Category Archives: Buddhism

January 5, 2012 · 8:03 pm

Upcoming Movie: “Shudra – The Rising?”

Now you can watch this movie from here.

I believe till now everyone might have heard about the upcoming movie on Dalits of India, i.e. “Shudra – The Rising?” In case you have missed the news, here is the news! Movie is produced and directed by Sanjiv Jaiswal and movie will be of 120minutes. We all know we can’t express the pain and suffering of Dalits in 2hours movie but still I believe it’s an ideal runtime for a movie and it will be advantageous.

Movie: “Shudra- The Rising?” Poster

A bit of storyline:

Movie is based on story of 250million people born as untouchables (and today’s Dalits) in Hindu caste system and subjected to humiliation and slavery since ancient times. When aryans came to India with the intention of looting, they enslaved the peace loving natives. Manu – Hindu guru – imposed laws on untouchables and barred them from reading, writing and listening holy mantras. Natives were treated less than human, impure, unclean and were forced to do menial jobs.

In the movie you will see, Shudra denied water, (Dalits still fight for such rights) a Shudra child’s nose chopped off for chanting mantras, (Dalits are still not allowed to enter many temples in India), a pregnant Shudra women forced to sleep with upper caste people (Dalit women still are raped on Day to day basis in India) and many more heart touching scenes – the only crime of theirs – they are born untouchables. Movie seems to be based on real events, if not real I bet, you might have heard such incidents once in a while in your life-time. It is believed that nature took ages to make man out of animal, but it took moments for certain men to make their fellow human animal again. “Shudra – The Rising?” highlights the depth that evil human mind can succumb, to cling on to power and supremacy.

Recently, the “Shudra – The Rising?” team has received screening Invitation for “Shudra – The Rising?” from South Asian Film Festival which will take place June 13-17, 2012, in Vancouver, and in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

My best wishes to the team

I strongly believe that movies on social issues should be made and given more emphasis. Sanjiv Jaiswal has chosen an important issue of caste discrimination, which has ruined millions lives and hopes. After watching trailers of movie, I can say that it’s a sincere effort by the team to put forward the caravan of Dr Ambedkar. I wish the team a grand success!

P.S.: Movie is going to release in Feb. 2012 and you can visit the movie site at http://www.shudrathefilm.com for latest updates. You can also follow producer and director – Sanjiv Jaiswal – on twitter at @sanjivjaiswal and join the facebook page of the movie at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SHUDRA-the-rising/102558246496607

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December 30, 2011 · 1:47 am

1st January,1818: The Battle of Bhima Koregaon

If we wish to be free, we must fight. Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death. — Patrick Henry (March, 1775)

History of India is nothing but the struggle between untouchables and so called upper castes. However the Indian historians have always misled us by not showing the true face of Indian History.

The glorious victory of few hundred untouchable soldiers over numerically superior Peshwas army in the battle of Koregaon, fought on 1st January, 1818, is one such chapter in Indian history whose significance has been carefully hidden.

Watch – Documentary on Bhima Koregaon

On that day, when many were busy celebrating the new year, a small force of 500 mahar (an untouchable caste in Maharashtra) soldiers in the British army were preparing for a war against the most brutal Indian state of that times – Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune, Maharashtra.

In the history books, this battle is considered an important one and is known as second Anglo-Maratha war that resulted in the total destruction of Peshwa kingdom and sealed the victory of British Empire in India. However, there is a different historical dimension to this war that all of us need to be aware of.

Bhima Koregaon Pillar: Honouring the Bravery of Untouchable Soldiers

This war was also between the Indian untouchables (who were condemned to live a life so miserable that you might not find any parallels in the world history) and Brahminism (manifested through brahmin rulers from Pune).

For mahar soldiers, this was not just another battle but it was their battle for self-respect, dignity and against the supremacy of Manusmriti. And these soldiers, just 500 of them, defeated the Peshwa army of over 30,000 in just one day. Their victory against a mighty force is perhaps unparallel in Indian history.

Maharashtrian society under brahmin’s rule followed worst form of social discrimination based on caste wherein the lower strata of society such as untouchables were confined to the stringent Brahmanical laws and subsequently their mobility and development were impaired.

The untouchables had to carry a broom stick attached to their backs so that when they enter into city, their footprints would not pollute the path. They were forced to put a pot around their neck to carry their spit in the pot. They were not allowed to hold any arms and education was completely barred. Untouchables were killed if they did not follow these restrictions. Bhima-Koregaon battle was the answer of the untouchables to the brahmin ruling class of the country.

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Tagged as 22 Vows administered by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, 500 battle of bhima koregaon, Bhima Koregaon, Bhima Koregaon Movie, Bombay Native Infantry, Caste Discrimination, Caste system in India, casteism, Dalit Buddhist movement, dalit-bahujan, Dr B R Ambedkar, india, January 1st 1818, lord buddha, Mahar Regiment, Maharashtra, Peshwa, The Battle of Bhima Koregaon, Untouchability, untouchables

December 6, 2011 · 12:31 pm

06 Dec 1956: Mahaparinirvan Din

On the morning at around 6.30 a.m, Dr. Ambedkar’s wife Savita Ambedkar got up as usual, when she had a look at the bed she saw Dr. Ambedkar’s leg resting on the cushion as usual. She soon realized that he had departed. She sent her car for Nanak Chand Rattu (assistant of Dr. Ambedkar) and he came. On his arrival Mrs. Ambedkar collapsed in the sofa crying that Babasaheb had departed the world. Rattu could not bear the thought, and with a trembling voice he exclaimed, “What! Babasaheb has departed this world. Rattu attempted to stimulate heart action in the mortal remains by massaging his limbs, moving his arms and leg, pressing upward the diaphragm and putting in his mouth a spoonful of brandy; but they failed to stimulate respiration. He had passed away in sleep.

Check also – Last day of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Mrs. Ambedkar now louldly mourned her husband, and Rattu wept bitterly over the dead body of his master, crying “Oh! Babasaheb, I have come, give me work.”

(Four year earlier Dr Ambedkar had written to his chief lieutenant Bahurao Gaikwad that he would not live long, and so Bahurao Gaikwad should prepare his mind for the event. )

Rattu then broke the shocking news to circles closest to Babasaheb and then Ministers of the Central Government. The news spread like wild fire. Many of his admirers and lieutenants and followers ran to 20 Alipore Road, and soon a throng of mourners collected outside his residence to have a last glimpse of the great man.

The Bombay associates of the leader were intimated through Siddarth College, and they were also informed that the body was being flown to Bombay that night.

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December 5, 2011 · 4:56 pm

Last day of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

5 Dec 1956: On the morning of 5 December, Dr. Ambedkar woke up a little late. Nanak Chad Rattu, his assistant was there till then, and after Dr. Ambedkar’s waking up, he took permission from him and left for office. Only his wife (Mrs. Savita Ambedkar) and his doctor, Dr Mavlankar, from Bombay remain in the house. In the afternoon, Dr. Savita and Dr. Mavlankar went to market. They had to do some shopping before Dr. Mavlankar’s return to Bombay, so they got late in returning home.

Check also – 06th Dec 1956: Mahaparinirvan Din

At 6 o’clock in the evening when Rattu came back from his office to Dr. Ambedkar’s house. Mrs. Ambedkar had not returned from the market till them. At this Dr. Ambedkar felt that he was neglected, and he was beginning to feel angry due to this. Ratu realized this. Gathering his composure, Dr. Ambedkar gave Ratu some work to type. Ratu was about to go to this room, when Mrs. Ambedkar returned from the market. Dr. Ambedkar could not control his anger, and he said some harsh words to Mrs. Ambedkar, He also said that he wanted to divorce Mrs. Ambedkar. Dr. Savita Ambedkar saw that Dr. Ambedkar was angry and anything she would say would only provoke him further. So, she told Ratu to try to calm Dr. Ambedkar. Ratu tried to pacify him, and Dr. Ambedkar calmed down after a little while.

That evening at 8’o clock, a deputation of Jain followers met Dr. Ambedkar as per the scheduled appointment . Dr. Ambedkar was thinking of calling them the next day; but since they had come, he said, he should have a talk with them. After about 20 minutes he went to the bathroom. With his hand on the shoulder of Rattu he came out of the drawing room, flung himself into the sofa and sat with his eyes closed.

The Jain leaders stood up as a mark of respect and then sat down. There was complete silence for some minutes, the Jain leaders gazing on his face intently. After Dr. Ambedkar rose his head, they discussed for a few minutes questions concerning Buddhism and Jainism. . He was presented a book ‘Jain Buddha’ at that time. Actually, they had come to invite Dr. Ambedkar to a function that they were organizing the next day. They gave their invitation to him and Dr. Ambedkar accepted it and assured them that if his health permitted, he would definitely take a part in the function.

Dr. Ambedkar was busy in his conversation with the Jain deputation, when Dr. Mavlankar who had come there especially to look after him, left for Bombay according to his pre-decided programme.

After the Jain deputation left, Rattu pressed his master’s legs. Dr. Ambedkar asked him to anoint his head with oil. He did so. Dr. Ambedkar felt a little relaxed. Suddenly a gentle, pleasant, musical tone was heard; and it took little time for Rattu to know that his master was, with his eyes shut, singing a song, the fingers of his right hand striking the arm of the sofa. Slowly the song became distinct and louder. Its lines became firm as Dr. Ambedkar recited ‘Buddham Sarnam Gacchami’ with full concentration. Ratu felt happy on seeing this. Afterwards, Dr. Ambedkar told Ratu to put on a record of the same song on the radiogram and with devotion Dr. Ambedkar accompanied the song. While the song was playing on the radiogram, he asked Ratu to take out a few of his books including the preface and introduction to The Buddha and His Dhamma and keep them on the table besides to his bedside so that he could work on them during the night.

After some time, Dr. Ambedkar’s cook Sudama came out and said that supper was ready. Dr. Ambedkar said that he would have simply a little rice and nothing else. He was still under the spell of the song. The servant came a second time and Dr. Ambedkar rose up to go to the dining room. While walking with his head on the shoulder of Rattu, he took out some books from different almirahs and told him to place these books too on the table. After his dinner, he came into his room. There he kept humming the song of Kabir ‘ Chal Kabir tera bhav sagar dera’ for some time. Then he got up and went to his bedroom. There, he looked at the books that he had asked Ratu to keep. He worked on the preface of The Buddha and His Dhamma and fell asleep by keeping his hand over the book.

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Tagged as 22 Vows administered by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, B R Ambedkar, buddhism, buddhist, Caste Discrimination, Caste system in India, Dalit Buddhist movement, dalit-bahujan, Death of Dr Ambedkar, Diskha Bhoomi, Hindu Caste System, Jai Bheem, last day of Dr. Ambedkar, lord buddha, Mahaprinirvan Diwas, The Buddha and His Dhamma, Untouchability, untouchables

November 5, 2011 · 7:43 pm

Educational Biography of Dr B. R. Ambedkar

Find more Images/Photos/Wallpapers/Articles/Books etc. at Velivada

Check also – Dr. Ambedkar in USA, Dr. Ambedkar in Germany, Dr. Ambedkar in Hungary, and Dr. Ambedkar in Belgium

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (MA., Ph.D., M.Sc., D.Sc., Barrister-at-Law, L.L.D., D.Litt)

1. Elementary Education, 1902 Satara, Maharashtra

2. Matriculation, 1907, Elphinstone High School, Bombay Persian etc.,

3. Inter 1909, Elphinstone College,BombayPersian and English

4. B.A, 1913, Elphinstone College, Bombay, University of Bombay, Economics & Political Science

5. M.A, 1915 Majoring in Economics and with Sociology, History Philosophy, Anthropology and Politics asthe other subjects of study.

6. Ph.D, 1917, Columbia University conferred a Degree of Ph.D.

7. M.Sc, 1921 June, London School of Economics, London. Thesis – ‘Provincial Decentralization of Imperial Finance in British India’

8. Barrister-at- Law 30-9-1920 Gray’s Inn, London Law

(1922-23, Spent some time in reading economics in the University of Bonn in Germany.)

9. D.Sc 1923 Nov London School of Economics, London ‘The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution’ was accepted for the degree of D.Sc. (Economics).

10. L.L.D (Honoris Causa) 5-6-1952 Columbia University, New York For HIS achievements, Leadership and authoring the constitution of India

11. D.Litt (Honoris Causa) 12-1-1953 Osmania University, Hyderabad For HIS achievements, Leadership and writing the constitution of India

Check also – Books written by Dr. Ambedkar

Original photos of Dr. Ambedkar

Quotations of Dr. Ambedkar

Things you don’t know about Dr. Ambedkar

LL.D. Degree Certificate of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar from Columbia University

Movie – Babasaheb Ambedkar in Hindi, English and Tamil

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October 30, 2011 · 9:35 am

Please visit www.refuge.hu and support Jai Bhim Network, Hungary

Few days’ back, as I wrote on the Jai Bhim Network (Hungary) and new church law prohibiting Jai Bhim Network from its activities. Jai Bhim Network has launched new website http://www.refuge.hu/ to appeal Buddhists, well-wishers and guards of freedom around the world to support Jai Bhim Network, Hungary.

Please visit the link http://www.refuge.hu/ and support Jai Bhim Network.

Dr Ambedkar in Hungary – Activities of Jai Bhim Network, Hungary

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Tagged as 22 Vows administered by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Ambedkar in Hungary, B R Ambedkar, buddhism, buddhist, Church Law Hungary, Dalit Buddhist movement, dalit-bahujan, Dalits of Europe, discrimination, Dr B R Ambedkar, Gautama Buddha, Hungary, Jai Bhim Network Hungary

October 26, 2011 · 1:26 am

Some Random Thoughts on Diwali – Say No To Diwali

“History of India is nothing but the battle between Buddhism and Brahmanism.” – Dr. B R Ambedkar.

In India, the so called followers of Hinduism are gullible masses, those are following Brahmanism in sugar coated Hinduism. From generation to generation Brahmans have spread crooked stories to befool masses and keep Dalit-Bahujans following Brahmanical culture without even knowing what they are following and doing. All these Brahmanical crooked stories have made such a psychological impact that people are bound to follow these rituals without knowing the reality behind these fraudulent stories.

Also read – Holi – A Festival To Commomorate Bahujan Burning

Hindus say “Light lamps and Laxmi (money) will flow into your house.” How it can be possible that lighting candles will make money to come? (All it would do is pollute the environment but nothing else) If lighting candles make people rich then people who are living in remotest areas, people who don’t have access to electricity since years would have been millionaire or billionaire by now, as they use candles for lighting purpose throughout the whole year!

Also check – Raksha Bandhan: Another form of Slavery

Jawaharlal Nehru in his book “Discovery of India” (page no. 204-5) writes that the festivals like Holi, Diwali and Dussehra are imitation of the Greek festivals. At page no. 235, Nehru explains that the Brahmins are not a caste but an organisation who would offer their daughters for the guests. At page no. 37, he states “Hinduism as a faith is vague, amorphous, many sided, all things to all men. It is hardly possible to define it, or indeed to say definitely whether it is a religion or not, in the usual sense of the word. In its present form, and even in the past, it embraces many beliefs and practices, from the highest to the lowest, often opposed to or contradicting each other.”

Here are the few facts and realities of Diwali festival:

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