In a bid to break free from the fetters of caste-sanctified disabilities, the Dalits of Chettipulam here will embrace Buddhism on December 6. The decision was taken here on Thursday. It was on October 14, 1956 that B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism. The same day, last year, Chettipulam in Vedaranyam was fraught with caste violence, when Dalits attempted to enter the Ekambareshwarar temple. On the reasons for the decision, Birla Thangadurai of the Republican Party of India (Gawai), told The Hindu , “We are unable to contest the constant assault on our rights and dignity… We will mobilise 2,000 people from Vedaranyam and embrace Buddhism on December 6, the death anniversary of Ambedkar.”
