143
IF BUDDHIST GOSPEL IS NOT ADOPTED HISTORY OF CONFLICT IN EUROPE, WILL REPEAT IN ASIA
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar while speaking at a reception given by Shri P. N. Rajbhoj, General Secretary of the Federation and delegate to the world Buddhist Conference in honour of Shri M. R. Murti, Vice-President of the Indo-Japanese Cultural Associations in Japan at New Delhi on February 15,
1953, expressed the view that either the present generation or future generations would have to choose between Budhism and Marxism.
“In the present condition of the world “said Dr. Ambedkar,” so far as I have been able to study the situation, I have come to the conclusion that the conflict, whatever form it may take, will ultimately be between the Gospel of the Buddha and the Gospel of Karl Marx. ’’.
“It is from that point of view, that I have been attracted by Japan, by China and by other Eastern countries,” he said.
Dr. Ambedkar said that the East had already become more important than the West, but he feared that if the Buddhist Gospel was not adopted, the history of conflict in Europe would be repeated in Asia.
Religions other than Buddhism concentrated on the problems of the Souls, of worship, but they forgot man. Dr. Ambedkar added that the Buddha alone when pressed for his views on the souls, said, “Such discussions are unprofitable. Nobody can prove the existence of the souls. I am concerned with man. I am concerned with establishing righteousness between man and man.” [1]
��
1 : The Free Press Journal, dated 16th February, 1953.