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The family of Dalith research scholar Rohith Vemula, whose suicide at Hyderabad Central University in January created a firestorm of protest, converted to Buddhism on Thursday.
This happened on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, the Dalit icon and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
Rohith’s mother and brother were given “deeksha” by Buddhist monks. The ceremony was held at Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar.
“We organised the deeksha ceremony as the family approached us,” Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar said.
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Rohit’s suicide in January had led to a wave of protests in campuses across the country and renewed debate on treatment of Dalit sudents in educational institutions.
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