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Letters to the Editor
Conversion no solution
Sir,- This is with reference to Mr. Kancha Ilaiah's article `Shrinking space for Hinduism.' The present predicament of the Dalits due to police atrocities (in States like U.P. and Bihar) and the insensitivity of the administration cannot be solved by politically-motivated mass conversions. This is bound to cause retaliation and ill-will.
The Dalai Lama had emphatically said during the Maha Kumbh festival in February that ``conversions are foolish''. Further it should be noted that Buddhism has been a victim of such mass conversions in its traditional strongholds to aggressive Christian evangelical missionaries - in countries such as South Korea and in the Northeast and in Leh - much to the anguish of Buddhists everywhere.
The Buddha himself never sought to create ill-will among followers of different faiths. The essence of the teachings of the Buddha and Lord Rama remain the same.
Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism can be adhered to without changing one's attire, name or cutting the roots, unlike converting to Islam or Christianity.
Acharya Bhuddhadharma, Malegaon, Maharashtra
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