There lived two great revolutionaries on the earth, one is Tathagat Buddha and another is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. They have brought complete change in the life of the people for securing their welfare.
In Buddha’s time, people were living like beasts and following the inhuman culture developed by the Brahmanism. The Aryans were badly involved degrading and vulgar pleasure like gambling, intoxicating drinks, sexuality etc. Brahmins created the religious literature, which were mere speculations and there was nothing morally elevating in it. On the contrary, the theories introduced were inhuman and immoral leading to the slavery of many to serve the interest of few. Brahmins have also created non existing entities of God and Soul. It resulted in creation of Priesthood for performance of prayers, worships, rites, rituals, ceremonies and observances. The priests (Brahmins) preached these superstitious ideas of their religion during performances or otherwise and the people were made mentally slave by controlling their mind. The ideas of the Brahmins had firm grip on the minds of the people. In such a worse state of society, the Buddha preached His Dhamma and made the people righteous.
Earlier to Buddhism there was a religion called Vaidic religion, a Brahmanic religion. Now in India, there is a Hindu religion which is also a Brahmanic religion. Inequality is the soul of Brahmanism. Earlier, the Brahmins divided the society in four Varnas (Classes) called Chaturvarna consisting Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Rights and privileges of each verna were different. Brahmins enjoyed all rights and privileges and Shudras were denied of these. Varna of a man was decided on his birth and not on his deeds. There was a graded inequality. There were also the people outside Chaturvarna called Avarnas. The people within Chaturvarna were called Savarnas(Caste Hindus). The Avarnas were called by different names in different area. They were called the Depressed Class, Untouchables, Dalits (broken men). Like Shudras, they were deprived of the rights and privileges. In addition, they were subjected to inhuman treatment. They were the worst sufferers of the scheme of suppression and exploitation designed by the Brahmins so as to keep them in a state of complete subjugation. There was no comparison of their slavery in the world. Their humanity was most mutilated. Even their shadow was not allowed to be fallen on the Caste Hindus. In the event of fall of their shadow on the Caste Hindus, they were subjected to punishment. Even the earth and water were treated to be polluted with the touch of the untouchables. They were treated worse than the animals. Nowhere in the world, there was such a worst state of slavery, which was continued for centuries together.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar fought to liberate the untouchables and as a result of his great efforts, their slavery was done away. They got humanity. The untouchables were the Hindus and they belonged to the lower caste, hence, they were subjected to the oppression. Since Hindu religion sanctions the caste system, there can not be equality among its followers. Also there can not be liberty because of the suppression and compulsions on lower castes by the higher castes. Because of hatred among the castes there is no scope for fraternity and justice. Equality, Liberty, Fraternity and Justice are most essential for welfare of the people which can not be secured in Hindu religion. These are available in Buddhism. Therefore, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with his lacs of followers. He gave the Indian Constitution which is based on Equality, Liberty, Fraternity and Justice for welfare of the Indians. He had also decided to make the entire India Buddhist so that the people of India would be Righteous and Happy. Thus, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar brought revolutionary changes in the lives of the people. Also, his speeches and literature are the sources of inspiration for emancipation of mankind.
When Buddhism was almost vanished from India, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar revived it. The Buddhist literature is very vast and a common man can not read it. He had read the Buddhist literature, noticed the adulteration in it and gave us a small gospel in pure form, which is known as “ The Buddha and His Dhamma”. For further knowledge of Dhamma he suggested to read his two books-‘ Revolution and Counter Revolution in Ancient India’ and ‘The Buddha or Karl Marx’. He has also suggested as how the Buddhism should be propagated in India and cautioned about the threat of Brahmanism.
It is, therefore, a duty of every person, who wish to be happy and make others happy, to follow Buddhism and propagate it and to be cautious of Brahmanism.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar firmly said, “ I will make entire India full of Buddhism.” This means he wanted to make India the country of Righteousness. He could not complete this noble task because of his early parinirvana. We being the Buddhist and followers of Babasaheb, it is our duty to propagate Buddhism throughout India so that it would become the country of Righteousness. With the determination that we would propagate and spread Buddhism throughout the India, we have continued our activities.