Low-caste Indian Hindus convert to Buddhism in mass meet

INDIA: Thousands of low-caste Hindus seeking to escape the oppression of India's rigid caste system on Sunday embraced Buddhism in a mass conversion.

Some 5,000 Dalits those at the bottom of the ancient religious hierarchy who were once known as untouchables converted to Buddhism in Mumbai, state capital of Maharashtra in western India, a Dalit group said.

"We estimate that close to 5,000 Dalits have chosen the path towards Buddhism by the end of the day," said Shravan Gaikwad, representative of the Samatha Sainik Dal, a Dalit group.

Sunday's conversion came just two weeks after a Dalit woman was sworn in as chief minister of India's largest state in an unexpected majority win that some saw as a sign of how far the group has come.

But many Dalits say they still face severe discrimination and the conversions are a way to make a fresh start, as well as to draw attention to their plight.

Despite legislation banning caste discrimination, Dalits commonly perform the most menial and degrading jobs in India. On occasion, they are ostracised, beaten or even killed by members of upper-caste groups.

Sushil Kathe, who travelled thousands of kilometres to convert on Sunday, remembers not being allowed to drink from the local well as a child growing up in a village in a rice-growing district of the state.

"The upper caste came and did not allow us to drink water. They said the place would be impure if we were allowed to take the water," said Kathe, 25, who sells religious booklets.

The conversions have been opposed by right-wing Hindus who have pushed some Indian states to legally restrict the practice, calling them "forced." But landless labourer D.G. Khade said conversion was his only hope of a life of dignity in India.

Mumbai, Monday, AFP