Vinay Damodar Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar preferred Buddhism because it gives three liberatory principles in combination which no other religion does. All other religions bother themselves with God and Soul and life after death. Buddhism teaches Prajna (understanding as against superstition and supernaturalism). It teaches Karuna (love). It teaches Samata (Equality). This is what man wants …
Religion and Dalits: Learning from Black Americans
Chanchal Kumar Before we come to the question of religion, we must first contend with the issue concerning our knowledge of history. History as a means to self-definition and a way to place ourselves in society and the larger world. Religion and history (by which we mean not just knowing our past but also …
Buddhist Sangha — an embodiment of gender neutrality
Dr Amritpal Kaur When an ideology for restructuring of human nature and society becomes a religious cult, it not only loses its spirit of rationality and political relevance but its professional representatives also degenerate into mere religious organizations. It then becomes impossible for such a psycho-social philosophy to maintain its effectiveness, particularly in the …
Analyzing a Brahmin historian’s views on the origins of untouchability
Shubhi Often the theory of varnasankara or mixed castes and untouchability are discussed together in Indian academia mainly to rationalize the link between low occupational status of lower castes and untouchability. There is no obvious link between the two; for Ambedkar argued beef eating by the Buddhist broken men had resulted in the imposition …
Dr. BabaSaheb Ambedkar’s Idea of an Ideal Democracy
Babasaheb Ambedkar always used to say that, Political democracy will not work if there is no democracy in the society. Social democracy is important. But democracy is neither a political machinery nor a social system. It should be the philosophy of life & attitude of the mind. We must not equate democracy merely to …
Buddhist Outlook on Gender Identities as a Delusion
Dr Amritpal Kaur Identities are culturally located historical formations, open to reinterpretation and dispute. They are culturally, socially and psychologically constructed delusions that tend to reinforce a state of emotionalism on the human self. Nationality, religion, class, caste, race, gender and all are intrinsically responsible for defining the boundaries of human identity. Most of the …
Phoolan Devi: A revolutionary, a politician and a Buddhist
Ritesh Today 10th August, is the birth anniversary of of the queen of justice– Phoolan Devi. Let’s today remember her with unpopular facts of her life’s journey. At the age of 31, in 1994, Phoolan Devi was released from jail after spending a decade without any trial. After a traumatizing childhood & a terrible …
Navayana Buddhism – Context, Debates and Theories
The Shared Mirror PRE RELEASE COPY Navayāna Buddhism Context, Debates and Theories shaileshkumar darokar subodh n.w bodhi s.r Published by Dedicated to all members of the Navayāna Buddhist Sangha The Shared Mirror Publishing House The Shared Mirror Publishing House shall endeavour to promote Dalit Bahujan literature and writers. It …
Ayurveda: claims, facts, and reality
Preshit Ambade India is watching the tussle between the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Mr. Ramdev of Patanjali. Tall stories are being told about Ayurveda’s ability to cure diseases. I am an Ayurveda graduate, and I do have complete faith in the system. There is no doubt that there are shortfalls in the allopathic …