236 Dalits in Ghaziabad embrace Buddhism in protest against Hathras Case

As many as 236 people belonging to the Valmiki community in Ghaziabad have bid goodbye to Hinduism and embraced Buddhism in protest against the rising atrocities against Dalits. All the 236 people of the village embraced Buddhism under the tutelage of Rajratna Ambedkar, the great-grandson of B R Ambedkar.

Ghaziabad: After the Hathras incident and rising atrocities against Dalits, as many as 236 people belonging to the Valmiki community of Karhera village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad converted to Buddhism.

All the 236 people of the village embraced Buddhism under the tutelage of Rajratna Ambedkar, great-grandson of B R Ambedkar.

In presence of the Buddhist monks, the group was administered the vows of Buddhism and were given a certificate of conversion by the Buddhist Society of India, founded by B R Ambedkar in 1955.

The people who converted their religion told ETV Bharat that the alleged gangrape incident in Hathras and the mishandling of such cases by the government today led them to change their religion.

"After the Hathras incident, we have come to realise that the state won't accept or help us either. What options are we left with? This is the main reason for leaving Hinduism and accepting Buddhism," said Pawan Valmiki.

"No matter how much we study, work or rebel, the upper castes look down upon us and treats us as inferior humans. We are made to feel that we are not an equal citizen of the society or country. Be it the recent Hathras rape case or other instances of violence against Dalits, we continue to suffer every day and at every place," said Indar.

"We are also discussing this matter with other families associated with the Valmiki community and after October 2, other families will also convert to Buddhism. The mass conversion of 236 Dalits in Uttar Pradesh is an act of revolution against the caste supremacy and suppression that is being forced upon them by the society," said Veer Singh.