Conversion to Buddhism Helps Dalits 

Bombay : The conversion of Dalits to Buddhism has taken them to an altogether . new world of fresh air. This is discernible particularly among the youth who have completely shed the psychology of servitude under which his forefathers groaned. The Neo-Buddhist has not only completely thrown away the irrational and superstitious rituals practised by the Hindus but has adopted a scientific temper. He has given up the Hindu gods and immersed them in the nearby rivers and wells. What we see today in the Buddha wades are the images of only Lord Buddha and Dr. Ambedkar. He has also stopped performing lowly duties like carrying carcasses of dead animals, carrying death messages, collecting fuels for cooking, marriage feasts of caste Hindus, sweeping village roads. etc. The new generation, exposed to the world of learning and knowledge, has become psychologically independent of his counterparts both in urban and rural areas, The conversion, coupled with the spread , of education, has thrown up a class of writers whose contribution to the Marathi literature is most positive (Special correspondent of the Deccan Herald, Nov. 3)