200 Dalits embrace Buddhism

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than 200 people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes on Sunday embraced the Buddhist religion in a mass conversion programme organised here by the SC/ST All India Confederation, Kerala, and the Lord Buddha Universal Society.
In a function held on Buddha Purnima day, Sri Lanka-Kerala Buddhist Association secretary Millewa Upasena Tera offered `diksha'' to K Raman Kutty, president of SC/ST All India Confederation, and others gathered to join the Buddhist community.
Buddha''s preachings in the ancient Pali language were then read out to the audience.
Sixty-five women were among those who converted to Buddhism. A book ''Sri Buddha''s Life and Teachings'' by R Aniruddhan was released on the occasion by Pune-based Thrilokya Dharmachakra activist Dharmachari Chandrabodhi.
In his speech, Raman Kutty said by embracing Buddhism, the dalits who had been denied justice all these years had chosen the path of awakening.