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Dalits to embrace Buddhism by Lawrence Milton


Dalit families in Kalanahundi Village, 5km from Chamarajanagar town, have threatened to convert to Buddhism, to protest against the alleged discrimination by upper-caste Hindus. 

The District Federation of Dalit organizationshave planned a mass 'Buddha dhamma deeksha' programme in the village in the last week of February, when hundreds of dalits in the district, including Kalanahundi dalits, are anticipated toembrace Buddhism. 

However, additional SP K H Chandrashekar said that the jathra that was held recently belonged to a particular community and dalits had no role in it. 

They said increased discrimination and practice of untouchability in their village has forced all dalits to take a firm decision in this regard. "When we are not allowed into a village temple, and annual festival procession are restricted from entering our streets, even our offerings to the presiding deity Maramma are rejected by the upper caste Hindus, then why should we follow Hinduism?" asked Mahesh, 45, a villager. 

"We are treated badly. But our complaints against continued discrimination seem to have fallen on deaf ears of the authorities concerned. Pained by the unpleasant developments that has been occurring over a decade, about four score dalit families have decided to embrace Buddhism," a villager said. 

"We have held a first round of meeting and dalits in the village have agreed to the conversion," he claimed, adding that they were kept away from the annual Maramma jathra celebrations held in the village recently. 

Federation district convener C M Krishnamurthy told TOI that around 1,000 dalits are expected to convert to Buddhism in the conversion programme scheduled at Kalanahundi village this month-end. This is the first such instance, wherein, entire dalit families in a village are embracing Buddhism, the convener claimed. 

Additional deputy commissioner H T Chandrashekar on Tuesday promised the protesting Kalanahundi dalits to conduct a fair investigation into the alleged incident at the village and take action against the wrongdoers.