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dated October 15, 1956 (there being no issue of the paper dated October 14): Ambedkar a Buddhist

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, along with his wife, Mrs. Savitabai, and thousands of his Scheduled Castes followers took what he called "the most important step of his life" when he entered the Buddhist fold at a special ceremony in Nagpur on October 14. Dr. Ambedkar said he and his followers would not join the Vajrayan or Mahayan sects of Buddhism. Theirs would be a sort of neo-Buddhism, "Navyan." Asked if the Scheduled Castes would not lose the privileges and benefits given under the Constitution, like reservations, if they became Buddhists, Dr. Ambedkar replied with the question, "Are Brahmins prepared to become untouchables to have these privileges?" The mantap in which the function was held was decorated with the Sanchi motif and in front of the dais was a statuette of the Buddha in shining brass, which Dr. Ambedkar garlanded after the ceremony. Dr. Ambedkar, who is President of the Scheduled Castes Federation, said he would continue to take interest in active politics. "I am going to contest the ensuing elections. Before that I would start a new political party to be called the Republican Party."

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