BUDDHIST..................A BLUE PRINT 511
The danger to Buddhism from Islam no longer exists but the danger from Brahminism exists. It will be its toughest opponent. A Brahmin will remain a Brahmin no matter what colour he assumes or what party he joins. That is because Brahmins want to maintain the system of graded social inequality. For it is this graded inequality which has raised the Brahmins above all and to be on the top of everybody. Buddhism believes in equality. Buddhism strikes at the very root of their prestige and power. That is why the Brahmins hate it. It is quite possible that if the Brahmins are allowed to lead the movement of revival of Buddhism they may use their power to sabotage it or misdirect it. The precaution to exclude them from position of power at least in the early stages of our movement is, therefore, very necessary.
All these proposals raise a question of finance. This question it must be frankly said, cannot be solved by India. The only people who could help are the Buddhists in India, who in the early stages must be very few. The burden must, therefore, be borne by the Buddhist countries outside India which I feel they can easily do by diverting their Dana to this purpose.
(Sd.) B. R. Ambedkar.
Memorandum II
Report on The Condition of Buddhism in South India
- I went on tour of South India to see for myself the condition of Indian Buddhist Communities there, I was there from 7th to
14th July.
- I found that there exists Buddhists Communities in the following places :
A. Near Madras city there are two centres :
(i) Perambur; and (ii) Kanchipuram (Chingeput)
B. In the Interior of the Madras State :
(i) Palikonda (in North Arcot District ); (ii) Tripuram (in North Arcot District); (iii) Vellature (in Vellur District) and (iv) Vaniveda (in Banipeth).
C. In the Mysore State :
(i) Kolar Gold Fields; (ii) Prazer Town, Cantonment Banglore City and (iii) Near Central Jail in the Bangalore City.