Before writing anything about 22 vows let us look at some aspects of Babasaheb ji's life so that we can see and understand the perspective of 22 vows. This is completely my personal opinion. On 13 October 1935, Babasaheb ji had said in the Yevala conference that the time has come to take a final decision, we should abandon Hinduism and adopt some other religion which should have equal status and proper conduct. It was further said that it was unfortunate that I was born in Hindu religion, on which I had no right, but I take an oath that I will not die in Hindu religion. Baba Saheb ji said this because before that his life was spent in the reform lane in Hindu religion, but there was not a single difference in Hindu religion. He told Nanakchand Rattu ji that Hindu people are not bad but their religion is based on high and low, which does not allow their conduct to get out of it. On October 14, 1956, on the day of Dussehra, Babasaheb ji converted to Buddhism in Nagpur. Today we know that place as Deekshabhoomi. It took Babasaheb ji 21 years to find such a religion which gives equality to all the downtrodden, his society. They had received calls from many such religions for them, which they did not know what they were giving, but they accepted such a religion which is relevant for all the downtrodden Bahujans. In these 21 years, Babasaheb ji must have seen that just as Hindu religion is full of code in the conduct of upper caste people, similarly Hindu religion is full of code in the conduct of Bahujans and downtrodden. Babasaheb ji wanted that with his Bahujan and deprived society renouncing Hindu religion, he should also come out from the evils. These 22 vows are one of those 21 years waiting, which Babasaheb ji has made with great thoughts and understanding.
He wanted the Bahujan and the deprived society to stay away from God and not to believe in any superstition (1. I will have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh nor will I worship them. 2. I have no faith in Rama and Krishna) I will not have any faith in 'Gauri', Ganapati and other Hindu gods and goddesses, nor will I worship them. doesn't believe in incarnation.)
He wanted not to fall into false propaganda about Buddha (5. I do not believe and will not believe that Lord Buddha was an incarnation of Vishnu. I consider this to be sheer madness and false propaganda.)
He wanted them to stay away from the rituals (6. I will not do 'Shraddha' or 'Pinda-daan'. 7. I will not act in a manner that violates the principles and teachings of the Buddha. I will not allow any function to be performed by him.)
He wanted the society to be based on equality (9. I believe in equality of man. 10. I will try to establish equality.)
He wanted us to practice Buddhism (11. I would follow the Buddha's 'Great Eightfold Path'. 12. I would follow the 'paramitas' prescribed by the Buddha. 13. I would have compassion and compassion for all living beings and will protect them. and practice compassion and compassion in my daily life.)
He wanted that as Hinduism is settled in the conduct of the people, in the same way, leaving the Hindu religion, Buddhism should also settle in the conduct of the Bahujans and the downtrodden (19. I renounce Hinduism which is harmful to humanity and the cause of humanity). hinders progress and development because it is based on inequality, and considers Buddhism to be my religion. 20. I firmly believe that the Buddha's Dhamma is the true religion. )
And when all the above promises have been fulfilled, I will automatically join the Buddhist religion and become a Buddhist (22. I solemnly declare and confirm that I will hereafter live according to the principles and teachings of the Buddha and his Dhamma) I'll spend it.)
Not only did Babasaheb ji not plan for Dhamma initiation in Nagpur, but he had plans for Dhamma initiation in all the major cities of India. At his last moment, when lakhs of people had gathered for his last darshan, Babasaheb's close friend Dadasaheb B. K, Gaikwad ji asked lakhs of people present whether they want to take Dhamma initiation, all the people supported them by raising their hands, women, children, men. After the cremation discourse of Bhante Anand Kaushalyayan ji, the biggest mass conversion program took place and 22 vows were repeated there too. Under Babasaheb ji's plan, first the program of conversion was to be held in Mumbai itself, but due to some reason it happened in Nagpur, but here the biggest conversion took place in his last time with a large influx of people even bigger than Nagpur and many people caught the Buddha's life.
Today the heart is sad to see that we directly remember the 22nd vow and forget the earlier 21 vows. Babasaheb ji's (ref. Dr. Ambedkar ke Antim Kuch Varsh - Nanakchand Rattu)
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