New Delhi- On 13th October 1935 in Yeola, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar decided to renounce Hinduism. He stated that liberty, equality, and fraternity are essential for development, and he preferred a religion that taught these values. He first expressed his intent to leave Hinduism this day, saying, "I was born a Hindu, but I will not die as one—this is within my power."

Dr. Ambedkar believed that religion is for humans, not the other way around. In his view, Hinduism lacked these three elements, which is why, on 14th October 1956, he embraced Buddhism.

He believed that Buddhism embodied three key principles:

Pragya (wisdom, or understanding against superstition and supernatural powers)

Karuna (compassion, or love and empathy for the suffering)

Samata (equality, the principle of equality that transcends religion, gender, and caste).

On May 12, 1956, Dr. Ambedkar addressed the two key questions often posed to him regarding his decision to adopt Buddhism. The first question was why he favored Buddhism, and the second was how this religion remained relevant in the contemporary world.

Dr. Ambedkar's decision to convert to Buddhism in 1956 was largely driven by his frustration with the rigid caste system and the inherent inequality and injustice he found in Hinduism. Despite his efforts to reform Hinduism, he concluded that no fundamental change was possible within it, at least not the changes he envisioned. His ideas are encapsulated in his famous 1936 work, The Annihilation of Caste, where he outlined the need for complete eradication of caste-based discrimination.

However, Dr. Ambedkar's decision to leave Hinduism was not solely driven by negative reasons such as frustration, isolation, or despair. There were positive motivations behind it, which extended beyond his personal struggles to the broader context of humanity. According to senior journalist and blogger Arun Kumar Tripathi, one of the key reasons Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism was to offer it as an alternative to communism. He observed that during his time, the rise of communism posed a threat to the very existence of religion, and Baba Sahab believed that humans could not thrive without religion. Therefore, a religion based on logic and ethics was necessary, and for Dr. Ambedkar, only Buddhism met these criteria.

The resurgence of Buddhism in India began in the mid-18th century, primarily led by European scholars, as significant pilgrimage sites like Bodh Gaya had been largely neglected for centuries. Dr. Ambedkar's interpretation of Buddhism wasn't just a personal choice; it had profound philosophical and political implications. He saw Buddhism as offering a response to the challenges posed by communism, especially in Southeast Asia, where communism was gaining influence at the time. In contrast to communism, which dismissed religion altogether, Dr. Ambedkar saw Buddhism as a religion grounded in wisdom, rationality, and ethics, thus offering a viable alternative.

Dr. Ambedkar's Buddhism: A Social Movement Beyond Spirituality, Relevant Amid Global Challenges

According to Buddhist scholar Dr. Siddharth Singh, Dr. Ambedkar's interpretation of Buddhism differs significantly from European Buddhism and represents a social movement. While European Buddhism acts as an umbrella for various social organizations' activities, Dr. Ambedkar's Buddhism is a movement aimed at liberating society from suffering. European Buddhism is based on traditional interpretations, whereas Ambedkar offers an entirely new perspective. In Europe, Buddhism is often associated with the elite class, but in India, Ambedkar sought to make it the religion of the Bahujan. In Dr. Ambedkar's Buddhism, spirituality is not a necessary component, and it strongly critiques Hinduism.