence in Bombay and Maharshitra. In recent years, Indian Buddhist organizations (Maha Bodhi Society, Buddhist Theosophical Society, Saint Maitreya Church, etc.) have established many branches abroad, carried out extensive international activities, and often held international Buddhist academic seminars and symposiums. According to statistics in 1980, there were 5,554,000 Buddhists in India, accounting for about 0.8% of the total population. Although the number of Buddhists in India is small, they are quite influential in India's ideological and cultural circles.

Attachment: More than 100,000 untouchables in India have converted to Buddhism

2006-10-16

Since this month, more than 100,000 untouchables have converted to Buddhism across India from south to north. A Dalit abandoned Hinduism and converted to Buddhism to escape long-standing caste discrimination. This could be the beginning of a wave of religious conversion among India's untouchables, with millions more likely to convert to new religions.

◆Millions of people will convert

Since this month, many large-scale conversion ceremonies have been held from Delhi in the north of India to Hyderabad in the south. Thousands of untouchable Hindus renounced Hinduism and converted to Buddhism to protest and escape the long-standing discrimination they suffered. Reports say that more than 100,000 untouchables have converted to Buddhism this month, and millions more are expected to convert to the new religion.

On the 14th, in Nagpur, the largest city in central India, about 100,000 untouchables will hold a large rally to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India’s untouchable rights leader and scholar Ramji Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism; A large-scale conversion ceremony will be held at the same time to get rid of all the injustices brought to them by the caste system. Bollywood stars are expected to attend the rally.

According to reports, for many untouchables in India, conversion is their only way to escape long-standing caste discrimination in Indian society. It is estimated that there are currently 180 million untouchables and 70 million tribal people in India. They have traditionally been at the bottom of society, oppressed, and engaged in the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs; while those at the top of society account for less than 5% of the population. Brahmin class.

Although the Indian caste system has long been abolished by legislation, it is still prevalent in Indian society. According to a recent survey conducted in 565 villages in 11 states, as many as 38% of public schools segregate Dalit children during meal times; in 20% of schools, Dalit children are not allowed to drink water from the same source as their classmates.

◆Just to find a good job

“These people express their protest by changing their beliefs.” Sakya Durai, the organizer of the conversion ceremony, said that he himself A former untouchable who converted to Buddhism two years ago, he says he is now a full-fledged Buddhist.

Many people change their faith in order to find a better job. In the strict hierarchy of the caste system, it is difficult for untouchables to engage in jobs reserved for upper castes, especially in rural areas, where many untouchables are forced to become scavengers and toilet cleaners. Dulay was relatively lucky. His father served in the army and he received a good education. However, even so, he suffered a lot of discrimination. He said that in college, he was beaten by upper-caste students because he did better than them in exams. Today, Durai is a federal government employee in Delhi.

Dulai also admitted that changing religion is a highly sensitive political topic in India, and Hindu nationalists are extremely dissatisfied with low-caste Hindus converting to Buddhism or Christianity. Since this year, several states have passed legislation stipulating that anyone who wants to change their religion must obtain government consent, otherwise they will face heavy fines or even imprisonment; they claim that this is to protect lower castes. But critics have criticized the move as infringing on the freedom of belief of lower castes in order to keep them in the caste system and continue to be oppressed.