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[[File:Diksha Bhumi.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Deekshabhoomi]] Stupa in [[Nagpur]] where Ambedkar converted to Buddhism.]]
Since [[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar]]'s conversion, several thousand people from different castes have converted to Buddhism in ceremonies including the twenty-two vows.
== List of Buddhist conversions ==
In 1956, [[Ambedkar]] adopted Buddhism with [[lakh]]s of people as "Dalits' path to liberation". Therefore, there is a lot of interest towards Buddhism among the Indian society especially [[Dalit]]s. Being influenced by Ambedkar, every year thousands of people accept Buddhism. Most of the converts have come from [[Hindu]] Dalit community, who consider Ambedkar as their Messiah or liberator. Influenced by Ambedkar, many famous people have embraced Buddhism, including people like [[Mallikarjun Kharge]], [[Ramdas Athawale]], [[Udit Raj]], [[Laxman Mane]], [[Poolan Devi]], Sushma Andhare, Eknath Awad, etc.
{| Align="Center" Border="1" Width="75%"
|+ List of mass Buddhist conversions in India
|- Align="Center" Style="background: #D0D0D0"
! Date !! Place !! Converted people !! Former religion/caste/category !! Source and Note
|-
| 14 October 1956 || [[Deekshabhoomi]], [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] || Approx. 500,000 (including [[B. R. Ambedkar]], [[Savita Ambedkar]], [[Bhaurao Gaikwad]], [[Gangadhar Pantawne]] etc.) || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]), and some [[Muslims]], [[Christians]] and [[Sikhs]] || [[B. R. Ambedkar]] and his wife [[Savita Ambedkar|Savita]] first embraced Buddhism through [[Thero|Mahathero]] Chandramani. Then became a Buddhist, B. R. Ambedkar converted all people to Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|last=Gaikwad|first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath|publisher=Riya Publication|year=2016|isbn=|location=Kolhapur|pages=332|language=Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| 15 October 1956 || [[Deekshabhoomi]], [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] || approx. 300,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]), and some [[Muslims]], [[Christians]] and [[Sikhs]] || B. R. Ambedkar converted all people to Buddhism. These were people who did not reach the conversion program on 14 October in time.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|last=Gaikwad|first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath|publisher=Riya Publication|year=2016|isbn=|location=Kolhapur|pages=411 & 412|language=Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| 16 October 1956 || [[Chandrapur]], [[Maharashtra]] || more than 300,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || B. R. Ambedkar converted all people to Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|last=Gaikwad|first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath|publisher=Riya Publication|year=2016|isbn=|location=Kolhapur|pages=412, 413|language=Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| 7 December 1956 || [[Chaitya Bhoomi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]] || More than 1,000,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || It is the biggest religious conversation. Ambedkar had pledged to take a conversion program in Mumbai on 16 December, but he died on 6 December. So at the time of Ambedkar's funeral, people accepted Buddhism by witnessing his dead body. [[Bhadant Anand Kausalyayan]] converted all people to Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Mahamanav Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|last=Gaikwad|first=Dr. Dnyanraj Kashinath|publisher=Riya Publication|year=2016|isbn=|location=Kolhapur|pages=415|language=Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| December 1956 || [[Delhi]] || 30,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || People converted to Buddhism by witnessing the ashes or bones of Ambedkar.
|-
| December 1956 || [[Agra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] || 20,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || People converted to Buddhism by witnessing the ashes or bones of Ambedkar.
|-
| 13 April 1957 || [[Aligarh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] || 200,000 || Mostly [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || People converted to Buddhism by witnessing the ashes or bones of Ambedkar. [[Sangharakshita]] converted all people to Buddhism.
|-
| 1985 || [[Junagadh]], [[Gujarat]] || 5,000 || [[Hindus]] [[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) ||<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAG-dr-5652118-NOR.html|title=प्रतिक्रिया म्हणून धर्म त्याग कदापि योग्य नाही|website=Divya Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| 4 November 2001 || [[Delhi]] || 50,000 || [[Hindu]] [[dalit]]s ([[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || Buddhist leader and political activist, [[Udit Raj]], organised the large mass conversion.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.buddhismtoday.com/english/world/facts/conversion-manpreet.htm
| title = 50,000 Dalits embrace Buddhism
| publisher = Buddhism Today
| accessdate = 30 August 2007
}}</ref>
|-
| 14 October 2006 || [[Gulburga]], [[Karnataka]] || Hundreds of people || [[Hindu]] [[dalit]]s || Bhante Bodhi Dhamma, senior [[Japan]]es [[bhikkhu]], conducted the 'deeksha' ceremony. [[Mallikarjun Kharge]] was the chief guest of the program.<ref name="auto2">[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-10-15/bangalore/27824893_1_buddhism-chief-guest-srinivas-prasad "Hundreds embrace Buddhism in Gulbarga-Bangalore"], ''Times of India''</ref>
|-
| 27 May 2007 || [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]] || 100,000, incl. [[Laxman Mane]] || Maharashtra's VJ-NT [[Hindus]] of 42 different castes || The conversion has done by under the leadership of [[Ramdas Athawale]] and [[Laxman Mane]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAG-laxman-mane-writes-article-in-rashik-about-cast-of-president-5652122-NOR.html|title=राष्ट्रपतींची जात कशाला सांगता?|website=Divya Marathi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/One-lakh-people-convert-to-Buddhism/article14769767.ece|title=One lakh people convert to Buddhism|date=28 May 2007|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>
|-
| 13 October 2016 || [[Ahmedabad|Ahmadabad]], [[Kalol (Gandhinagar)|Kalol]], and [[Gandhinagar]] and [[Surendranagar]] cities, [[Gujarat]] || 211 || Hindu Dalit || <ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/|title=Hindi News, Latest News in Hindi, Breaking News, हिन्दी समाचार|website=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref>
|-
| October 2016 || [[Gandhinagar]] and [[Surendranagar]], [[Gujarat]] || 2,000 || [[Hindu]] [[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) ||<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-37619084|title=गुजरात में 'सैकड़ों दलित' बौद्ध हुए|first=प्रशांत|last=दयाल|date=11 October 2016|via=www.bbc.com|newspaper=BBC News हिंदी}}</ref>
|-
| May 2017 || [[Saharanpur district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] || 850 || 150 families of [[Hindu]] [[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/dalits-still-converting-to-buddhism-but-at-a-dwindling-rate/723230/|title=Dalits still converting to Buddhism, but at a dwindling rate|date=17 June 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 14 April 2016 || [[Dadar]], [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]] || 2; [[Suicide of Rohith Vemula|Rohit Vemula]]'s mother Radhika Vemula, and brother Raja Vemula || Hindu Dalit || [[Prakash Ambedkar]] converted these persons to Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/mumbai/other-news/rohith-vemulas-mother-and-brother-converted-to-buddhism/articleshow/51822970.cms|title=रोहित वेमुला: रोहित वेमुला के परिवार ने अपनाया बौद्ध धर्म - Rohith Vemula's mother and brother converted to Buddhism|website=Navbharat Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india/2016/04/160414_rohit_vemula_family_converted_buddhism_rd|title=रोहित के परिवार ने हिंदू धर्म छोड़ा, बने बौद्ध|website=BBC News हिंदी}}</ref>
|-
| 1 October 2017 || [[Ahmedabad|Ahmadabad]] and [[Baroda]], in [[Gujarat]] || More than 300 || Hindu Dalit || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/gujarat/ahmedabad/over-300-dalits-convert-to-buddhism-in-gujarat/articleshow/60897570.cms|title=ashok vijayadashmi: गुजरात: 300 से ज्यादा दलितों ने अपनाया बौद्ध धर्म - over 300 dalits convert to buddhism in gujarat|website=Navbharat Times}}</ref>
|-
| 25 December 2016 || [[Deekshabhoomi]] || 5,000 || Hindu OBC || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esakal.com/vidarbha/dhammadiksha-obc-people-23055|title=हजारो ओबीसींनी घेतली धम्मदीक्षा | eSakal|website=www.esakal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/nagpur-news/thousands-of-hindus-convert-to-buddhism-1369986/|title=दीक्षाभूमीवर हिंदू धर्माचा त्याग करून ओबीसींसह हजारोंचा बौद्ध धम्मात प्रवेश|date=25 December 2016|website=Loksatta}}</ref>
|-
| 25 December 2017 || [[Deekshabhoomi]] || 5,000 || Hindu OBC, and [[Christians]] and [[Muslims]] || <ref>http://www.archakmanews.com/over-5000-hindus-and-christians-embrace-buddhism-in-maharastras-nagpur/amp/{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSWaAvI_kiU|title=हजारों ओबीसी बने बौद्ध|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
|-
| 11 April 2018 || Shirasgaon, Maharashtra || More than 500 || Hindu Dalits || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/hi/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4/a-43594709|title=बौद्ध धर्म क्यों अपना रहे हैं भारत के दलित? | DW | 30.04.2018|first=Deutsche|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|website=DW.COM}}</ref>
|-
| 29 April 2018 || [[Una, Gujarat|Una]], [[Gujarat]] || 300 - 350 || Hindu Dalits || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/desh-videsh-news/una-dalits-assaulted-by-cow-vigilantes-with-300-others-adopt-buddhism-quit-hinduism-1671233/|title=गुजरातमध्ये धर्मांतर! गोरक्षक पीडित ३०० दलितांनी हिंदू धर्म सोडला|date=30 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-43945628|title='सन्माना'साठी हिंदू धर्म सोडून ऊना पीडितांचा बौद्ध धम्मात प्रवेश|first=रॉक्सी|last=गागडेकर-छारा|date=30 April 2018|via=www.bbc.com|newspaper=BBC News मराठी}}</ref>
|-
| 2 June 2018 || Ladakh Bhavan, [[Delhi]] || 120 || Hindu Dalits || People from [[Haryana]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hindi.timesnownews.com/india/article/120-dalits-from-the-jind-haryana-converted-to-buddhism-as-state-government-did-not-fulfill-their-demands/235534|title=हरियाणा: सरकार से निराश 120 दलितों ने अपनाया बौद्ध धर्म|website=hindi.timesnownews.com|access-date=2020-08-01|archive-date=2019-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205132814/https://hindi.timesnownews.com/india/article/120-dalits-from-the-jind-haryana-converted-to-buddhism-as-state-government-did-not-fulfill-their-demands/235534|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 19 October 2018|| Pukharayan village, Kanpur Dehat district, [[Uttar Pradesh]] || More than 10,000 || Hindu SC and OBC ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/over-10000-dalits-adopt-buddhism-in-kanpur-dehat/articleshow/66300146.cms|title=Over 10,000 Dalits 'adopt' Buddhism in Kanpur Dehat | Kanpur News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/10000-dalits-in-up-district-convert-to-buddhism/articleshow/66299423.cms|title=10,000 dalits in UP district convert to Buddhism | India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
|-
| 18 October 2018, on [[Dhammachakra Pravartan Day]] || [[Deekshabhoomi]], [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] || 62,000 || [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || [[Surai Sasai]] converted all people to Buddhism.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/dhammchakra-pravartan-din-news-in-marathi-125855855.html|title=दीक्षा घेणाऱ्यांची संख्या हजारोंनी वाढली; दीक्षाभूमीवरील गर्दी मात्र बरीच रोडावली|website=Divya Marathi}}</ref>
|-
| 6–8 October 2019, on [[Dhammachakra Pravartan Day]] || [[Deekshabhoomi]], [[Nagpur]], [[Maharashtra]] || 67,543 || [[Hindus]] ([[dalit]] or [[Scheduled Caste|SC]]) || [[Surai Sasai]] converted all people to Buddhism.<ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhaskarhindi.com/news/55-thousand-followers-took-the-initiation-of-buddhism-88262|title=55 हजार अनुयायियों ने ली बौद्ध धर्म की दीक्षा,दीक्षाभूमि पर जुटे बौद्ध अनुयायी|first=Dainik Bhaskar|last=Hindi|date=7 October 2019|website=दैनिक भास्कर हिंदी}}</ref>
|-
| 8 October 2019, on Dhamma chakra Pravartan Din|| [[Ahmedabad|Ahmadabad]], Mehsana, and Idar (Sambarkantha district) in [[Gujarat]] || 500 ||Hindu SC ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-500-dalits-embrace-buddhism-on-vijayadashami-6059661/|title=Gujarat: 500 Dalits embrace Buddhism on Vijayadashami|date=9 October 2019|website=The Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
| 27 October 2019 || Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial, [[Shahibaug]], [[Ahmedabad|Ahmadabad]], [[Gujarat]] || 1,500 || [[Scheduled Caste|SC]] [[Hindus]] || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jansatta.com/national/1500-dalits-from-across-gujarat-embrace-buddhism-says-equality-is-the-only-reason-for-us-to-embrace-buddhism-jsp/1204236/|title=गुजरात में 1500 लोगों ने अपनाया बौद्ध धर्म, कही यह बात|date=28 October 2019|website=Jansatta}}</ref>
|-
| 14 October 2020 || Hathras, [[Ghaziabad]] district, [[Uttar Pradesh]] || 236 || Valmiki ([[Scheduled Caste|SC]] [[Hindus]]) || Valmiki (Balmiki) people adopted Buddhism in protest against Hathras case.<ref>https://www.aajtak.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/ghaziabad-236-dalits-adopt-buddhism-in-protest-against-hathras-case-1148891-2020-10-21</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{simple-Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Pages related to Buddhism]]
[[Category:B. R. Ambedkar]]
[[Category:Religion in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]
[[Category:Religious behavior and experience]]

List of Buddhist conversions in India - Revision history

CleanupBot at 08:01, 24 November 2023