{"id":1039,"date":"2025-05-20T05:59:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T05:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ambedkarsociety.org\/assa\/?p=1039"},"modified":"2025-06-02T05:45:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T05:45:53","slug":"india-80-dalit-families-in-gujarats-surat-defy-two-year-delays-embrace-buddhism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ambedkarsociety.org\/assa\/india-80-dalit-families-in-gujarats-surat-defy-two-year-delays-embrace-buddhism\/","title":{"rendered":"INDIA: 80 Dalit Families in Gujarat’s Surat Defy Two-Year Delays, Embrace Buddhism"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After enduring two years of bureaucratic roadblocks, 80 Dalit families in Surat, Gujarat, have embraced Buddhism in a poignant ceremony held on May 14, at Anand Buddha Vihar, Bombay Colony, Amroli. The families, driven by the vision of equality espoused by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the serene teachings of Lord Buddha, overcame persistent administrative delays to secure their right to convert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swayam Sainik Dal (SSD), a grassroots organization championing Dalit rights, played a pivotal role in navigating the systemic hurdles, making this a landmark victory for social justice and self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Protracted Battle Against Bureaucracy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey began in 2023 when these people submitted applications to formally adopt Buddhism, seeking liberation from the caste-based discrimination embedded in traditional Hindu practices. Under Gujarat\u2019s regulations, conversion applications (Form A) must be verified and approved by the District Collector within one month. However, the process was mired in delays, stretching over two years. SSD members describe the administration\u2019s approach as a deliberate \u201cDelay and Destroy\u201d tactic, designed to discourage applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor six months, we were tangled in paperwork. Then, the issuance of approval letters was stalled,\u201d said an SSD representative. Across Gujarat, an estimated 40-50 thousand similar applications, filed by SSD and other Bahujan organizations, remain pending. Common excuses include staff shortages, officer transfers, or incomplete documentation, forcing applicants to make repeated visits to government offices. Many, exhausted by the ordeal, fail to complete the final step (Form C), resulting in their applications being quietly archived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe system is rigged to frustrate those seeking to embrace Buddhism,\u201d the SSD member added. \u201cIt\u2019s not just inefficiency\u2014it\u2019s a strategy to maintain the status quo.\u201d Despite these challenges, the families remained steadfast, supported by SSD\u2019s unwavering advocacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Surat unit of SSD emerged as the backbone of this struggle. Through persistent phone calls, visits, and meticulous follow-ups, they kept the pressure on. As the delays dragged on, SSD escalated their efforts. Last week, they issued a stern ultimatum to the authorities: \u201cApprove the applications, or we protests on the streets.\u201d This bold stance compelled the administration to act, granting approvals to the pending applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 14, the families gathered at Anand Buddha Vihar for an emotional ceremony. As they chanted the Buddha Vandana and reiterated the 22 vows given by Baba Sahab, the air resonated with a sense of liberation and hope. The event was not just a religious milestone but a powerful rejection of caste oppression, echoing Dr. Ambedkar\u2019s call for social equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Buddhism changed their life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among those celebrating was Mayurraj Nag, a machine operator in a Surat diamond factory and an SSD member. Mayurraj, who embraced Buddhism in 2019, shared that of the 2023 applications, 110 have now been cleared, including the latest 80. His own journey reflects the transformative power of this path. \u201cEight years ago, I was lost\u2014smoking, chewing gutkha, ignoring my family,\u201d he said. \u201cMeeting SSD in 2017 and learning about Babasaheb changed me. I quit my habits, started caring for my parents, and found purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayurraj\u2019s wife, Ashmita, whom he married four years ago in a love marriage blessed by their families, also embraced Buddhism. \u201cI explained Buddhist teachings to her during our courtship. She understood, and now our family lives simply and happily,\u201d he said. Mayurraj feels a newfound respect in his community. \u201cPeople call me \u2018bhai\u2019 now, but it\u2019s with respect. They listen when I speak, and that\u2019s because of Buddhism.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chandrika Shakya, a 30-year-old schoolteacher and member of SSD\u2019s Jhalkari Brigade, has followed Buddhism for a decade. Despite her newborn keeping her from active outreach, she remains committed to empowering women. \u201cI used to visit Dalit colonies, telling women about Babasaheb\u2019s fight for equality,\u201d she said. \u201cWe don\u2019t push Buddhism first\u2014we share his story, and people see it\u2019s the way out of discrimination.\u201d Chandrika\u2019s family has also benefited financially. \u201cWe stopped spending on festivals like Holi or Diwali\u2014no sweets, no puja items. That money now goes to our family\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administrative delays reflect a broader resistance to religious conversion, particularly to Buddhism, which challenges the caste hierarchy of Hinduism. SSD members allege that the system deliberately obstructs conversions to preserve traditional structures. \u201cBuddhism has no rituals or caste divisions, which threatens the old ways,\u201d an SSD member explained. \u201cThe delays are meant to tire people out, but we won\u2019t let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SSD\u2019s Broader Mission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 2006 in Rajkot by 50 Dalit activists, SSD is dedicated to eradicating social inequalities and fostering a humane society. Rejecting hierarchies, every member is a \u201cswayam sainik\u201d (self-soldier). SSD conducts \u201cchintan shivirs\u201d (reflection camps) in rural areas to educate marginalized communities about their rights. Their ambitious goal is to facilitate the return of 20 million indigenous people to Buddhism by 2028, with planned mass conversion events on Ambedkar Jayanti from 2024 to 2028 in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Bhopal, and Mumbai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSSD empowers communities by raising awareness about constitutional rights and exposing the divisive rituals of Hinduism,\u201d a senior member said anonymously. \u201cWe encourage people to shape their own futures.\u201d Buddhism, with its rejection of caste and rituals, is seen as a pathway to dismantle discriminatory practices, aligning with SSD\u2019s vision of equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Mooknayak<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After enduring two years of bureaucratic roadblocks, 80 Dalit families in Surat, Gujarat, have embraced Buddhism in a poignant ceremony held on May 14, at Anand Buddha Vihar, Bombay Colony, … 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