VADODARA, GUJARAT, October 5, 2003: The mass conversion of Dalits (“Untouchables”) to Buddhism ended quietly today with the Vishwa Boudh Sangh forced to make the conversion ceremony a “dharma sabha” (meeting on dharma) following refusal of permission by the Vadodara district administration under the new Anti-Conversion Act in force in Gujarat. Under the Act no permission can be given unless the converts apply individually giving details of their names and addresses to enable the authorities to ensure that they were not under any pressure or had not been lured to change their religious faith. Though the Sangh national general secretary, Bhante Sanghapriya, said he did not see any difference between a “conversion ceremony and dharma sabha,” no rituals were performed to convert the few thousand Dalits at the Military Boys Hostel ground here today. They, however, took the “oath” administered by the Sangh national president, Buddhapriya Rahul, that they would follow Buddhism and not consider themselves Hindus. The conversion ceremony was earlier postponed twice by the Sangh.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike