| Which of the following is true of Buddhism in India? |
| 1. The Buddhist revival began in India, with the foundation of the Maha Bodhi Society. |
| 2. Ambedkar believed that Buddhism was the only way for the Untouchables to gain equality |
| 3. Ambedkar has organised many mass conversion ceremonies to convert dalits into Buddhism. |
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 2 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: D
Solution :
[d] The Buddhist revival began in India, with the foundation of the Maha Bodhi Society. The organisation's initial efforts were for the purpose of resuscitation of Buddhism in India and of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara. The Buddhist renaissance inaugurated by Anagarika Dharmapala through his Mahabodhi Movement is also described as "conservative" for it held the Muslim Rule in India responsible for the decay of Buddhism in India in the then current mood of Hindu-Buddhist brotherhood. Later in the 1950s Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar pioneered the Dalit Buddhist movement in India for the Dalits (Untouchables). Dr. Ambedkar saw conversion to Islam and to Christianity as a factor contributing to the "denationalisation" of India. The revival movement of Buddhism in India underwent a major change when after publishing a series of books and articles arguing that Buddhism was the only way for the Untouchables to gain equality, Ambedkar publicly converted on 14th October 1956 in Nagpur and then in turn led a mass-conversion ceremony for over 380,000 Dalits. Many other such mass-conversion ceremonies organised since and has become a politically charged issue. Since Ambedkar's conversion, many more people from different castes have converted to Buddhism. Many converted employ the term "Ambedkar (ite) Buddhism" to designate the Buddhist movement, which started with Ambedkar's conversion.
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
