Buddhist Society of India


The Buddhist Society of India, known as the Bharatiya Bouddha Mahasabha, is a national Buddhist organization in India. It was founded by B. R. Ambedkar on 4 May 1955 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Ambedkar was the father of the Indian Constitution, polymath, human rights activist and Buddhism revivalist in India. He was first national President of the organization. At a ceremony held on 8 May 1955 in Nare Park, Bombay, Ambedkar formally announced the establishment of this organization for the spread of Buddhism in India. Its headquarter is in Mumbai. Currently Rajratna Ashok Ambedkar, the great grandson of B. R. Ambedkar, is the National President of the Buddhist Society of India. It is a member of the International Buddhist Association World Fellowship of Buddhists.

History

B. R. Ambedkar studied Buddhism all his life. Around 1950, he devoted his attention to Buddhism and travelled to Ceylon to attend a meeting of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. While dedicating a new Buddhist vihara near Pune, Ambedkar announced he was writing a book on Buddhism, and that when it was finished, he would formally convert to Buddhism. He twice visited Burma in 1954; the second time to attend the third conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Rangoon. In July 1951 he formed the "Bharatiya Bauddha Janasangh", which became the "Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha" or the "Buddhist Society of India" in May 1955.