BBC NEWS | South Asia | Low caste Indians set to convert: "Thousands of tribal and Dalit Hindus in India are to embrace the Buddhist faith at a huge gathering in Mumbai.
The ceremony, which may be presided over by Tibet's exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, is billed as the largest religious conversion in modern India.
The converts hope to escape the rigid caste system in which their status is the lowest."
Ah, an opportunity to do a mercifully brief version of a previous post.
One of the roles of a mythology is to either help maintain a societal status quo or provide an initiative for change.
The Hindu religion supports the caste system.
The Dalits are the lowest caste.
Dalits are converting to non-Hindu religions.
Upper castes are passing laws to make conversion harder. [here]
Casting off a belief system that is used to oppress you is good. Replacing the belief system with another one is unnecessary but a personal choice they're entitled to make.
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