The Buddhist monk who witnessed 'spiritual makeover' of BR Ambedkar

PM Narendra Modi paid homage to BR Ambedkar with a visit to Deekshabhoomi, where the Dalit icon and over 500,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956.

Lucknow: On the occasion of Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar's 126th birth anniversary, a Buddhist monk at Baudh Vihar in Lucknow's Risaldar Park on Friday recalled the historic moment when the architect of the Indian Constitution embraced Buddhism.

90-year-old Bhadant Pragyanand is the only surviving Buddhist monk among the seven monks who witnessed Ambedkar embracing Buddhism at Nagpur's historic Deekshabhoomi on October 14, 1956.

Pragyanand was 22 years old at that time.

"The atmosphere was euphoric, nearly five lakh people had gathered to witness the spiritual makeover of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur in October 1956. By this time, he had already retired from politics."

"I assisted Bhadant Chandramani Mahathero who formally inducted Babasaheb Ambedkar into Buddhism. Ambedkar's wife Savita was also present," Pragyanand told news agency PTI.

Babasaheb, as Ambedkar was popularly called, was totally engrossed in the ceremony and it seemed he had lost all connection with the outside world, the Buddhist monk said.

The Buddhist monks who participated in various ceremonies when Ambedkar embraced Buddhism at Nagpur's Deekshabhoomi were Bhadant Chandramani Mahathero, Bhante Pragya Tiss, M Sangh Ratan Mahathera, Bhikshi Dhamm Rakshit, H Saddha Tiss, H Thamma Nand Mahathera and Bhikshu Galgedar Pragyanand.

Hailing originally from Sri Lanka, Pragyanand is the senior-most priest at Buddh Vihar in Lucknow's Risaldar Park, which was visited by Ambedkar twice during his lifetime.

According to Bhikshu Pragyasar, a Buddhist monk (at Baudh Vihar), "It was after his Lucknow visits in 1948 and 1951 that Ambedkar's desire to embrace Buddhism grew stronger."

Pragyanand is looked after by his disciples. "For most of the time, he is confined to his bed, and communicates using sign language and pens his thoughts. But, the mere mention of Babasaheb and Nagpur's Deekshabhoomi gives him the strength to speak his mind," said another Bhikshu, Suman Ratan.

"Babasaheb was in touch with Bhadant Bodhanand, the mentor of Pragyanand. Initially, it was Bodhanand who was to assist Babasaheb in embracing Buddhism. But Bodhanand's untimely death in 1952 paved way for Pragyanand to fill the void," Bhikshu Pragayasar said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid homage to Ambedkar with a visit to Deekshabhoomi, where the Dalit icon and over 500,000 followers had embraced Buddhism on October 14, 1956.

This 'Dharmantar' is considered the biggest mass religious conversion at a single location in history that took place 61 years ago.

(With Agency inputs)