DALIT MOVEMENT IN VIDHARBHA: POST AMBEDKAR ERA

The research paper focuses on the Dalit movement in Post-Ambedkar era in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra. The Dalit movement (also known as the Neo-Buddhist movement) started by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is a religious as well as a socio-political movement.It rapidly re-interpreted Buddhism and formed a new school of Buddhism called Navayana. The movement was launched in 1956 by Dr.B.R.Ambedkar when nearly half-a-million Dalits joined him and converted to Navayana Buddhism. It rejected Hinduism, challenged the caste system in India and promoted the just rights of the Dalit community. After Dr.B.R. Ambedkar's demise, the movement has stayed alive through conversions and various form of protest that still happens today. In this paper the main focus will be the Dalit movement which has taken place in Vidharbha area (East) of Maharashtra.