Hundreds of people were waiting as the train drew in from Bombay. Waving garlands, banners and lamps they roared as a smiling, orange-robed figure stepped down. The crowds came from the poorest section of Indian society, but the monk they were greeting hailed from Tooting, London. Terry Pilchick (Nagabodhi) was a witness to this crazy reversal of the guru syndrome and other extraordinary results of a revolution begun by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar thirty years earlier. It was then that Dr Ambedkar-champion of India's 60 million Untouchables'-had led a peaceful revolt. Leaving behind the oppression of the caste system, he and his followers had converted to Buddhism. Jai Bhim is a colorful, humorous yet moving meeting with these new Buddhists and the unique revolution they are building in the city slums and remote villages of modern India. A travel book which can extend the moral as well as the imaginative ... horizons of the reader.-Faith and Freedom

This important book presents systematic evidence of the incidence and extent of the practice of untouchability in contemporary India. It is based on the results of a very large survey covering 560 villages in eleven states. The field data is supplemented by information concerning associated forms of discrimination which Dalits face in their daily lives./-//-/This study finds that untouchability is practised in one form or another in almost 80 per cent of the villages surveyed. It is most prevalent in the religious and personal spheres. While the evidence presented in this book suggests that the more blatant and extreme forms of untouchability appear to have declined, discrimination is still practised in one form or another. The most widespread manifestations are in access to water and to cremation or burial grounds, as also when it comes to the major life cycle rituals. The survey also found that the notion of untouchability continues to pervade the public sphere, including in a host of state institutions and the interactions that occur within them.

The book analyses political and social transition at the juncture of Indian Independence in 1947 from the British to Indians, with a view of Dalits, who got initial emancipation under the British rule from Hindu Varna system and Brahmanical Tyranny. The book highlights the issues of untouchability, Mahar Movement, Mahatma Gandhi, Mahatma Phule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

The work of twenty-two scholars is brought together in this comparative study of the emerging relationships between religion and politics in India, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Part I, "South Asia: Unity and Diversity," presents a comparative analysis of religio-political patterns in the three countries. Part II, “India: The Politics of Religious Pluralism,” emphasizes the rich diversity of Indian religious life and its political consequences. Part III, “Pakistan: The Politics of Islamic Identity,” is chiefly concerned with the political, ideological, and legal problems which Pakistan has faced. Part IV, “Ceylon: The Politics of Buddhist Resurgence,” emphasizes the dramatic developments by which Buddhists have become deeply involved in politics. Originally published in 1966. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

“…a moving personal story and a useful educational examination of persistent discrimination”—Kirkus Reviews For readers of Caste, the coming-of-age story of a Dalit individual that illuminates systemic injustice in India and its growing impact on US society Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puruskar, 2020 Born into a "formerly untouchable manual-scavenging family in small-town India," Yashica Dutt was taught from a young age to not appear “Dalit looking.” Although prejudice against Dalits, who compose 25% of the population, has been illegal since 1950, caste-ism in India is alive and well. Blending her personal history with extensive research and reporting, Dutt provides an incriminating analysis of caste’s influence in India over everything from entertainment to judicial systems and how this discrimination has carried over to US institutions. Dutt traces how colonial British forces exploited and perpetuated a centuries old caste system, how Gandhi could have been more forceful in combatting prejudice, and the role played by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, whom Isabel Wilkerson called “the MLK of India’s caste issues” in her book Caste. Alongside her analysis, Dutt interweaves personal stories of learning to speak without a regional accent growing up and desperately using medicinal packs to try to lighten her skin. Published in India in 2019 to acclaim, this expanded edition includes two new chapters covering how the caste system traveled to the US, its history here, and the continuation of bias by South Asian communities in professional sectors. Amid growing conversations about caste discrimination prompting US institutions including Harvard University, Brandeis University, the University of California system, and the NAACP to add caste as a protected category to their policies, Dutt’s work sheds essential light on the significant influence caste-ism has across many aspects of US society. Raw and affecting, Coming Out as Dalit brings a new audience of readers into a crucial conversation about embracing Dalit identity, offering a way to change the way people think about caste in their own communities and beyond.

The Triratna Dharma Training Course for Mitras offers a comprehensive four-year course in Buddhism and meditation. This is a Revised Edition of Year Three, which includes: Selected Suttas from the Pāli Canon Letters of Gold, Letters of Fire: Living with the Dhammapada Towards Insight, Reflection and Meditation In Search of the Middle Way: Mahāyāna Perspectives The Bodhisattva Ideal The Drama of Cosmic Enlightenment: The White Lotus Sutra Faith, Symbols and the Imagination Ambedkar and Buddhism - NEW MODULE ADDED 2018 Plus detailed Index

Through Buddhist Eyes continues Sangharakshita’s five volumes of memoirs. Covering journeys across five continents and two decades, this volume is made up of nineteen travel letters and one talk. They are Sangharakshita’s heartfelt communications to the growing membership of the new Buddhist movement he founded: the Triratna Buddhist Order.

This book breaks new ground in the study of Dalit Literature, including in its corpus, a range of genres such as novels, autobiographies, pamphlets, poetry, short stories as well as graphic novels. With contributions from major scholars in the field, it critically examines Dalit literary theory and initiates a dialogue between Dalit writing and Western literary theory.

The Power of Portrayal: Movies and Culture" delves into the intricate relationship between cinema and society. This insightful book explores how movies shape and reflect cultural trends, examining various theories and concepts through film examples. It analyzes storytelling techniques, viewing colors as characters and uncovering metaphors that illuminate broader cultural themes. From B-grade cinema's impact on cultural norms to assumptions about male attractiveness and evolving beauty standards, this book reveals the profound influence of film on our understanding of culture and identity. With engaging insights and thought-provoking analysis, "The Power of Portrayal" is a must-read for anyone curious about the dynamic interplay between movies and society.

This exhaustive account of water in India documents the natural beauty of the country's bodies of water, the ways in which communities live and interact with water (particularly in turbulent ecosystems), the resilience of people living in water-stressed regions, and common sense solutions to local water problems. Detailing the past, present, and future of India's water resources, this unique book combines thorough research with a coffee-table style presentation with photographs that document the authors' extensive travels across the country.