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Low-caste Hindus adopt new faith Dalits in conversion ceremony
(4 days later)
Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and Christianity. Thousands of people have been attending mass ceremonies in India at which hundreds of Hindu Dalits converted to Buddhism and Christianity.
The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system. The events in the central city of Nagpur are part of a protest against the injustices of India's caste system, activists say.
By converting, Dalits - once known as Untouchables - can escape the prejudice and discrimination they normally face. The Dalits - once known as Untouchables - hope to escape the prejudice and discrimination they often face.
Laws designed to protect Dalit rights are ineffective, critics say.
The ceremonies mark the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Buddhism by the scholar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.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.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.As the chief architect of India's constitution, he wrote anti-discrimination provisions and quota systems into the country's law.
But four-fifths of India's Dalits live in often isolated rural areas, and traditional prejudice has persisted in spite of official laws.
'Cry for dignity''Cry for dignity'
The Dalits arrived by the truckload at a public park in Nagpur for ceremonies, which began with religious leaders giving fiery speeches against the treatment of lower castes.The Dalits arrived by the truckload at a public park in Nagpur for ceremonies, which began with religious leaders giving fiery speeches against the treatment of lower castes.
DALIT FACTS 167m people, 16.2% of India's populationNearly 60% live in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu statesThe lowest rank in Hindu society, beneath the traditional caste systemExpected to perform the most menial jobs, particularly handling cadavers and human and animal wastePhysical contact with a Dalit was traditionally considered ritually polluting for other castesEven converts to Christianity and Islam have encountered discrimination from higher-caste converts
Reuters reported that dozens of riot policemen had turned out at the sprawling park.Reuters reported that dozens of riot policemen had turned out at the sprawling park.
Udit Raj, a Dalit leader, told the BBC that around 2,500 people converted to Christianity and Buddhism.Udit Raj, a Dalit leader, told the BBC that around 2,500 people converted to Christianity and Buddhism.
DALIT FACTS 167m people, 16.2% of India's populationNearly 60% live in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu statesThe lowest rank in Hindu society, beneath the traditional caste systemExpected to perform the most menial jobs, particularly handling cadavers and human and animal wastePhysical contact with a Dalit was traditionally considered ritually polluting for other castesEven converts to Christianity and Islam have encountered discrimination from higher-caste converts
Joseph D'Souza, the president of the Dalit Freedom Network and a Christian convert, described the conversions as a "celebratory occasion".Joseph D'Souza, the president of the Dalit Freedom Network and a Christian convert, described the conversions as a "celebratory occasion".
"I think it's important to understand that this is a cry for human dignity, it's a cry for human worth," he told the BBC."I think it's important to understand that this is a cry for human dignity, it's a cry for human worth," he told the BBC.
He said that Dalits could seek dignity by converting to Christianity, Jainism or Sikhism as well as Buddhism.He said that Dalits could seek dignity by converting to Christianity, Jainism or Sikhism as well as Buddhism.
Buddhist convert Dhammachari Manidhamma told the BBC that social equality was impossible within Hinduism.
"Buddha's teaching was for the humanity, and Buddha believed in equality.
"And Hindu religion, Hindu teaching is nothing but inequality.
Laws against conversionLaws against conversion
Similar mass conversions are taking place this month in many other parts of India.
Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult.Several states governed by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, have introduced laws to make such conversions more difficult.
Hundreds of Dalits converted to Christianity and BuddhismHundreds of Dalits converted to Christianity and Buddhism
The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have all passed laws restricting conversions.The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have all passed laws restricting conversions.
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.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.
Hinduism teaches that most humans were created from parts of the body of the divinity Purusha. Officially, caste discrimination was outlawed when India gained independence in 1947, but many of the country's 180m Dalits say that people's attitudes towards them remain the same.
According to which body parts they were created from, humans fall into four basic castes which define their social standing, who they can marry, and what jobs they can do. They are still often expected to do the most menial jobs. In many villages, they are also prevented from drinking water from wells used by high caste Hindus.
But Dalits fall outside this system and are traditionally prevented from doing all but the most menial jobs or even drinking from the same water sources as other castes.