RELIGION NO..................EVERYBODY 403
forward to furnish to the Republic her emblem of the three lions, and when the first President of the Republic was being sworn in, at that history making occasion, idol not of any of the countless Hindu Gods or Goddesses but of the Lord Buddha was installed to record the event, added Dr. Ambedkar.
Neither Rama, nor Krishna, infact no God matched the Lord Buddha, he said. No greater seer and leader would be born, Dr. Ambedkar declared.
Dr. Ambedkar recalled several instances from Ramayana and Mahabharat and questioned the greatness of Ramachandra and Lord Krishna who were “alleged to have behaved that way.” He said Hinduism propounded the twin theory of one truth and one’s love for one’s own as bigotry which shirked disputes and sought to maintain preponderance of its following intact.
He accused Brahmins of having securedly held all the rights except that of Crown which incidentally took the wearer to hell according to Hindu shastra. He asked, how could that religion be loved by those tens of millions on whom perpetual condemnation was perpetrated ?
Time had arrived, he declared, when religion should no longer be inherited from father to son like goods and chattels, but should be examined rationally by everybody before personal acceptance.
Dr. Ambedkar made it clear that he did not believe as Socialists and Communists did, that religion was unnecessary. He stated categorically, “I believe that religion is necessary for the mankind. When religion ends the society would perish too. After all no Government can safeguard and discipline mankind as niti or dharma can”, Dr. Ambedkar added.
Burma’s Ambassador, Sir Maung Gyee, who presided over the meeting, stated that the world which was in pain and trouble would find peace, and solace in Buddhism. An official of the Mahabodhi Society declared the Society’s rejoicing over the fact that “Dr. Ambedkar has joined our ranks”.
“Dr. Ambedkar is arriving in Bombay tomorrow.” [1]
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- : The Bharat, dated 3rd May 1950.