[Buddha-l] Mass conversions to Buddhism or Christianity among Indian dalits

[jkirk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6050408.stm
Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which
hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and
Christianity.

Excerpt:
"The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the 
scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. He was the first prominent Dalit to urge 
low-caste Indians to embrace Buddhism. As the chief architect of India's 
constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into 
the country's law."

"...Gujarat has reclassified Buddhism and Jainism as branches of the Hindu 
religion, in an attempt to prevent conversions away from Hinduism eroding 
the BJP's bedrock support."

A few states in India--Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu-- have 
passed anti-conversion laws, aimed mainly at Christians and Muslims vis a 
vis dalits.

Joanna